About us

A Christ-centered family since 1971.

If you visit one of our services, we believe you will find a group of people who love God, love each other, and love you.

Our heart

Jonesboro is home. The world is the field.

Since 1971 Cathedral Baptist has been a Christ-centered family of believers in Jonesboro. We have a heart for the people in our city, our state, our country, and our world.

Our team

The people who serve you here.

Pastor

Ken Beaver

Bro. Ken moved to Jonesboro from Southwest Arkansas where he pastored for 14 years. Originally from Sacramento, California, Ken has lived in Arkansas since 2007. He and his wife Tara have been married since 2001 and have 3 children. They’re excited to be in Jonesboro with all the opportunities it affords. He and his family especially enjoy Craighead Forest, the Red Wolves, and the intimacy of this community. Brother Ken also helps people as a licensed counselor. Cathedral is grateful to have Brother Ken shepherding our church.

Wednesday Nights Ladies Coordinator

Tara Beaver

Secretary

Hannah Casey

Hannah has been a member of Cathedral since September 2019 and has served as the church secretary since June 2024. She also leads the Food and Clothing Closet ministry. She and her husband, Will, have been married for 13 years and have two sons, Collin and Declan. Hannah enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, and exploring the outdoors.

AWANA Ministry Director

Jake Fluke

Jake has been involved at Cathedral since 2012, when he and his family moved to Jonesboro. He grew up as part of the AWANA ministry here at Cathedral, and has now shifted his focus to helping lead the children’s and AWANA ministries. Jake and his wife, Elizabeth, have been married since May 2022 and welcomed their son, Jonah, in November 2024. Jake enjoys spending time with his wife and son, and keeping up with football.

Sunday School Director

Travis Crader

Travis has been a member of Cathedral for approximately 20 years and has served as Sunday School superintendent for over 10 years. He has been married to his wife Marsha for 21 years and has two sons, William and Luke. As a profession, he teaches History, is a scout leader, and coaches bowling and quiz bowl. In his free time, Travis enjoys camping, fishing, and spending time with his family.

Faith Bible Institute Leader

Charlene Acklin

Men’s Ministry Coordinator

Raul Blasini

Youth Ministry Leader

Wes Thornton

Safety Team Director / Media Director

Vernon Lies

Vernon Lies was born in Newton, Kansas, and was gloriously saved at the age of sixteen. He married his wife, Gail, in 1975. Together they have three daughters and three granddaughters.

Vernon was licensed and ordained as a minister of the gospel in 1986. He pastored Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Manila for two years and later served as pastor of Little Texas Missionary Baptist Church in Cash for ten years.

In recent years he has continued to serve the Lord through the Audio/Visual ministry, as leader of the Safety Team, and by supplying the pulpit as needed.

GriefShare Leader

Gail Welborn

Gail Welborn has been a faithful member of Cathedral Baptist Church since 1987, when she and her family moved to Jonesboro from Dallas. Her late husband, Bro. Doug Welborn, served as pastor from October 1989 until health concerns led him to step down. Through the years of his ministry and the years since, Gail has remained a steady and beloved presence in the church family.

She is known as a wise and generous source of spiritual knowledge, readily sharing what the Lord has taught her with anyone who asks. Those who know her describe her as a blessing—thoughtful, encouraging, and quietly faithful in the life of the congregation.

Music Leader

Joshua Wright

Joshua is a senior at Nettleton High School. He has been called into the ministry and is on fire for the Lord. A true fisher of men, he also enjoys football, soccer, and bowling.

The sanctuary of Cathedral Baptist Church

Our history

From a storefront on Gee Street to Alexander Drive.

Our church started with a small group who met in a store building on Gee Street. The group organized into a church on June 6, 1971. As the church grew, they bought the property on the corner of Highway 49 and Interstate 555, where it is now.

The church and a bookstore were both completed in 1972. The church met in a double-wide trailer during construction. The bookstore building now serves as the church offices. In 2000 the church added the Sherman Harmon Family Life Center. AWANA began there in September 2001.

Bro. Doug Welborn and his family came to Jonesboro from Dallas in 1987. He served as pastor from October 1989 until his health forced him to step down. The church then called Ken Beaver to lead Cathedral and asked Bro. Doug to serve as Pastor Emeritus. He served in that capacity until his death in 2019. Cathedral is part of the Baptist Missionary Association of Churches.

Hear Bro. Doug’s sermons

Our affiliation

Baptist Missionary Association of Churches

Cathedral is part of the Baptist Missionary Association of Churches (BMA). The BMA is an association of self-governing churches who pool their resources for the sake of ministry. Together we support local, state, national, and international missionaries. We also have camps, media, publishing, and educational ministries. Cathedral started out as a mission work and now supports BMA mission works around the world.

Read our doctrine BMA America

CATHEDRAL

More than our name. It’s how we live.

Catalyst. We believe the Bible is the catalyst for transformation in a persons life. Our passion is accurate, practical, and relevant teaching of the Bible.

Acceptance. We believe all people matter to God and ought to matter to our church. We want everyone to experience God’s grace and love in a world suffering from sin.

Teamwork. We believe Jesus prayed that we would be one, just as, He and the Father are one. This unity enhances Christian growth, life-change, and ministry effectiveness in all areas of functioning.

Holy Spirit. We believe He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides Christians with power for daily living, understanding of spiritual truth, and power for witnessing to others. The Christian is commanded to live under the Spirit’s control every day.

Equipping. We believe in building up and equipping the saints for every good work. This is accomplished through the proclaiming of the Scripture, inspired by God, which is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, and training in righteousness.

Discipleship. We believe, by Jesus’ example, there is a relational depth that can be found beyond the group experience. Capturing the power of one-to-one relationships is a powerful way to not only make disciples, but disciple-makers.

Reaching In. We believe 2706 Alexander Dr. in Jonesboro, AR is where God has placed us. Reaching into this community is our immediate mission field. Sending out missionaries from here to the whole world is our greater mission.

Adoration. We look for God’s love in our lives as the opportunity to reflect praise and adoration to Him. We celebrate together with great music, teaching and prayer.

Life Worth Living. We believe the real excitement in life happens when submission to God is pursued, and purpose and meaning is given to the brokenness of life. We want ALL things to be used for God’s honor and glory.