CPAF Festival Director

KEN HALL (CPAF Festival Director) - Ken serves as Student Ministry Consultant in the Discipleship and Family Ministry Department of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (MBCB). Prior to serving the MBCB, he served as Associate Pastor/Minister of Music at Brownsville Baptist Church in Brownsville, TN; Minister to Students at First Baptist Church in Columbus, MS; and Minister of Youth and Activities at First Baptist Church in Yazoo City, MS. He holds a Master of Religious Education degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX, and a Bachelor of Recreation Leadership from the University of Mississippi. A native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Ken is married to the former Jerri Sue Clower of Yazoo City, MS. Ken and Sue live in Clinton, MS, and have two children. Their son Payne is a freshman at the University of Alabama, and their daughter, Mary Paige, is a tenth grader at Clinton High School.

Festival & Drama coordinator

Bobby Everett (CPAF Festival & Drama Coordinator) – Bobby graduated from Belhaven University in Jackson, MS and leads workshops at many churches throughout the convention and at the State and National Performing Arts Festivals. He has been involved with the Christian Performing Arts Festival a little after it first started. The Lord called Bobby to use his theatrical talents many years ago to help teach and train others in sharing God’s Love through the Performing Arts. He has been actively involved in community and professional theatre and opera for over 35 years. He has a vast knowledge in a wide spectrum of events including Theatre, Opera, Musical Theatre, Ballet, Biblical Pageants, and Music. With the Mississippi Opera Company, he has held the post of production director, assistant stage director, singer, stage manager, actor, props master, makeup artist, and costume master. He studied directing under Bodo Igesz, stage director with the New York Metropolitan Opera Company. Bodo studied directing under the renown film and stage director Franco Zeffirelli (film director of Jesus of Nazareth and Romeo & Juliet), which gave Bobby second-hand experience under Mr. Zeffirelli. He has worked with the renowned opera director Carlos Menotti, founder and stage director for the Spolleto Opera Festival that is in Italy & the United States. He has also studied under Francesco Privitera, European stage director in Germany. He has worked with many well known opera singers from the U.S. and Europe. Bobby is the drama director at Parkway Baptist Church where he has directed numerous Easter & Christmas Pageants and skits, since 1985. He produced and directed The Greatest Gift, one of the largest ten-scene drive through Nativities in the Southeast United States that was performed annually. Several Travel Magazines have written articles on this production, which won the Spirit of Christmas Award in the city of Clinton. He was also involved for more than 17 years with New Stage Theatre in a variety of areas.

CPAFassistant

Rene’ Edwards (CPAF Assistant) - Rene’ is the Ministry Assistant at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, Discipleship, and Family Ministry. She is originally from Atlanta, Georgia and moved to Mississippi when she was nine years old and has been here ever since. She is married to Wesley Edwards of Jackson and they have two children; Jason Edwards, 28 and Jaime Edwards K8ennedy, 25. Rene’ and Wesley have been active members of First Baptist Church, Madison for the past 25 years.

Registrationcoordinator

(No Picture Available) Vickie Roberts (CPAF Registration Coordinator) – Vickie is a volunteer with the Christian Performing Arts Festival. You can find her at the Registration Desk where she keeps up with lost and found, t-shirts, directions, and assistance to all. She has been volunteering for CPAF longer than she can remember; her first Christian Performing Arts Festival was at Calvary Baptist Church, 1300 West Capitol Street, Jackson, MS. Recently, she has also volunteered to assist with Bible Drill competitions at the Madison and Brandon locations. She has a very active imagination and loves the Lord, fun, clowns, puppets, drama, and recreation.

Puppetcoordinator

Martha Cannon (CPAF Puppet Coordinator) - Martha got her start in puppetry from a church training class she was teaching to sixth graders. In the lesson, she was asked to make puppets as a teaching tool. From that small beginning she began what has become a life-long calling to ministry in Puppetry and the Creative Arts. For the past 34 years, she has continued to learn and minister in the art forms. As director of New Directions Ministries, she seeks to use puppetry and drama as a gospel tool to minister in the name of Christ. Her dream is to one day use her puppetry training and experience in mission work. “I have a heart for the youth I work with. I get excited to see God’s hand at work in their lives. I am constantly looking to see God at work and desire to be a part of what He is doing in His kingdom.” Besides coordinating CPAF in the area of puppetry, she also works closely with Fellowship of Christian Puppeteers a national organization who promotes training and excellence in the area of puppetry and the Christian Arts. Martha is married to Garry, a wonderful man, who assists her in her work and has five grown children. She is a grandmother of two beautiful babies. “I am grateful for all the wonderful things God has done in my life, for the blessings He has bestowed on me, and for all He is teaching me in the journey.”

Recreation coordinator

Myrna Gregory (CPAF Recreation Coordinator) - Myrna has worked in the area of recreation and sports ministry for over 21 years. She serves as a Missions Mobilization Associate for Upward Sports. Myrna also serves as a volunteer sports chaplain at the Olympics games. She has served with Action Ministries at the Olympic venues in Salt Lake City, Athens, Torino, Beijing, and Vancouver. Myrna has been a teacher and a part of the Mississippi Performing Arts Festival for 21 years.

Clowning coordinator

Perry Robbins (CPAF Clowning Coordinator) – Perry is the Pastor of Centerville Baptist Church in Tylertown, MS. He has been performing Gospel Balloon Art and Magic for ten (10) years. He has a love for children and finding unique ways to share the gospel. He has been teaching at CPAF for 5 years. He and his wife Bonnie have shared in this ministry from South Carolina to Texas and also in Mexico.

CPAF Festival Music Leaders

Dustin Hinton (CPAF Music Leader) – Dustin lives in Richton, MS and is a member of Emmanuel Freewill Baptist Church. He is a self-taught guitar player and singer for over 3 years now. Dustin has performed at Church Youth Rallies, Festivals, and Revivals locally and statewide. Not long ago Dustin won the song-writing contest at the Alabama State Festival. This past October he sang at the MS State Fair Talent Show. He enjoys singing, playing, and anything that Praises God. He aspires to grow in his music as a witness and servant of God.

Taylor Bryd (CPAF Music Leader) – Taylor was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi and graduated from Jackson Academy in 2004 and then attended Mississippi State University and graduated in 2008 with a degree in Exercise Physiology. Taylor is now pursuing a career in medicine. He has been very blessed and fortunate to be a part of leading worship at First Baptist Church of Jackson, MS and has had the privilege of leading worship at youth and adult retreats, as well. God has blessed Taylor with the talent of music and he enjoys serving God with the gifts He has given to him. “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17