Meet Your Encourager
A brother in ministry, in your district.
EMPOWER is delivered by encouragers who know the soil of rural Alabama. Most have pastored here. All have walked with churches through the slow, holy work of revitalization. Find yours below.
Team Leadership
Southern Team Leader
Steve Dunn
EMPOWER Southern Team Leader
Steve oversees the EMPOWER Southern team and coordinates encouragers across Alabama districts. He is the first point of contact for pastors exploring whether EMPOWER is a fit for their church, and he serves as an encourager himself.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 251-365-4549
District Encouragers
District 4
Morgan Bailey
EMPOWER Encourager
Morgan is a graduate of The Baptist College of Florida (1985) and Luther Rice Seminary (1990). Over the past 40 years, he has faithfully pastored six churches in Alabama and Florida, each recognized for leadership in church health and growth within their associations and state conventions.
While serving at Santuck Baptist Church in Wetumpka, the church was honored by the Billy Graham School of Evangelism and Ministry as being in the top 3% of growing churches nationwide.
He also served in leadership within the Alabama Baptist Convention for nine years, including terms as Chairman of the State Board of Missions and First Vice President of the Convention. A frequent conference speaker and preacher across the state, his ministry continues in retirement through TALKS, training churches in Evangelism, Prayer, Small Groups, and Spiritual Gifts.
He is the author of the GodTalks Prayer Journal a guide to explore the Father’s secret place of prayer (available on Amazon). His has another book recently released titled Canvas: Be a Portrait of God’s Grace, inspired by his 17 year journey with stage 4 pancreatic and liver cancer. Morgan and his wife of 51 years live on Lake Martin in Alabama. They have 2 adult sons, one daughter-in-law, and one grandchild.
Email: [email protected]
District 4
Don Downs
EMPOWER Encourager
Don Downs is an Associational Mission Strategist with more than 34 years of ministry experience, including 21 years as Senior Pastor of two churches. Both congregations experienced remarkable revitalization, growth, and renewed community impact during his tenure. Don is passionate about encouraging pastors, strengthening churches, and helping congregations pursue healthy, Gospel-centered ministry. His heart for discipleship, prayer, church renewal, and cooperative missions continues to shape his work as he partners with churches and ministry leaders to advance Kingdom work in local communities.
Don and his wife, Donna, have been married 32 years and have two adult daughters, Kara (28) and Camryn (22).
Email: [email protected]
District 5
John Thomas
EMPOWER Encourager
John has been in full-time ministry for over 30 years. He previously served as Associate Director of Missions for the Calhoun Baptist Association and currently serves the Southeast Alabama Baptist Association. John has a passion for missions, outreach, and teaching. He has served a number of years as a facilitator/trainer in the areas of Sunday School, Family Ministries, Senior Adults, Vacation Bible School, and Disaster Relief, and is also certified as a trainer for Funnel Fusion and Handcrafted Calling. John and his wife Cindy have been married for 50 years. Cindy is a retired minister of preschool/children and currently is a contract worker for ALSBOM. They have three children and three grandchildren.
Email: [email protected]
District 6
Keith Gambill
Vice Chair of the EMPOWER team
District Six covers Alabama-Crenshaw, Butler, Pine Barren, Conecuh, Bethlehem, Covington, Sardis, and Escambia associations. Keith serves as the Associational Mission Strategist for the Butler Baptist Association and a Church Revitalization coach. Keith was a pastor for 35 years and loves the local church pastor. He was the first Empower coach for ALSBOM, serving the last four years in that role. His heart is for rural churches and pastors to reach their maximum health potential through the Empower process. Keith and his wife Rhonda have two daughters, five grandsons, and three great-granddaughters. He and Rhonda live in Millbrook, AL.
Email: [email protected]
District 7
Mark Presswood
EMPOWER Encourager
God called me to the Gospel Ministry during college. At first, Ministry was as a Music Minister. After many years, God led me to be Pastor. Seven years ago, He called me to serve Him as an AMS. Having served churches in several ministry capacities gives me a unique perspective in helping churches in all areas of their ministries to serve the Lord and their communities. I love God’s local church and her people. I am committed to helping every church of every size in every location to be who Jesus wants them to be.
Email: [email protected]
District 8
Dee McGuire
EMPOWER Encourager
Paul “Dee” McGuire answered God’s call to full-time ministry in 1985, beginning a life of service and ministry in the local church. Dee served his home church, First Baptist Church of Apopka, for 10 years before graduating from Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. First Baptist Apopka realized growth over the 10-year period, having no less than 85 baptisms during 5 of those 10 years.
In 2000, Dee was called to serve as pastor of Greensboro Baptist Church, where he faithfully served for 24 years. During his ministry, he led the church through many seasons of growth and change. After COVID-19, Dee emphasized the importance of church revitalization, helping the congregation strengthen its mission to continue to thrive and grow.
Dee retired from full-time pastoral ministry in 2024 after 40 years of service. He has been married to Sally McGuire for 49 years, and together they have three children and eight grandchildren.
Email: [email protected]
District 12
Tyler Eiland
Secretary/Treasurer of the EMPOWER team
Covers Chilton, Elmore, Autauga, Central, and Montgomery associations. Tyler serves as the Associational Mission Strategist for the Chilton Baptist Association and as a Church Revitalization Coach. He brings a CliftonStrengths “Strategic Thinking” lens (Learner, Intellection, Relator, Belief, Achiever) and a deep love for rural pastors who are quietly faithful in unseen places. He and his wife Jennifer have three daughters and live in Clanton.
Email: [email protected]
Not sure who your district encourager is?
Reach out and we’ll connect you.