Meet our Staff

Rev. Jim Cohn
​Pastor

James A. Cohn was born and raised in Winston-Salem.  He graduated from the Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia, and attended the University of North Carolina.  During his career as a paramedic, he received his bachelor's degree from High Point University.  In 1984, he was commissioned into the U.S. Army.  While serving as a field artillery officer, Jim yielded to God's call to vocational ministry.  He holds a Master of Arts degree from the Houston Graduate School of Theology, and a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the Army War College.  He was co-vocational, working as both a soldier and a pastor - including serving as our pastor from 2006 to 2009 - until his retirement from the Army with over 27 years of service.
     In April 2011, we called him back to First Baptist Church after two years away.  A visionary leader, he strongly believes in the prominence of our teaching ministries.  This is exemplified in his enthusiastic preaching of God's Word and in his faithful discipleship of men.  He currently represents our church on the Baptist State Convention's Board of Directors.  He also furthers our community outreach efforts by serving as an active part of East Stokes Outreach Ministry and the Luci Collins Foundation.  Pastor Jim is married to Debbie and they have 3 children with 5 really "grand" grandchildren.

Contact Pastor Jim at PastorJim@FBCWalnutCove.com

Rev. A.J. Reynolds
​Associate Pastor

A native of Guilford County, Andrew J. Reynolds was raised in Sharpe Road Baptist Church, where he accepted Jesus as his Savior, was part of the youth group, served as an usher, and sang in the choir until graduating from Southeast Guilford High School as its salutatorian in 2005.  Enrolling at the University of North Carolina, he was active in two organizations: the band and the Baptist Student Union.  As a Marching Tar Heel, A.J. further honed his musical skills and developed leadership strengths.  Through the B.S.U., he assisted with leading prayer groups and Bible studies.  During summers, he went home and volunteered to lead his former youth group.  As a sophomore, he began to be convinced of a call from God to Christian ministry.  As a junior, it became clearer to A.J. that this call was one to life of vocational ministry.  During this growth, A.J. received opportunities to teach and lead in B.S.U., and by The Summit Church in Durham.
     After graduating from Carolina in 2009, we hired him as the interim Youth Director.  As he enrolled at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary that fall, we called him to serve permanently, in a part-time capacity as the Minister of Youth & Children.  In March 2012, he was ordained as a pastor, and we called him to serve as our Minister of Education.  In the spring of 2013, he received his Master of Divinity degree in Pastoral Ministry, and we called him to be our full-time Associate Pastor.  In October, 2015, he gave up his position working with youth, children, and families to take on a different job: Minister of Music.  For the past five years, A.J. has led as one of our pastors, overseeing administration, visitation, and corporate worship.  He represents our church on the Pilot Mountain Baptist Association's Church Health focus group, and is passionate about church revitalization and relational evangelism.

​Contact A.J. at pastorajreynolds@gmail.com

Rev. Luke Long
​Youth & Children's Pastor

           Luke T. Long grew up in the Charlottesville area of central Virginia.  Luke graduated high school in 2012 and felt God calling him into the ministry which God refined through his academic studies, work, and clubs.  In college, he was involved in InterVarsity campus ministry, where he found rich community to be a part of and serve.  During summers, he also had ministry opportunities through Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem as an intern with their Student Ministries.
     He graduated from James Madison University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.  He finished his internship in 2017, at which point he began studying at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and serving the Lea Bethel Baptist Church in Caswell County.  He served as their part-time Youth & Children's Minister until God began calling him back toward the Winston-Salem.  In providential timing, we extended a call to Luke, and God brought him to Walnut Cove in February 2019.  That spring, we ordained him as a pastor.  As our Youth & Children's Pastor, he oversees SONquest and leads our IMPACT students.  In January 2020, he completed his Master of Divinity degree in Biblical Counseling, and since that time, he has sought to be a resource for families to create in their homes, a disciple-making culture.
     During his internship with Calvary, he led a student summer camp at Laurel Ridge.  It was then that he met Ashley, and it was at Laurel Ridge where they were married in October 2017.  As partners in ministry, Luke and Ashley are passionate about discipleship and pouring into Students and Children.  They love the outdoors and find as many opportunities as possible to hike, swim, kayak, and currently are attempting fly fishing.  One of their favorite spots is Disney World.  It was one of their first significant trips, as well as where Luke proposed, and their honeymoon destination.  Luke loves to read, play spike ball, and is slowly developing his golf game, although his favorite sport will always be soccer.  Ask him about his love for chickens, what he is currently reading, or what it means to have "Discipleship at Home!"
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Contact Luke at luke@fbcwalnutcove.com


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Leigh Richardson Taylor
​Pianist

Vivian Leigh Richardson was raised in the First Baptist Church family.  A graduate of Walnut Cove High School, she attended Wingate University to study music.  She has lived in several different places across North Carolina, but in the 1990s, God called her back home to Stokes County.  In the early 2000s, we hired Leigh as our Pianist.  A highly dedicated part of our music ministry, she gladly serves in a number of ways, most visibly by sharing her talent during corporate worship services.  Also a small group facilitator, this grandmother of 6 is an integral part of our staff team here at F.B.C!


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Lisa Roberts Ore
​Finance Secretary

A native of Pine Hall, Lisa is a graduate of South Stokes High School and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of North Carolina - Greensboro.  She works as a Controller for the Westminster Company.  She and her children, Luci and Ben, joined our church family in 2003.  She has served many times on our Finance Committee, including several times as its Chair.  In early 2016, she graciously agreed to join our team as the Finance Secretary, continuing the duties she had been doing as a volunteer for several months.  In addition to keeping us squared-away on the business front, Lisa volunteers in our SONquest ministry and facilitates a ladies discipleship group.

Contact Lisa at lisarore@gmail.com