Senior Pastor- Jared M. Pankhurst

Pastor Jared and his family began their journey with Taneytown Baptist Church in July 2017. He has served on staff at various churches since 2005 and as a senior pastor since 2009. Pastor Jared holds a B.A. from Gardner-Webb University in communications and a M.A. in Christian Ministry from North Greenville University. He has served on church revitalization and leadership teams for the Greater Cleveland County Baptist Association in Shelby, NC and has a passion to see churches move from plateau and decline to being thriving evangelistic congregations through discipleship.

He and his wife, Sarah were married in 2004 and have 3 children: Liberty, Lucas, and Riley. The Pankhurst's love their Jacksonville Jaguars, cooking and eating meals together, getting out and enjoying Maryland's awesome weather, and the Orioles and Ravens are starting to grow on them...

Secretary - Rachel Smith

Rachel and her family moved to Taneytown in December of 2019 and started attending TBC. She worked in the field of police telecommunications for 13 years prior to becoming the church secretary in 2021. She has a passion for serving others, serving God, and enjoying the journey of life.

Rachel and her husband, Charles, have been married since 2012 and have 1 child: George. The Smith’s love watching movies, getting out and enjoying family time, and anything to do with food. Everyone is trying to get Rachel to drink coffee without creamer, maybe one day…

Youth Director - Steven Cook

Steven and Alicia Cook are both from the Westminster/Taneytown area of Maryland.

They met and were married in 2010. Both Steven and Alicia placed their faith in Jesus for Salvation at an early age, but in their teen years they ran from the Lord. In 2013 the Lord saved their marriage, and they put Jesus first in their lives and in their marriage.

In 2013, after being greatly involved in their local church, Steven and Alicia felt the Lord’s calling into full time ministry. They packed up the house and moved to WV to attend Appalachian Bible College where Steven graduated with a double major in Theology and Youth & Family Biblical Counseling in 2017. In 2017 Steven accepted the pastoral position at Chestnut Grove Bible Church, where he pastored for 6 years. In 2024 the Cooks made a transition into missions, however, the Lord has called them back into the local church. In February 2025, Steven accepted the position of Minister of Students with TBC. The family had been attending since 2024, and feel that the Lord orchestrated a great fit for them here at TBC.

Steven and Alicia have 5 children: Connor, Elijah, Declan, Liam, and Eliana. The greatest thing the Cook family loves in life is serving Jesus and people together as a family. The Cooks also enjoy fishing, watching movies together, eating together as a family, and playing cards/board games together.