Dr. Rick Marshall
Senior Pastor

Bro. Rick officially became the seventh Pastor of Eastern Hills Baptist Church on July 3 of 1994. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior in March of 1954 at the age of eight. He was ordained into the Gospel Ministry by the First Baptist Church, Dothan, AL, his home church.

Bro. Rick received his Master of Divinity degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY and a Doctor of Ministry degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Bro. Rick is married to Judy and they have three children: John, Joy (and husband Greg Watts), and Julie (and husband Jeremy Dennis), and four wonderful grandchildren, Claire, Lauren, Marshall, and Andrew.

Bro. Rick enjoys playing golf and all outdoor sports. Among his favorites are the book The Greatest Generation and the movie The Passion of the Christ. Bro. Rick’s favorite Bible verse is “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, Philippians 4:13.

“The mission spirit and warm family atmosphere of Eastern Hills”, Bro. Rick says, “connects people with the Lord and each other”.

Ricky Solar
Associate Pastor of Education and Family Ministry

Ricky was born in Baton Rouge, LA, lived in New Orleans, and Houma, LA. He joined the staff at Eastern Hills in November of 2004 as the Associate Pastor of Young Adults but has since moved into the Education/Outreach ministry.

Ricky accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior in July of 1981 while attending Centrifuge Camp in Mobile, AL. He was ordained into the Gospel Ministry by Shiloh Baptist Church, his first church of service. Ricky was a 15 year veteran of Student Ministry before becoming an Associate Pastor. He attended Louisiana Tech University as a Pre-med major and graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with concentrations in Theology and Christian Education.

Ricky and his wife, Stephanie, have three children, Ricky, Savannah, and Reece. He enjoys traveling, coaching, reading, LSU sports, history museums, and seafood. His two favorite movies are Chariots of Fire and National Treasure. One of his favorite Bible verses is “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth,” 3 John 4. Ricky says the greatest thing about Eastern Hills is the “air of excitement, the anticipation of God moving, and the sweetness of the fellowship”.

Keith Pate
Minister of Music

Keith is originally from Castleberry, AL in Conecuh County. He joined Eastern Hills as Minister of Music in January of 2005 from Anastasia Baptist Church in St. Augustine, FL.

Keith was born and raised in Castleberry at Cedar Creek Baptist Church. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at Cedar Creek in 1970 at the age of 10. Keith earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Samford University and his Master of Music in Church Music degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was ordained into the Gospel Ministry by Long Avenue Baptist Church in Port Saint Joe, FL his first church out of seminary.

Keith and his wife, Evelyn, have one daughter, Bethany. He enjoys gardening, tennis, and any food except coconut. His favorite book is My Hearts Desire by David Jeremiah and his favorite movie is Singing in the Rain. Keith’s favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Keith says the thing that most impressed him about Eastern Hills Baptist Church was the friendly, loving people who have made he and his family feel so welcome.

Greg Gosselin
Minister to Children

Greg was born and raised in Miami, FL. He is affectionately known as “Father Goose”. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of six at the First Baptist Church of Perrine, FL. Greg came to Eastern Hills Baptist Church in February of 2004 from the First Baptist Church of Paris, TX.

Greg graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Religious Studies from Miami Christian College and earned his Master of Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX.

Greg enjoys camping, soap making, reading science fiction novels, and playing the Dulcimer. His favorite meal is fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and summer squash.Greg and his wife, Karen, have three children, Bobby, Kathryn, and Stephen. “I love the family feel the church provides,” he said of Eastern Hills. “There is a willingness of the people to serve. It is like being at home.”

Mark McLendon
Minister of Youth

Mark joined the staff of EHBC in May of 2008. He came to us from Batesville Arkansas.