Monticello Baptist Church Calls New Pastor

During the Sunday morning worship service on July 30th, 2017, the members of Monticello Baptist Church voted to call Rev. David Artessa as their new senior pastor. Reverend Artessa is a lifelong resident of Jasper County. He is the son of Dave and Martha Artessa of Monticello; grandson of Betty Armistead Howard and the late Fred Armistead also of Monticello, and Mary Artessa and the late Joseph Artessa of Utica, NY.

Reverend Artessa is a 2002 graduate of Piedmont Academy where he was an active student-athlete participating in several sports, clubs, and extracurricular activities. Rev. Artessa is grateful for his time at Piedmont and he credits his teachers, coaches, and administrators for helping to shape the man that he has become.

He says, “It was at Piedmont where I learned that little things turn into big things and I’ve tried to carry that mentality into my adult and professional life.”

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After graduating Piedmont, Rev. Artessa went on to earn his associate’s degree in early childhood education from Gordon State College in Barnesville. He continued his education at Atlanta Baptist College where he would earn his bachelor’s degree in theology.

In 2007, Rev. Artessa would marry another life-long Jasper County resident, Johna Childers. She is the daughter of Jay Childers of Monticello and Gary Childers of Macon. She is also the granddaughter of Helen Stone and the late John Marion (Pooch) Stone of Monticello. David and Johna have been blessed during their 10 years of marriage with two children, Ella, 6, and Luca, 3.

It was during the first few months of their marriage that David and Johna felt a strong longing to serve the Lord in their hometown. “We knew two things for certain, we wanted to serve the Lord and we love our hometown,” commented Rev. Artessa. “Our hope and desire was to serve God in the place we loved the most—Monticello.”

This desire has led them to serve in ministry positions at both Callie Fuller Baptist Church in Monticello and Shiloh Baptist Church in Newborn before finally making their way to Monticello Baptist Church in November of 2015.

Rev. Artessa has spent the past 20 months serving the students at Monticello Baptist Church as the associate pastor/student minister. He says, “It’s been my joy and a privilege to work with the students here at MBC for almost two years. They are truly a great group of kids and we’ve seen God do great things in their lives.”

“I am truly humbled and honored by this,” commented Rev. Artessa about his new ministry role. “I am looking forward to serving the great people at Monticello Baptist Church and reaching out into the community I’ve called home for 33 years. It is important to me as a pastor that the church continue to impact the next generation with the gospel and help build up a community of believers who passionately love and serve the Lord.”

The church would like to invite anyone who may be looking for a church home or who may be curious about the Christian faith to join them for worship on Sundays at 11 a.m. or Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. Pastor David is currently preaching through a series of messages entitled The Core, which takes a look at nine core values that should define the life and ministry of the church.

The church is located at 334 W. Greene Street in Monticello, GA and all are welcome.