Jim Payne

Pastor

Jim Payne has been the Pastor of Midland Baptist Church since 1992. He was saved in 1980 at the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina. He was married to Tracy in 1980 in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and graduated from Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida in 1987. The same year he and his family moved to Purham, Minnesota and began pastoring the Bible Baptist Church. In 1992 they moved to Midland and have faithfully served in the pastorate here ministering to God's people and teaching and preaching God's Word.

The Payne family includes three children: Bethany, James, and Timothy. Bethany graduated from Crown College and was married in 2005 to Nathan Gregory. They and their four kids: Noah, Caleb, Shiloh, and Benjamin now reside in Haslett, Michigan and attend Solid Rock Baptist Church where Nathan pastors. James and his wife Mary have two kids, Scarlett and Christian who currently reside in Columbus, Ohio, where James works as a Urologist. Timothy and his wife Melinda have two kids, Micah and Makenzie and live in Jackson, Michigan where Timothy works as a Senior Financial Analyst.

Mark Simpson

Associate Pastor

Mark Simpson has faithfully served at Midland Baptist Church since 1997. He was saved in 1992 at Gospel Light Baptist Church in Walkertown, North Carolina. He was married to Amy in 1994, in that year, he graduated from Trinity Baptist College and began working at a children's home. In 1997 the Simpsons moved to Midland and served in the Midland Baptist bus ministry, children's church, and as the Youth Pastor for 25 years. Mark is currently serving as the Associate Pastor. Mark and Amy have four children: Brock, Ethan, Elijah, and Zachariah.

Andrew Watt has been a member of Midland Baptist Church since 2011. He was saved at a Youth Conference in July 2012. Andrew comes from a family of pastors, and he felt the call of God leading him to serve in the ministry when he was 8 years old. He was married to Darla in 2018 at MBC where they met. Andrew obtained his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 2022 from Western Governors University while training under Pastor Mark Simpson in the Youth Ministry. Andrew came on staff as the Youth Pastor of Midland Baptist Church in August of 2023. Andrew and Darla have two children: Aurora and Maxwell.