Our Staff

lindy@parkwaybaptist.us
Lindy Apon was born in Columbia, Missouri. He came to know Christ as his Lord and Savior through the influences of his family and church at the age of 11. Lindy felt a call to ministry at the age of 17. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Education from Southwest Baptist University, and a Master of Arts degree in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Seminary. Lindy served as a youth minister for 17 years in churches in Oklahoma and Arkansas. He has served as Senior Pastor at Parkway since 2003. He has been married to his precious wife Crystal since 1983, and has two sons, Austin and Grayson.

jjwhaley@gmail.com
J.J. was born and raised in Knoxville. He is married to his beautiful bride, Shea.  They have 4 children. J.J. came to know Christ at an early age but didn’t fully surrender his life to Christ until the age of 25. Since this time of greater surrender, God has blessed and taught J.J. so much. Several years ago, J.J. went on a mission trip to Mexico and experienced what it was like to share Jesus with others who were hungry to hear the Gospel. It was an amazing experience, and it made J.J. even more excited about serving Christ! 

J.J. first started working with children as a volunteer in the AWANA program. It was during this time J.J. felt like God was leading him to a greater involvement in children’s ministry.  In 2011, J.J. took a “next step,” becoming the Children’s Minister at Parkway.  “My passion is to teach children God’s Word in an exciting way so they are excited about God and His Word. My desire is for God’s Word to reach the heart so they will be able know Christ and share Him with others.”  As a church, our desire is to “make disciples who make disciples.”  Children are not too young to learn this process!  

“God has given me a great love for serving Him and His children. I have three children of my own, and I can’t imagine anything more important than helping them learn about Jesus!”

mark@parkwaybaptist.us
Mark grew up in Johnson City, Tennessee. He and Chris have been married since1995. Mark is the father of Matthew, Katie and Caleb, and the grandfather of Maverick and Waylon.

Mark asked Christ into his life at age 13, but did not surrender fully as a follower of Christ until the age of 28. Since then, Mark has continued to grow in Christ and has served in Children’s Ministry, Youth Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, Sports Ministry, and as a Deacon. He and his family have been active members of Parkway since 2009, and he has served in Youth Ministry at Parkway as a Sunday School Teacher and Small Group Leader. Mark has a heart for taking the Gospel to all nations and has ministered in Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, Ghana, and South Korea.

It is Mark’s desire to teach youth the truth of God's Word so they will have a strong foundation that will enable them to stand for what is right, learn how to say “no” to ungodly influences, and mature in their walk with Christ.

melody@parkwaybaptist.us
Melody Fugate has served as a secretary at Parkway since September 1999.  She and her husband, Kent, joined Parkway with their young family when they moved to Tennessee in 1982.  Their daughter, Cindy, and son in law, Ryan, and grandchildren, Caleb, Silas, Cheyenne, Collin and Alexa, reside in Knoxville.  Their son, Brent, wife, Ann, and grandchildren Josiah, Levi, Micah and Ezra reside in Georgetowne, MA where Brent is the pastor at Byfield Parish Church.

Caleb started a personal relationship with Christ when he was in second grade.  He began attending Parkway in 2009. Caleb began serving Parkway as an Administrative Assistant at Parkway in February 2022.  Caleb also serves as a volunteer in youth ministry, and he serves as part of the behind-the-scenes team for Sunday worship by running sound, setting up our live stream, and leading the team of volunteers who facilitate our worship services behind the scenes.