Leadership Staff

Dr. Buddy Perstrope

Dr. Perstrope joined the First Baptist Church staff as Senior Pastor in June 2012. He grew up south of St. Louis in Arnold, Missouri. Buddy surrendered to ministry in 1985 and began serving in children’s ministry, student ministry, and preaching. In 1991, he became a Children’s Pastor and served at two different churches. In 1996,…

Jerry Dudley

Jerry has served at First Baptist Church since September of 2000. He is a native to St. Louis and has been the senior pastor of three churches in Missouri prior to joining the staff at First Baptist. He has a God-given passion for Church growth and reaching lost people. He and his wife, Pam met…

David Butler

David joined the First Baptist Church staff in August 2014. Originally from the St. Louis area, he has served as a worship pastor in both Missouri and Georgia for several years. Prior to becoming a worship pastor, he was an instrumental music director at First Baptist Church of Arnold MO. David is also a former…

Jacob Mitchell

Jacob joined the staff at First Baptist Church in February of 2024. He moved around a lot as a kid, but calls Independence, Kansas home. Jacob has served at two prior churches as the youth pastor before joining First Baptist as the Student Pastor. Jacob earned his Undergraduate degree in Youth Ministry from Southwest Baptist…

Martha Alexander

Martha Alexander joined the staff in December 2018 as the children’s director.  She was born in Alabama and lived in Tennessee, Louisiana and Georgia before moving to Missouri in 2007.  She met her husband, Craig, while attending Auburn University.  They were married in August of 1992.  They have three children, Lauren, Megan and Stephen. Martha…

Vanessa Krause

Vanessa and her husband Ben became members of First Baptist St. Charles in 2021 and Vanessa joined the staff as the preschool director in February 2023. She has an elementary education degree from Missouri Baptist University and multiple years of teaching experience. Vanessa is responsible for coordinating volunteers to assist in the nursery and preschool…

Stan Norton

Stan joined our staff in January 2017. He helps lead & the church to embrace an Acts 1:8 model. He oversees the Missions Committee to strategically advance the cause of evangelism and missions.