Staff

John D. Pierce (personal website) has been executive editor of Baptists Today since 2000. Previously he served as managing editor of The Christian Index and as a Baptist campus minister at Georgia Tech, Southern Polytechnic and Kennesaw State. A native of Ringgold, Ga., he is a graduate of Berry College (B.A.), Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Columbia Theological Seminary (D.Min.). He speaks frequently in churches, consults with congregations concerning communications and holds interim pastorates. He and his family are members of Highland Hills Baptist Church in Macon. Email John.

Julie A. Steele is the new chief operations officer for Baptists Today. She holds a degree in technical communication from Mercer University’s School of Engineering and has broad experience in both corporate and nonprofit management. Email Julie. 

Jackie B. Riley is managing editor. She also serves as office manager for the Baptist History and Heritage Society. Previously she was a book editor at Smyth & Helwys Publishing, a high school teacher and a church staff minister. She is a graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.R.E.), Georgia College (M.Ed.) and Georgia Southern College (B.S.). She and her husband are active members of First Baptist Church in Macon. Email Jackie.

Tony W. Cartledge is contributing editor of Baptists Today, in addition to teaching Old Testament studies and various ministry courses at Campbell University Divinity School. He formerly served as editor of the Biblical Recorder, newspaper of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, and as a pastor for 26 years. Tony is a graduate of the University of Georgia, Southeastern Seminary and Duke University, where he earned a Ph.D. He is the author of several books including the Smyth & Helwys commentary on First and Second Samuel and Telling Stories: Tall Tales and Deep Truths. Email Tony.

Bruce T. Gourley (website) is online editor. In addition to managing Baptist Today’s web presence, Bruce is the executive director of the Baptist History & Heritage Society. Bruce is also a photographer and previously served as a campus minister and professor of church history at Yellowstone Baptist College in Billings, Mont. A graduate of Mercer University (B.A.), Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Auburn University (Ph.D.), he and his family live near Bozeman, Mont. Email Bruce.

David Cassady is Curriculum Editor for Baptists Today, editing the resources provided in the new Nurturing Faith section. He lives in Macon, GA, is the president/founder of FaithLab and teaches as an adjunct at Wesleyan College. He formerly served as Publisher & Executive VP for Smyth & Helwys Publishing. David is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University and Southern Seminary, where he earned an M.Div.C.E. and Ph.D. Email David.

Jannie T. Lister is the office assistant for Baptists Today. Previously she was employed by Charter Behavioral Health Systems in Macon as a disbursement specialist for the accounts payable department. She and her husband are members of Vineville Baptist Church in Macon. Email Jannie.

Steve DeVane is contributing writer for Baptists Today — providing North Carolina-based stories for both the national and N.C. editions of the news journal. He lives in Lillington, N.C., and is a staff writer for The Fayetteville Observer. A graduate of Campbell University and Southeastern Seminary, he was managing editor of the Biblical Recorder from 1997-2009 where he won the Baptist Communicators Association’s Frank Burkhalter Award for news writing. Steve is a deacon, praise band member and chair of the denominational relations committee at Memorial Baptist Church in Buies Creek, N.C.