Our Leadership

Matt Petty has been leading church ministries since 1997 and has seen thousands of students and adults give their lives to Jesus and begin to serve God. Matt joined the Pastoral team of Burnt Hickory in July of 2001 as the Student Pastor.

For 18 years Matt has given leadership to the RADIATE students and staff team that walks with middle school, high school, and college-aged students here at Burnt Hickory. Matt has been a key leader in student ministry here in this community as well as in the state of Georgia and nation. His love of the next generation has been on display consistently within and outside the walls of Burnt Hickory.

Matt is a native of Cobb county, and one of his desires as Senior Pastor is to see all people of his home in West Cobb and Paulding County know Jesus, serve Jesus, and for the church to be a place of love and healing that Burnt Hickory has been since its beginning. 

Matt is married to his college love, Melissa, and has two boys Blake and Dalton. If not doing ministry at BHBC, you can usually find the Petty family on a sports field somewhere in Georgia or enjoying all things outdoors. Matt has a Bachelor's Degree from the University of West Georgia in Business Finance, and Masters from Liberty University in Theology.

Marty considers himself a country boy from the mountains of North Georgia, a Bulldog, who studied Business at UGA. Upon graduation, Marty used his MBA in a successful career as Director of a large Atlanta-based corporation. After 16 years, however, he felt God calling him to vocational ministry in the local church. With a passion for seeing people experience a growing life in Christ, Marty has served as Executive Pastor at Burnt Hickory since 2004.  In that role, he works alongside the pastors, leading the ministries and staff of the church to reach our community and beyond. He and his wife, Becky, enjoy leading marriage and parenting classes, as well as young couple’s small groups.  They have 3 children, Matt, a State Farm agent in Kennesaw, who along with his wife, Laura, have Marty and Becky’s 3 granddaughters. Their son, Chris, works at Equifax, in Atlanta, and daughter, Stephanie, works with QGenda, as well as being a wedding photographer here in Atlanta.  Marty and Becky, together, enjoy tennis and spending time in family activities. You might also see Marty out in a trout stream, or working out a deal with Becky to try out a new BBQ dive, in return for going to an antique store with her!

Carey Amos is a native of Louisiana where he began his journey in ministry early in life. Carey studied music at The University of Louisiana at Monroe and received a degree in Music Theory and Composition. Carey’s passion is to see people have a Christ-Centered life and to use the power of music and worship to experience the love and grace of God. Carey and his wife Shelley have three beautiful children.

Alan has been with Burnt Hickory since March, 2019. His desire for Adult ministries at Burnt Hickory is to be effective in leading people to make disciples and to live missionally.

He previously served as a State Missionary with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board serving in the areas of Sunday School, Discipleship and Church Administration, 2000-2019. Alan also has served eight churches in interim Minister of Education and administration. Prior to serving Georgia Baptists, he served for 15 years as a minister of education, and other staff ministry roles in churches in Georgia and North Carolina

Alan and Paula Chapman Folsom were married August 8, 1987. They have  been blessed with three children:  Luke & Jacque have their two grandsons, Isaiah and Judah and number 3 expected in April 2020; Kelly is a Nanny and student at Kennesaw State University and will be married in December 2019; Curtis, is a junior, majoring in accounting at the University of GA.

Alan earned the Doctor of Ministry Degree in Evangelism and Church Growth from the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY, in May 2008. He received the degree of Master of Divinity with Christian Education from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina in 1988.  He earned a degree of Bachelor of Business Administration, in Personnel and Industrial Relations from Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA, 1984.

He is a native of Georgia, growing up in Jackson and has resided in Woodstock, GA since 1994.

Brian grew up right here in Marietta, and even attended Marietta High School. From there he attended LaGrange College and graduated with a degree in Christian Education. While at LaGrange College he met a cute little co-ed named Susan and after a year of dating asked her to be his wife, and she said YES! Following LaGrange College he attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas and graduated with his Masters Degree in Religious Education. Brian came to Burnt Hickory Baptist Church after serving churches in Conyers, Georgia and Chattanooga, Tennessee. Brian and Susan have two girls, Abby and Samantha, who are in college.

Eli Laughlin has been on the Radiate Student staff for 8 years working with high school students, and he has a heart to see students walk passionately with Jesus. Eli knows the struggles that students go through while in high school and he wants to show them how the Lord can work in their lives.

He's happily married to Kristi Laughlin, and when they are not working with youth you can find them traveling, working out, and going on dates.

Chip Paul has been the Middle School Pastor at BHBC since September 2007. Chip is married to Laurie Paul (Middle School Teacher) and has 3 children, Joshua, Abbie, and Sterlin.  He loves hunting, fishing, outdoors, and Disney. 

Chip has been serving in youth ministry for 21 years with 16 of them being middle school specific. He has a strong desire for partnering with parents to come along side them during these difficult but very influential times of their early teens life. He is also very passionate about helping middle school students navigate through this time of life and grow spiritually into a strong follower of Jesus.