Meet the Staff
Michael Wilkinson, Pastor
Michael was born and raised in Pascagoula, MS. He graduated from Pascagoula High School in 1998 and became a follower of Jesus Christ in 2000. After graduating from William Carey College in 2004, Michael attended seminary briefly in Louisville, KY, before marrying the beautiful and talented Jessica Pinion of Florence, MS and moving to Raleigh, NC.
After two years of working in the hotel management business, God called Michael and Jessica to come and serve at Arlington Heights Baptist Church. Michael was ordained and served under Rev. Ben Carlisle from 2005 until 2011, when Rev. Carlisle retired after 26 years of faithful service at Arlington.
In February of 2012, the church decided to call Michael to serve as pastor. He is currently working toward a Masters in Missiology degree at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Leon Bedsole, Minister of Music
Leon Bedsole received the call from God to serve in church music while a student at Howard College, now Samford University in Birmingham, AL. He received his Bachelor of Church Music there and his Masters of Church Music at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He served churches full time as Minister of Music in Baton Rouge, Enterprise, AL, Pensacola, FL, and finally for 33 years at First Baptist Church, Biloxi. After retiring from full-time ministry, he has served several churches as interim music director.
He came to Arlington Heights in December, 2006, serving part-time but now is full time. Leon married Patricia Bowdoin, also from Alabama, and they have two adult sons and two grandaughters. He loves to work with the adult choir, with ensembles and soloists, and with the Arlington Bells handbell group.
He has been president of the MS Baptist Church Music Conference and MS Singing Churchmen group as well as serving on various committees for the Church Music Dept. He is active in the Coast Ministers of Music group, having been involved in starting the group in the 1970's. Leon enjoys helping people worship through music.
David Easley, Student Minister
Site under construction. Information coming soon.
Cissie Brushaber, Office Administrator
Site under construction. Information coming soon.
