About us

Our Staff

Jamie Kiel

Music Director
jamie@tharptown.com

Get to know Jamie »

Family:
Wife, Melissa; Daughter, Sarah Kate

Ministry Calling:
Called as Music Director to Tharptown Baptist Church in 1996.

What is your favorite scripture?
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:26-28

What is your favorite color and why?
Crimson – “The Tide” of course.

What is your favorite television show?
House

Who has had the most profound influence on your life?
My Dad

Who are your favorite musical groups or artists?
Steven Curtis Chapman, Don Williams, The Inspirations

What are the last three albums you listened to?
Shenandoah “The Road Not Taken”, Steven Curtis Chapman “Greatest Hits”, Wes King “The Robe”

If you could speak any language other than English what would it be and why?
Spanish – So I could communicate with the other half of Franklin County.

What drives you to be the person you are?
My daughter, Sarah Kate.

What are your hobbies?
Motorcycles, attending sporting events—especially THS football, hanging out with the family.

If you could spend an entire day with any one person, dead or alive, who would it be?
One of the Buffets (Warren or Jimmy) –it’s a tossup.

If you could have any other job, which would it be?
Candy taster (is that a job?)

If you could say one thing to the body of Christ today what would it be?
Love your neighbor. This would resolve 99% of church problems if people loved others as much as themselves.

What do you enjoy most about serving at Tharptown?
Interaction with those who love Jesus.

Are there any interesting or unusual facts about you?
Attended Space Camp in 6th grade.

Who is your favorite football team?
Tharptown Wildcats.

What is your favorite thing to do on a Saturday?
Ride Motorcycle.

What is the last thing you do before going to bed?
Take my contacts out.

Jared Swinney

Youth Director
Jared.Swinney@lifeway.com

Get to know Jared »

Family:
Wife, Carol; Father, Jake; Mother, Pam; Sister, Katrina

Ministry Calling:
I was called to be the youth minister at Tharptown in April 2008. Before serving here I served as a youth minister and pastor in other churches.

My Relationship with Christ:
I was saved at the age of 10 and called into the ministry at the age of 16.

What is your favorite scripture?
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. -Romans 8:28
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.” -Matthew 20:18-19

In your opinion, what is the best movie ever made? 
Rambo I, II, III. I have yet to see the fourth one but it would probably rank right up there also. I am also a mad fan of Remember the Titans, The Bucket List, and Lady and the Tramp.

What is your favorite color and why?
Crimson because it is the color of the Alabama Crimson Tide and I believe it was also the color of Jesus' blood. It is definitely biblical to be an Alabama fan. Ha!

What is your favorite television show?
I haven't cable in a couple of years so this one is sort of hard to answer. When I can watch cable I like anything to do with motorcycles, cars, fishing, sports, hunting, construction, and food.

Who has had the most profound influence on your life?
It has definitely been my family.

Who are your favorite musical groups or artists?
Casting Crowns and Jimmy Needham.

What are the last three albums you listened to?
"Revelation" by Third Day, "Speak" by Jimmy Needham, and "The Altar and the Door" by Casting Crowns.

If you could speak any language other than English what would it be and why?
I would like to know how to speak Spanish because I think there are a lot of people that I could better minister to if I knew how to speak it.

What drives you to be the person you are?
I want God to use me.

What are your hobbies?
reading, spending time with my wife and family, watching sports, fishing, hanging out with the youth group, golf

If you could spend an entire day with any one person, dead or alive, who would it be?
I would like to spend a day with my grandfather. He died when I was a child and I never really knew him.

If you could have any other job, which would it be?
This is a hard one. It would have to be one of these: chef, evangelist, custom motorcycle builder, policeman, president of LifeWay, pastor, children's minister, golf pro, professor, and the list could go on...

What issue in the world today is closest to your heart?
It would be a cure for cancer because it has had a direct impact on my life.

If you could say one thing to the body of Christ today what would it be?
Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength...

What do you enjoy most about serving at Tharptown?
I love the people.

Are there any interesting or unusual facts about you?
I have been a diabetic since I was 13 years old.

Who is your favorite football team?
Alabama Crimson Tide

What is your favorite thing to do on a Saturday?
Sleep and spend time with my wife.

What is the last thing you do before going to bed?
Talk to my wife.

Support Staff

Norma Hamilton, Secretary
normie@hughes.net

Shirley Ettleman, Secretary
shirley@tharptown.com

Brian Martin, Media Director
media@tharptown.com

Justin Hall, Media Director
media@tharptown.com