S p r e a d i n g    G o d ' s    W o r d

SINCE 1836

Vienna First Baptist Church has been spreading the Gospel since 1836. 

We are a small town community with a big heart for loving and serving others. 

Our Leadership Team

The staff and leadership here at First Baptist Church is comprised of men and women who love, care and pray for every single person in the church. If you have any questions for any of our staff, feel free to reach out and email them or call our church office to speak with them.  You may contact the church office at viennafbc@gmail.com or call (229) 268-4386.

  • Brian Leverett

    Lead Pastor

    Brian grew up in Milledgeville, Georgia. He graduated from Georgia College & State University in 2003. Brian received his Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where he also met and married his wife, Amy. They now have 3 children: Isabella, Sophia, and Malachi.  Pastor Leverett is one of the guitarists in our Praise & Worship Band "Made New".

  • CALEB M. GOLDEN

    youth PASTOR


  • Heather Grinolds

    Children's director  &  Music Director

    Heather is a servant of the Lord, loves kids and music. She has a strong passion for ministry through children and music, and she's excited to watch the children learn and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

    Heather grew up in Eastman, Georgia. She has a BA in music from Georgia Southwestern University. Before moving to Vienna, Heather served at Bethel Baptist Church as Minister of Music for approximately six years. She is currently the 4th and 5th grade English and Language Arts teacher at Fullington Academy. Heather and her husband Matt were married in 2011. They live in Vienna with their three daughters Jessa, Annalise, and Ruby Mae.


  • Larista Thompson

    Administrative Assistant & 

    Financial Secretary

    Larista joined our VFBC staff in February of 2020.  She grew up in Vienna and attended Vienna First Baptist Church during that time; she was baptized here at the age of 10 and was active in the youth group "The Young Disciples" during her teen years. Larista has fond memories of growing up in Vienna and being a part of VFBC.  She says, "It's a blessing to be able to serve the church I grew up in."

    Larista is a graduate of Fullington Academy.  She studied business and accounting when she attended ABAC and Georgia Southwestern State University before marrying Clint B. Thompson, Jr. from Byromville in December of 1979.  The couple has one son, Cole Thompson, who is married to the former Allison Watson of Cordele.  Larista enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Our Beliefs


At VFBC, you will hear the word “gospel” repeatedly because it is the most important truth that we can know and experience. The gospel is not merely a message that needs to be shared with non-Christians, but also with Christians. It is not something that mature Christians move on from, but rather something that they move deeper into. The gospel is the lens in which we should view theology, ministry, and all aspects of life.


The Apostle Paul defined the word “gospel” concisely in 1st Corinthians 15:3-5 when he wrote, “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” Simply put, the gospel is all about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, and the implications it has for us.