Myrtle Grove Staff

Paul Waters was born in Laurens, SC, the fifth of seven children of pastor John and Mrs. Helen Waters. Paul accepted Christ at age six, surrendered to full time service in his teens, and received the call to preach at age 21. Paul graduated from Tennessee Temple University in 1977. While in his junior year, he met his wife to be. He married the former Mary Jane Cohee of Oxon Hill, MD in 1977 and began ministry with his dad at Faith Baptist Church in Laurens, SC that same year. Shannon, Paul, Jr,. and Anna were born during Paul and Mary Jane’s first six years in ministry.

In 1986, Paul and his family moved to Graham, NC to work on staff at Andrews Memorial Baptist. In 1994, Paul accepted the call to pastor Bible Baptist Church in New Milford, CT and served there until 1999 when Myrtle Grove Baptist extended a call to pastor here in Wilmington. God added Joshua to the Waters family while they served in Connecticut.

Paul and his family have served MGBC for the past 20 years. During their stay here God has given them 9 grandchildren, Baker, Reese, Titus, Eden, Maila, Lydia, Sammie, Eliyah, and Heidi.

Who is Glen Kinlaw? He is an only child but he is not spoiled, or at least that his story. He married way above his pay grade and he has been blessed with three wonderful children, each of whom is his favorite. If he has a gift, it is to take a complex idea and communicate it in very simple and easy to understand terms. God has used this gift to afforded him much success in leadership, sales, and public speaking.  He hopes in life to be able to move the needle in the lives of those he has the good fortune to come in contact with and to encourage, challenge and motivate others to be all that God intended them to be.

Mary Jane Waters has been leading the MGBC music department since 2006. She was born with a love for music. Although she grew up in a Christian home it wasn’t until she accepted Christ as Savior at age 19 that her love for Him became a reality. She began learning to play the piano at age 5 and by age 12 she was ministering in church, putting musical groups together and accompanying her singing father. Furthering her education and honing her musical skills at Tennessee Temple University, she met and married her husband of 42 years, Paul Waters, the current pastor at MGBC. Mary Jane leads the MGBC choir, plays the piano and oversees the worship team where a blend of hymns and worship music can be heard weekly. As a piano teacher for over 40 years, she operates Shepherd’s Song Academy where she educates over 20 students weekly. The mother of 4 children and 9 grandchildren, Mary Jane finds deep joy in the beauty and privilege of motherhood, grandparenting and being a helpmeet to her husband Paul. Her life’s verse can be found in Exodus 15:2—”The Lord is my strength and my song and He has become my salvation. This is my God and I will praise Him, my father’s God and I will exalt Him.”

Cory Peterson is a devoted husband and loving father who is dedicated to serving our church community. As a passionate audio-visual technician, Cory applies his technical skills to create high-quality production experiences that help people fully immerse themselves in worship.

Mother, Educator & Creative

Heart-centered and endlessly dedicated.

I am a homeschooling mother of three, dedicated to faith, family and purposeful work. Driven by my love of Jesus, I believe that Kingdom work is the most important work, so I try to keep my eyes on what is eternally significant. When I’m not coordinating volunteers, organizing ministry teams, and orchestrating educational experiences for my children and other homeschool families, I enjoy spending time with my ridiculously handsome husband and three wacky, brilliant and lovely kids, immersed in creative projects, or wishing I was reading a good book at the beach.

Laura Creen and her family moved to Wilmington from Chicago in 2011. She has a background in accounting/bookkeeping and has worked at CPA firms, property management companies and at ILM airport. Laura joined the staff at MGBC in November 2018 as the Treasurer and is grateful to be a part of the community. In her spare time, she loves to garden, cook, sew and take advantage of the beautiful weather, ocean and southern charm that Wilmington has to offer.