Sarepta Staff

Dr. Lex Bowen

Dr Lex Bowen is our director of missions. Lex is a native of Georgia and his hometown is Dawson. He is a graduate of Mississippi College where he majored in Religion. Lex received his Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and his Doctorate of Ministry from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. His ministry experience covers 20 years of pastoring in Oklahoma and Georgia. He served as Church Planter in Singapore for 3 & 1/2 years. To enhance his experience, Lex worked as a Ministry Consultant with the INJOY group (Dr. John Maxwell) and a Church Consultant with LifeWay. Lex has been married to Pam since 1975 and they have two adult children-Spencer-married to Claire and Amanda-married to Bryce and they have two children.

Linda Smith

Director of the International Friends English Teaching Ministry. Linda co-ordinates the work of numerous volunteers who assist in this ministry. Linda, and her husband, Phil, also minister to the families of those enrolled in the program. Phil and Linda are members of Green Acres Baptist Church.

Luanne Byrd

Luanne began as Sarepta's Ministry Assistant Nov. 30, 2010.  Previously, she worked for Touching Lives Ministries with Dr. James Merritt for more than eight years as their Executive Director of Marketing and Creative Services. Alongside Sarepta, Luanne works as a freelance writer for several local, regional and national publications, having written for the SBC with BP News and Sports.  She is a native of Snellville, GA  and relocated to Colbert with her Daughters, Madison and Summer, in 2007. Luanne and her family are members of Colbert First Baptist Church.  

Emily Fleming

Financial Secretary and Church Financial Consultant.  Emily has been with Sarepta since 2000. A native of Gainesville, GA, she has lived in Athens since 1981, currently residing on a farm in southerastern Clarke County with her husband, Frank. They have two children, Anna (married to Mark Coxwell) and Nelson. Emily has a M.A. in English from UGA, and has been trained as a financial consultant with the Georgia Baptist Convention. She is a member of Green Acres Baptist Church.