Leadership

Matthew joined the WEBC staff in 2012 as part time youth pastor, and was voted in as the Senior Pastor in April 2022 after serving as the Interim Pastor for a little more than a year. He and his wife Bethany have two children, Kalee & Noah. Matthew is passionate about helping young people to find a place where they can belong, connect to others and encounter God. His vision is to see young people not just “surviving” their teenage years but “thriving”, through living out their full potential in God.

Tara Jackson joined the WEBC staff in January 2019. She and her husband, Kyle, are excited to be a part of all that God is doing at West Edgecombe Baptist, and in the surrounding communities! Tara has been in church ministry the majority of her life having been born into a family of church musicians and choir directors. She leads our music and women's ministry at WEBC! You can find out more about Tara by visiting her website: www.tarajacksononline.com

Billie Odom joined our staff as the Children's Director in June 2021, but before even getting an "official" title, she has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help share the love of Jesus to our WEBC Kids! Billie has an extensive children's education background with over 40+ years in the public & private education world, plus she has been an active member of WEBC since 1996, all of which makes her a perfect fit for this role. But the role she is most proud of, though, is as "Mom" to her son, Stephen. 

Sandra Pridgen joined our staff in November 2022 as the Student Director, overseeing 6th - 12th grade ministries! Sandra has long been involved with our youth ministry, and is excited to step into this new staff role. Sandra is married to Charles, and they have two children - Morgan & Matthew.

Jed joined the staff at WEBC in August of 2023. He and his wife Madison moved to Wake Forest, North Carolina from Tennessee in the summer of 2021 so that he could attend Southeastern Seminary to pursue his Masters in Divinity. Jed has a heartfelt passion for youth ministry and is excited to pour into the students at WEBC and desires for young people to grow deeply in their understanding of the Word and relationship with God. 

I am blessed to be a wife and a mom of three. I have an administrative background and an education focused in accounting. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the staff here at West Edgecombe Baptist Church. I’m looking forward to being able to help here in the office.

God has blessed me with a sincere love for music! As a little girl growing up as a minister’s child, I have been saturated with church music my entire life. I began taking piano at 8 years old and started being a pianist for church at the age of 12. I was fortunate to take organ lessons at 12 from a college professor and could practice at the church my Daddy served, daily. I began singing in choirs at church and as time went on, I sang in choirs and ensembles for both high school and college.

I graduated from East Carolina University with a minor in music and taught music in public schools as my first job. I have been an instrumentalist in churches since 6th grade and have directed choirs at Fincastle Baptist Church in Virginia and at West Edgecombe Baptist on an interim basis. I currently hold the position as organist. My years total to 51 years of service to my Lord and Savior in music! I just know heaven is going to be an unimaginable place filled with music that will be forever be heard…. “I Can Only Imagine!”