September 17, 2024
MARIETTA, Ga. – Brandon Owen believes that the Christian life is continuing the life and work of Jesus on earth today. Owen, a native of Tennessee, is the new pastor of First Baptist Church in Marietta. Pastor Owen has been serving as the Campus and Teaching Pastor of The Church at Harpeth Heights in Nashville, Tenn. Harpeth Heights is one of the eight campuses of Brentwood Baptist Church in Nashville.
Pastor Owen started his ministry on February 13 and preached his introductory sermon as pastor of the Marietta church on Sunday, February 19. David Cotey, chairman of the pastor search team introduced the new pastor, his wife, Lesley Ann, and their four children: Howell (14), Elliott (11), Louis (10), and Hattie (6) to the church, referring to the children as the “Four Barreled Dynamo.”
Marietta’s Mayor Steve Tumlin welcomed the Owen family to Marietta by reading Jeremiah 29: 7: “And seek the peace of the city… and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.” Then the mayor added, “You will become the 41st pastor of this dynamic 188-year-old-church; and I charge you to keep the greatness of this fellowship.”
In the opening remarks of his first sermon Owen explained, “What came up in this process on more than one occasion was our college sports leanings. That was something we had to overcome, because my mother-in-law and father-in-law are here today; and I married into a family that bleeds crimson. I married into an Alabama family and our 14-year-old, Howell, when he was ten had seen more national championships seasons than he had not. Lesley Ann’s family thought, “They are going to Georgia. That is interesting. That might be difficult.”
“But,” Owen exclaimed, “I am moving my family to a state where national championships are also won.’”
Owen admitted that he has been an Atlanta Braves fan for a long time and that being near the Braves will be a pleasant thing. However, David Cotey in his introduction of Owen suggested that it might not be a bad idea for the pastor to give some allegiance to the Chicago Cubs, former Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson’s new team. Cooter Swanson, Dansby’s father was on the Search Team that brought the new pastor to Marietta.
Observing that his calling is more important than sports, Owen commented, “I am excited about this new opportunity; and I realize that the role of a pastor has many varied aspects including shepherding the flock, preaching the Gospel, and doing the work of an administrator. I am committed to all those roles, but I want to primarily focus on the preaching and pastoring aspects of ministry. I believe I can serve this church with confidence, because they called me, and I have an assurance that they will provide prayerful and sincere support.
“I want to be a good pastor, provide solid leadership, be present whenever I am needed in the lives of these dear people and stay here for a long time. I also want to be a good friend to the city and build meaningful relationships across this area of Cobb County.”
The Search Team was unanimously sold on Owen. Chairman Cotey explained, “I was personally impressed with Pastor Owen as being personable and humble. He has a broad, deep knowledge of holy Scripture and preaches soul-stirring sermons. He has only been here two Sundays, and he has captured the hearts of our people.”
Cooter Swanson commented, “There were two things that became obvious about our new pastor. He wants our church to stand out as a light in our community; and he is very relational. He wants to know people and their story. Furthermore, when he begins to cast his vision for the church, I believe the people will buy into it because of his winsome personality and love for people.”
Another Pastor Search Team member, Elaine Sheldon, stated, “I am so grateful Pastor Owen is coming to be the shepherd of our church here in Marietta. He is warm, personable, and approachable. He expresses enthusiasm in his love for the Lord and His Word.”
Pastor Owen was on the varsity baseball and basketball in high school and was a graduate assistant in the Athletic Department of Belmont University. In 2004 he became a faculty member at Brentwood Academy in Nashville, where he taught Christian Dynamics and was head junior varsity basketball coach and head gold coach. In 2011 he became the minister to students at First Baptist Church in Nashville; and in 2014 became the minister to young adults/missions. In March of 2019, he became the campus and teaching pastor at Harpeth Heights.
Pastor Owen is not only a graduate of Belmont University but has earned a Master of Divinity degree from Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Shawnee, Kansas, and is currently completing his Doctor of Ministry degree from Hazelip School of Theology in Nashville.
Lesley Ann is a professor with Vanderbilt University’s School of Nursing Master’s Program.
Both Brandon and Lesley Ann are leaving their parents in Tennessee in making this move to Marietta. The Marietta pastor admitted that it was not an easy decision to leave them behind, but he expressed that he was confident that it was all a part of God’s plan.
