David and Dana Thacker are college sweethearts, who met at Cedarville University and celebrated their 20th anniversary in July 2022. They are proud parents of four teenagers, who are a joy to their souls and a tool that sharpens them. With a unified passion for Jesus and ministry, they began serving together with teens at their local church in Whitestown, IN. Having been greatly impacted through camp ministry as teenagers, they pursed camps to see if there was a role for them.  In, 2005, they began working at a wilderness camp in the mountains of Robbinsville, NC. Never would they have imagined how the Lord would use the people of Robbinsville to bless their lives and disciple their souls. By experiencing the life impact of intentional relational discipleship, their ministry purpose was eternally changed. The opportunity to work with Eternal Truth Ministries of Robbinsville, NC came in 2009, and they joined in the work there for 13 years where they were invested in by the president and given hands-on ministry experience. More practical training came at the same time through Robbinsville First Baptist Church.  The people were welcoming and patient as they learned how to lead in several different capacities, such as, youth leader, children’s director, IT manager, life group facilitator, and elder.  In 2021, the Lord extended First Baptist’s outreach by sending David and Dana to Immanuel Baptist Church and by fulfilling their growing passion for ministry that is incarnational, "God with Us".  Our desire is to help this body in Kinston be founded on Jesus’ methods, principles, and aim.  We are simply seeking to follow the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ, as we seek to love God, love others, and make disciples. 

Involved in church from a young age, Frank placed his faith in Christ at Vacation Bible School one summer. He moved to Robbinsville, NC just before High School where he began attending Robbinsville First Baptist Church (RFBC) and was connected with the youth group. It was there that he began growing as a disciple of Jesus and as a leader through the investment of many spiritually-minded men. During this time, he also met his wife, Jasmine Cline, who he would marry in May of 2020. As disciple-makers passionate about discipleship, and recognizing the call to minister to Christ's church, Frank and Jasmine both recognized a desire to serve in full-time ministry and were trained for two years prior to coming to Kinston. One year with the former President of Eternal Truth Ministries of NC, Colin McDougall, and a second year through the Apprenticeship program at RFBC. Frank and Jasmine were sent out to serve Immanuel Baptist Church by RFBC in December of 2021. Frank currently leads the youth ministry and assists in teaching, along with the help of his wife.