Meet Our Feast 2023 Worship & Workshop Leaders

We are grateful for these fabulous folks who will be providing leadership for us during our time together.

Rev. Libby Mae Grammer

Senior Pastor

For our morning worship, we are pleased to welcome as our preacher the Rev. Dr. Libby Mae Grammer. In 2018, Libby was called to be the 12th pastor of First Baptist Church, Martinsville (and the first woman in that role!). Prior to her current pastorate, she has served as Pastoral Resident and Interim Minister for Education and Spiritual Formation at River Road Church Baptist 2015-2018. 

Libby serves as a BJC Fellow, and is a member of the VBWIM board, the Board of Visitors for her alma mater McAfee School of Theology, and the EverBless Board (formerly Virginia Baptist Foundation). In 2017, Libby published a book compiled from her thesis work entitled, Privilege, Risk, and Solidarity: Understanding Undocumented Immigration through Feminist Christian Ethics. She has also contributed chapters in books and articles on Baptist news sites. 

Libby’s claim to fame in Martinsville: she was the first woman to pray over a NASCAR race!

Rev. Amy L. Hall

Community Chaplain

As a creative, photographer, youth archery coach, art minister and community pastor/chaplain, Rev. Amy L. Hall of Amherst County builds bridges between individuals, churches and communities to bring hope, healing and new possibilities for Kingdom growth. She was ordained in 2021 through Convergence Church (Alexandria) and is an endorsed lifestyle chaplain through Baptist Chaplaincy Relations with nearly 25 years of ministry leadership experience. In addition to formal education, Amy received training in art ministry from God Loves Art School, church planting from V3 Movement and is a certified therapeutic art life coach and a Board Certified Christian Master Mental Health Coach with a specialization in Suicide Prevention. You can find Amy and her art on Instagram at @shalomhealingart.

Dr. Melissa A. Jackson

Seminary Faculty

Melissa A. Jackson is on faculty at the newly-founded Sophia Theological Seminary and Sophia Farms, in Dinwiddie, Virginia. Sophia, its name derived from the Greek for “wisdom,” is a re-imagined community: a seminary supported by a produce farm. It is a community of inclusive welcome where we live, learn, and work in harmony with one another and with God’s good creation. Jackson, an ordained baptist minister, earned a doctorate in Hebrew Bible from the University of Oxford and, during her time in England, gained a spouse as well (despite the assurances of the border control personnel that she could have found a far less expensive souvenir). Jackson’s scholarly work has focused particularly on comedy in the Hebrew Bible. She also serves as Managing Editor of the journal Review & Expositor.

Dr. Mark Biddle

Seminary Dean

Mark E. Biddle, DrTheol, is Dean of Sophia Theological Seminary and Sophia Farms in Dinwiddie, Virginia. Dr. Biddle began his teaching career at Carson Newman College (now University), where he also directed the Honors Program. After almost a decade, he joined the faculty of the BTSR and served as Russell T. Cherry Professor of Old Testament. Dr. Biddle has published seven books, over forty articles, eleven translated volumes (from German to English), and scores of book reviews. He serves on the editorial boards of Review & Expositor and the Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary series. He is also General Editor of the Reading the Old Testament series. With four adult children, Dr. Biddle enjoys an increased level of involvement with music (piano, trombone, banjo), literature, and gardening, all of which he considers key to his mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

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