Leadership

Rev. Josh Hobgood serves as Senior Pastor for the La Grange First Free Will Baptist Church .   Josh grew up in Pitt County and is a graduate of DH Conley High School, near Greenville, NC.  He graduated from Mount Olive College (now the University of Mount Olive)  and graduated with a Masters of Divinity from Campbell University Divinity School in May, 2016.   Josh served as Youth Pastor from 2011 - 2025.  He  and Sara serve as directors of the  General Youth II week at Cragmont Assembly with Andrew and Kat Alphin.   Josh also uses his gift of music with the church praise band. He and his wife, Sara, were married October 17, 2015 at Cragmont Assembly and  have two children, Fitz and Parker.   Josh has served on the NC Foundation for Christian Ministries Board since 2016 and was elected to the Youth Transition Task Force  for the denomination in 2024.  

Marian Kennedy is the Music and Drama Director for La Grange First Free Will Baptist Church. Marian, a La Grange native, grew up in the church and after completion of her college education, returned to serve the Lord and her church with her gifts.  Marian graduated from Mount Olive College (now the University of Mount Olive) and Campbell University and then obtained her Masters in Music from East Carolina University.  She has taught music and drama at North Lenoir High School for many years and  retired in 2019.   She directs the choir and several dramas throughout the year for both adults and youth.

Rev. Ronnie Hobgood and his wife, Mitzi, returned to La Grange First Free Will Baptist to pastor in June of 2007 and retired June 1, 2025. At that time, the church named him Pastor Emeritus for serving 24 of his 48 years of pastoral ministry here. Ronnie also served as pastor of the church from 1982 -1988.