Staff
Randy Graham
Lisa and I are originally from Louisiana. I went to seminary at SWBTS in Ft. Worth and then spent ten years as a pastor in Colorado, Iowa then 22 years in Alaska.
We began our ministry at East Mountain in April of 2022. We both enjoy fishing and the outdoors. We cheer for LSU and the Saints which puts us at odds with the Texas sport fanatics but that is what growing up in Louisiana will get you.
Lisa is a very talented musician and enjoys playing the piano and entertaining people in our home. We take special delight in visiting our two grown boys in the Dallas area. Time with the grandchildren is especially precious.
Tim Coop
Gara Handorf
Sam Wheat
Sam joined the East Mountain family again in August 2019. After 40 years in full-time church ministry, he retired and moved to the East Mountain community with his wife, Patti, an East Mountain native. 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. After teaching high school math for 5 years, he surrendered to full-time ministry in 1979 and attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. After receiving his M.R.E. degree from Southwestern, 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, daughter of Royce and Louise Ford.
He served the last 13 years as Minister of Education at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Ruston, Louisiana. Prior to that he served as Minister of Music and Education at Calvary Baptist Church in Monroe, Louisiana, Woolmarket Baptist Church, Biloxi, MS, and First Baptist Church of Hughes Springs, TX.
His wife, Patti, is a physical therapist and currently works with Christus Home Care in Tyler. Sam and Patti have one son, Adam, who works in admissions at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
Coming back to East Mountain, he is bringing his wife, Patti, home, as they have built on Patti’s family homeplace in East Mountain.
E-mail: samwheat51@gmail.com