Sara Turpin was born and raised in Louisville, KY and has served Buechel Park Baptist Church since 2013. She earned a Master of Divinity degree from the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky, along with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science from Georgetown College with majors in Religion and Business Administration: Management and minors in Church Music and Psychology. She has been both a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) Scholar and Fellow and served on the CBF Kentucky Coordinating Council and Executive Committee. Before coming to Buechel Park, Sara served as the Youth Minister at Melbourne Heights Baptist Church in Louisville. At BPBC, she loves engaging people of all ages in the stories of God and God’s people and involving all in the mission of the church to share the love of Jesus. She loves spending time with her husband, Neal, and their two young children, as well as watching a good television comedy, playing the flute, and occasionally running a half marathon.

Rachel Sherron is from Paducah, KY, where her “home” church, Immanuel Baptist, cultivated her leadership skills while she was in youth group. Rachel has a passion for giving back to young people with the same mentorship that she received. She loves creating space for everyone and encouraging big questions and imagination. Rachel graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Campbellsville University in 2011, majoring in Biblical Studies and English. Then, she completed her Master of Divinity degree in 2014 from the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University, in Atlanta, GA. Rachel has experience in youth and children’s ministries throughout Kentucky and has served in children’s ministry in Atlanta, GA, Knoxville, TN, and St. Simons Island, GA prior to Buechel Park. Rachel is a 2021-2023 participant in the Baptist Women in Ministry Mentoring Cohort and 2023-2024 Leadership Team Member of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Children’s Ministry Network. She enjoys gardening, yoga, chocolate, and she likes cats AND dogs. Rachel joined Buechel Park Baptist in March 2023.

John started participating in music in church as a preschooler, and has never stopped. That participation has played out in several ways: as a choir member, a handbell ringer, percussionist, pianist, or organist; but most of the time as director and/or coordinator of the music makers. Most of the churches he has served have been Baptist, but he also served Presbyterian and Methodist congregations along the way, regularly sang the Latin mass at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in downtown Louisville during his doctoral work at Southern seminary, and was part of a paid quartet at a synagogue in Champaign, IL while earning his master’s degree. He lived for two years (1980-82) in the east African country of Malaŵi as a Missionary Journeyman. His formal education is from Samford University (B.M. in music education), University of Illinois (M. M. in choral music), and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (D.M.A. in church music). He directed college choirs for 25 years as a full-time college faculty member, including 12 at Georgetown College and 3 years with the School of Divinity at Gardner-Webb University; and stints at Milligan, North Greenville, and Longwood Colleges (all now “universities”). John and his wife, Terri, met in the church choir at Temple Baptist in Champaign while they both were in graduate school; church music has been good to him! Their three children are grown and live in Harrodsburg; Busan, Korea; and Seattle.

Leigh Meers is a native of Louisville and joined the Buechel Park Baptist Church staff in May 2014. If you come by the office during the week, she is likely the first person you will see. Leigh brings extensive experience as a conference and meeting planner/senior administrative assistant to BPBC.  She is an organization pro, keeping up with our calendar, worship guides, newsletters, coordinating building usage and contracts, along with so much more.

Nicole Davis began working as with Parents’ Day Out in May 2000 and became the director in May 2004. She graduated from Sullivan University in 2013 with an Associate of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education, the Professional Nanny Diploma, and has earned the Kentucky Early Childhood Director’s Credential Certificate. She loves working with young children and seeing the world through their eyes. Nicole serves as director of BPBC Parents’ Day Out and oversees our nursery and preschool ministry.

Beginning with BPBC as the organist in 2018, Shelley assumed the role of Music Associate the next year. In addition to providing service  music and rehearsing with the choir and other ensembles, she also leads the Handbell Choir. During the week, she is an Executive Assistant at a wealth management firm and mother to three fantastic kids.

Scott began his work with BPBC in July of 2022. He also works at Beargrass Christian Church in Louisville, KY.