Randy Graham, Senior Pastor
E-mail: randygraham@eastmountainbaptist.org
Randy and his wife, Lisa, are originally from Louisiana. They began their ministry at East Mountain in April 2022. Randy completed his seminary education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth before serving as a pastor in Colorado, Iowa, and for 22 years in Alaska. Both have a passion for fishing and the outdoors. As avid fans of LSU and the Saints, they often find themselves in friendly rivalry with Texas sports enthusiasts—a testament to their Louisiana roots! Lisa is a talented musician who enjoys playing the piano and hosting gatherings at their home. They especially cherish their visits with their two grown sons in the Dallas area and the precious moments spent with their grandchildren.
Randy has a deep desire to see revival transform the hearts of God’s people, leading them to love, forgive, serve, and accept others, reflecting the holiness that our Lord has modeled for us.
Tim Coop, Associate Pastor
E-mail: timothyacoop@gmail.com
Tim has been a part of the East Mountain staff since September, 2017. As associate pastor, he serves by leading worship, in teaching and discipleship, pastoral care, and helping the pastoral staff in any way he can.
Tim and Melinda were high school sweethearts and married June 12, 1993. They have two children, Andrew and Emily, whom Tim and Melinda recognize as gifts of grace from the Lord. As a family, they love to consider the amazing and good ways of their Lord together and spend a lot of time laughing, mostly at one another!
Andrew and Emily both serve Christ in a variety of ways, most notably through His church. Tim and Melinda are extremely thankful that God has provided wonderful people to share life and love with Emily and Andrew. Emily is married to Doug Noe, an active servant and worshiper at East Mountain. Andrew is engaged to Shelby Godwin. They will marry October 4, 2025 in Shelby’s hometown of Mena, AR and continue to serve together afterward in Berryville, AR.
Gara Handorf, Youth Pastor
Email: garahandorf@yahoo.com
Gara joined our staff as Youth Pastor in December 2010. He & his wife Amie have three sons, Caden, McClane, & Jack. Gara taught a junior high boys’ Sunday School class at age 19 & soon realized God was calling him to student ministry. His goal is to reach an ever-changing world with the never-changing gospel of Christ.
Some of Gara’s favorite verses are Romans 5:8, “But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!” and Acts 4:19-20, ‘”But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God [for us] to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Leslie Hooper, Children’s Minister
Email:eastmountainkids@gmail.com
Leslie Hooper is the Children’s Minister at East Mountain Baptist Church,
where she is passionate about nurturing the spiritual growth of children and empowering families. With over a decade of experience in various children’s ministries, Leslie feels blessed to serve God’s children and to inspire them to build a real relationship with Jesus.
She believes that empowering parents to disciple their children is crucial for fostering faith. Leslie’s mission is to help children understand the transformative power of Jesus and the truth of Scripture, ensuring they grasp that the Bible is not just a collection of stories but a source of real-life guidance.
With a heart for service and a commitment to making a lasting impact, Leslie looks forward to the journey ahead at East Mountain Baptist Church.
Sam Wheat, Finance Admin & Choir Director
E-mail: samwheat51@gmail.com
Sam and his wife Patti rejoined the East Mountain family in August 2019. Sam served on staff in churches in Texas and Louisiana for 40 years before returning to East Mountain. He joined the staff as Choir Director in 2020 and became Finance Administrator in February 2023.
Sam’s hometown is Anniston, Alabama. He is a graduate of Jacksonville State University in Alabama where he received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Math Education and his Masters or Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He was called to East Mountain Baptist Church to serve as Minister of Music, Youth, and Education in 1982. It was there he met and married his wife, Patti Ford. His wife, Patti, is a former physical therapist and currently leads the ladies exercise program. Sam and Patti have one son, Adam, who works as Director of Career and Calling at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
Amber Groody, Ministerial Assistant
E-mail: eastmountainbaptist@gmail.com
Amber Groody joined the staff of East Mountain Baptist Church as Ministerial Assistant in August 2025. A faithful member since 2013, she is known for her servant’s heart and willingness to step in wherever needed. Amber and her husband, Jordan, have four children—Victoria, Lydia, Marshal, and Madelyn—and enjoy being active in the life of the church.
Over the years, Amber has served in many roles, especially in the Children’s Ministry, leading classes, organizing activities, and pointing kids to Christ with her creativity and dedication. In her new role, she assists the pastoral staff, coordinates events, and helps keep church life running smoothly.
Outside of church, Amber loves time with family, baking cookies, and hosting friends. Her love for people and desire to encourage others in their walk with the Lord shine through in all she does.
