Meet the Staff

MEET THE STAFF

Ministry Staff

We're grateful to have a number of individuals serving at McLeansville Baptist Church in full-time staff as well as part-time positions. Here are some of our ministry leaders.

Pastor Mike Barnette

Pastor Mike was saved on January 3, 1997, at the age of twenty, and shortly after followed the Lord’s call to be a preacher of the Gospel. He was then ordained into the ministry in 1999 by Friendship Baptist Church. Pastor Mike began his ministry education at the Fundamental Baptist Bible College and earned a Bachelor of Theology (2001). He then continued his education at the Liberty Theological Seminary, and has earned a Masters of Religion/Masters of Religious Education (2009).  

His ministry service began in January 2000, when he served as an interim pastor for one year at Northside Baptist church in Harmony, NC. From there The Lord led him to serve as a member of an international prison ministry known as the Rock of Ages Ministries (2001-2008), which allowed him to travel all over the country, train and labor with local churches/pastors, and minister to those in prison. During that time, Pastor Mike also served as a Missionary Chaplain at the Lake City Prison in Florida (2005 -2008). 

Following those seven years as a missionary, Pastor Mike served as an Active Duty United States Army Chaplain. He was commissioned as an Army Chaplain in November 2007, and began his military ministry. Pastor Mike was assigned as the Battalion Chaplain for the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, stationed at Fort Stewart, GA (2009), and then he was assigned to the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, NC (2012). During this time he ministered to fellow soldiers and their families providing counseling and spiritual guidance. Pastor Mike was deployed to Iraq with his unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (December 2009 - December 2010). Pastor Mike resigned from Active Duty U.S. Army as the Battalion Chaplain for the 3-321 Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Bragg, NC to follow God’s call to become the Senior Pastor of McLeansville Baptist Church. He continued to serve as a North Carolina Army National Guard Chaplain until June 2018 and has since resigned from the Army completely to give complete focus and energy to pastoring this great church! 

Pastor Mike is married to Athena and they have five children, Josiah, Emma Grace, Nathaniel, Sadie and Benjamin.

Associate Pastor Corey Cantrell

Pastor Corey was saved at the age of 8 at Turners Creek Baptist Church, and answered the call to preach at age 16 at youth camp. Upon completion of high school, he began training for the ministry at Calvary Baptist Bible College in King, North Carolina. He graduated with a Bachelor of Theology, with a minor in Youth Ministries, in 2012.


While in college, he began working with the youth at his home church of Hope Baptist Tabernacle. It was in April of 2013 that he officially went on staff as the Youth Pastor of Hope Baptist. During his time as Youth Pastor, God began to burden his heart not only for the youth, but for the family as a whole. As a result, he began to sense God’s leading toward the pastorate. On September 2, 2018, he became the Associate Pastor of Mcleansville Baptist Church, and is excited to labor together with the great people of this church!


Pastor Corey is married to Charity and they have three children, Chloe, Hunter, and Elliott.

Youth Director Chad Winfree

Chad Winfree was saved at the age of 7 during a revival meeting, and got assurance of his salvation at age 21. As he grew up he transitioned from being in the youth group to being involved in various youth leadership and ministry roles during his early years at Lebanon Baptist Church. 

At the age of 25 God began to work in Chad’s life and drew him closer to the study and teaching of His Word. He then pursued seminary classes at the Greensboro Bible Institute where his knowledge and love for God’s word flourished, and doors of opportunity began to open up for Chad. He received a degree in Biblical Theology from the GBI and also has Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from UNCG. Since then Chad has been serving as a junior high Sunday School teacher and as the Youth Director for McLeansville Baptist Church since August of 2012. 

Chad is married to Heather Winfree and they have two children: Taylor and Hannah.
Share by: