Pastor’s Page
Hello,
and welcome to First Baptist Martinsville!
While being a pastor comes with a lot of titles, my favorite name is just Libby. My church is my family, and my community are my friends, foremost.
I was called to be Senior Pastor of this congregation in 2018, and I am excited to share in its life and ministry. As pastor, my work is to be the spiritual leader of the church. I not only provide administrative leadership, but I preach, lead mission opportunities, provide pastoral care, and offer a connecting presence in our community to this congregation. I am passionate about our mission and ministry in this community, and I look forward with this church in its mission to be disciples of Christ in this community.
I am a graduate of Shorter College in Rome, Georgia, where I earned a Spanish degree with minors in Religion and English in 2007. I graduated with my Master of Divinity degree from McAfee School of Theology in 2010. I then studied at the University of Virginia and earned a Master of Arts in Religious Studies (Theology, Ethics, and Culture) in 2015. In 2019, I completed a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree with McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University in Atlanta, GA with a focus in Justice & Peacemaking/Ethics.
I love to write as part of my ministry as well. I am the author of Privilege, Risk, and Solidarity: Understanding Undocumented Immigration through Feminist Christian Ethics (Wipf and Stock, 2017). I have also served as a Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty Fellow in July 2017 and now work to advance the mission of the BJC as an ambassador for Religious Liberty. I am also honored to write articles, chapters, and blogs for various publications.
Originally from North Georgia/Southern Tennessee, I was ordained to the ministry in December 2010 in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. I have served as a teacher, a pulpit supply preacher, and in music ministry leadership roles in various churches since that time. Most recently, I served the congregation of River Road Church, Baptist in Richmond, Virginia as Pastoral Resident and Interim Minister of Christian Education & Spiritual Formation. I also worked as an immigration paralegal with a large law firm for 10 years while I was in school and became proficient in immigration law and practice, leading to my advocacy efforts for and writing about the issue of undocumented immigration.
Contact Libby
Feel free to contact Libby if you have any questions about faith, life, ministry, or church in general.
My husband, William Underwood, and I have two children, Elena Ruth & Iris Audrey Grammer-Underwood, born in 2018 and 2022. We also have three dogs: Paco, Boober, and Samson. William is a mathematician working as an Account Manager in the insurance industry, and he finds his own ministry opportunities inside and outside the church walls.
For Sabbath time, I love to hike, sing, drink coffee, and continue to grow as a photographer.
My door is always open for prayer, conversations about faith, or just a good visit over coffee. Please feel free to contact me at libby@fbcmartinsville.com or call the church at 276-632-6336. I look forward to meeting you!
In Christ,
Libby