The Reverend Anita Thompson has come full circle. Raised in the First Baptist Church of Ahoskie in northeast North Carolina, she has been one of the pastors there for the last twenty-two years. Through this search process Anita feels the call of God to break out of the circle and begin a new ministry, a new venture as the Pastor of First Baptist Church of Wadesboro.
Anita grew up a small town, Baptist girl. The middle child between two brothers, she is now the proud aunt to three nephews and one niece. She first felt the call of ministry through the music ministry at First Baptist Church, Ahoskie—a North Carolina town similar in size to Wadesboro. Like Wadesboro, FBC Ahoskie was known for its music ministry.
Rev. Thompson graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Music degree. She attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville and received a Master in Church Music degree in 1989. After serving Parkview Baptist Church in Monroe, Louisiana, she felt the call to broaden her ministry skills and began attending the Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond, she graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1995. While in the Richmond area, she served Northside Baptist Church in Mechanicsville as Minister of Music.
In 1997 she was called to Woodhaven Baptist Church in Apex, where she served as the Associate Pastor with responsibilities for worship, music, and children’s ministry. She was called to her home church, First Baptist Church of Ahoskie, in 2002. Serving first as the Minister for Family Enrichment, Rev. Thompson directed the church’s ministries to children and youth and for spiritual formation.
Since 2010, she has served as the Associate Pastor and Minister of Music and Worship with a wide range of responsibilities-worship planning and leading, pastoral care, preaching, spiritual formation, music ministry,children’s ministry,and administration. Anita comes to us with a wealth of pastoral experience working in Baptist churches for the past 35 years.
Rev. Thompson has been active in Baptist life and in her local community. At Chowan University, she has served on its Ministerial Board of Associates since 2004 and is currently a board member for Chowan’s Christian Service Association. She served as a Steering Team Member for the Polyphony Fellowship of Pastoral Musicians, including one year as its chairperson. Twice, she has served on the board for Baptist Women in Ministry of North Carolina and is currently its co-convenor.
She has written worship resources for Faith Element, has served as the worship planner and leader for an Adult Spirituality Retreat for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) of North Carolina, and roughly ten years ago was the worship planner and leader for the pre-CBF national assembly retreat in Tampa, Florida and the following year the worship designer and leader at CBF’s national assembly in Fort Worth, Texas. She recently completed a three-year rotation as a member of the Coordinating Council for CBF of North Carolina.
Locally in Ahoskie, Anita has been a Rotary Club member and served on the board for the Hertford County Department of Social Services, including two years as chairperson. She has served on the Ahoskie Food Pantry Board and currently serves as the Second Vice President.
Anita lives with her two beloved rescue dogs, Carlton and Lucy. She is a pianist and vocalist. She’s an avid reader (owns an embarrassing number of books), enjoys the arts (theater, dance, music, art and cinema), sews and loves to explore antique, thrift, and consignment shops.
Janine Rywak has been a member of FBC Wadesboro for 30 years, and a dedicated member of the Chancel Choir for 36 years. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from NC State University and her Master of Public Administration degree from UNC-Charlotte. Janine is retired from Anson County Cooperative Extension, having served as 4-H Agent and County Extension Director.
Janine's background includes piano, band and choral music. With a lifelong love of music, she participates in ecumenical choirs on occasion and is a member of the Anson Singers. In the community, she serves as Treasurer of the Anson Women's League, Newsletter Designer for the Anson County Historical Society, and Vice Chair of the Anson Economic Development Corporation. When she has the opportunity, Janine enjoys traveling, boating, and spending time with family and friends.
Dr. Amy J. Horne is an accomplished Music Educator, experienced at all academic levels, earning degrees from Wingate University, University of NC at Greensboro, & University of SC.
With her oldest daughter, McKenzie, Dr. Horne co-authored two children’s books: Runaway Turkeyette (K-2) & Better Than My Dreams, Turkeyette’s Adventures in NYC (3-6) & adapted a playwright version for each book. To coordinate with each book, Dr. Horne created Turkeyette Guided Integrative Fun (TGIF) Teaching Units
Her favorite productions have been Annie Jr., Oliver, the outdoor Singing Christmas Tree & playwright versions of her books.
Dr. Horne, a Certified Pickleball Instructor, IPTPA, has created a music parody, “Sweet Pickleball”.
She resides in NC & will travel anywhere to play or coach pickleball.
Glenn Caulder has been a member of First Baptist Church of Wadesboro for 20 years. He serves the church as a Deacon, member of the Chancel Choir, Children's Sunday School teacher, and Church Clerk and serves on several committees.
In the community, Glenn is active with the Anson County Arts Council and the Ansonia Theatre. He has appeared in many plays since the Ansonia's reopening in 2015
Judy Powell retired after 20 years of service with the Anson County Schools. During her time there, she worked as an Exceptional Children's Bus Driver and in Child Nutrition. A member of Gum Springs Baptist Church in Lilesville, NC, for the past 23 years, she has been their Custodian and a faithful volunteer as a teacher for Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.
Judy has been a part-time Housekeeper for First Baptist Church of Wadesboro since October 2022. With a joyful Christian spirit and en energy to get things done, she takes great care of our spacious church.
In her leisure time, Judy enjoys spending time with family, traveling to the beach, and camping. She also enjoys walking, reading, and going to the movies.
