Bailey Sherman

Girls Minister

/205.937.4567

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Hello, there! I can’t wait to meet and get to know you! Until I have the opportunity to meet you personally, I thought you might like to know my story. I was born and raised here in Birmingham, Alabama. I graduated from Briarwood Christian School. After graduation, I moved just down the road to attend Samford University. My time at Samford began in the nursing school. After two years there, I realized I was not called to a life of syringes and gauze. I spent the following summer wrestling with God as I tried to understand what I was called to pursue. I heard the Lord telling me to switch my time to the English department, and I am so glad that He did because it led to my husband, Alex Sherman. 

 

This switch also sent me to my favorite place in the world. In the Spring of 2015, I had the privilege of living and studying in London, England. It was during my time there the Lord opened the door for me to do what I really love: youth ministry. Upon my return home I began working in a local church youth ministry. The Lord blessed me with the two most challenging and wonderful years of my life working with junior and high school students. As my time at the church came to an end, I entered into a season of exciting beginnings. I graduated from Samford, married my best friend, and joined Big Time ministries as the girls minister! I am overwhelmed and honored God is allowing me to spend time loving on and walking through life with your girls. 

 

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Janie Roper

 

Director of Girls Ministry & Director of Administration

 /205.566.1171

 

Hi everyone! A little about me... I am from Birmingham and have been here for most of my life (except for the period that I attended Auburn University). I went to Briarwood Christian High School. Four years ago, I married Adam Roper. Marriage has been one of the greatest gifts I have ever received! Adam and I met through YoungLife Leadership Training back in 2010 as we were both training to be YoungLife Leaders. After several years of dating (and Adam slowly stealing my heart), Adam asked me to marry him! Adam is currently on staff at Alabama as an Admissions Counselor. He is also is a YoungLife leader in Shelby County. We love spending time with our families, friends and the students we both get to love on and mentor! We have two children Nash (1) and Ty (newborn). 

 

My role with Bigtime is overseeing and coordinating the girl's side of the ministry. I work closely with Bailey to plan, prepare, and pray for the junior high & high school girls. I am also the Director of Administration. I have just recently finished my certification in Biblical Counseling and now get to offer counseling through Bigtime to any parents or students who might need someone to talk to. I have a deep passion for walking alongside hurting or struggling people through counseling, and I feel very privileged to get to offer this through Bigtime!

Mark Rector

Guys Minister

 /205.568.2743

          

A little about me: I was raised in Mountain Brook and graduated from Mountain Brook High School in 2012. I then went on to Furman University, where I majored in Business Administration and Religion. Following Furman, I attended Beeson Divinity School at Samford University, where I received my Master of Divinity in December of 2019.

 

BigTime has played in integral role in my faith journey. I went on my first BigTime retreat in the spring of 2006. I recommitted myself to Christ in 9th grade during the BigTime fall retreat in 2008. I have served in Washington, D.C. and grew in community with other believers and friends through BigTime. Since my sophomore year of college, I felt the Lord’s call to serve him and others through vocational ministry. BigTime has helped cultivate my calling to ministry as I served as a summer intern upon graduating from college. For the past four years, I have served as the college minister at Brookwood Baptist Church and as the interim youth minister from February 2019 to August 2019. 

 

I am married to the lovely Anne Galloway Rector, and we have two kids, Joshua (20 months) and Evelyn (8 months). I help coach football at Mountain Brook Junior High, and I love watching/playing all sorts of sports, writing, reading, and grilling. I am so excited to walk alongside the students in the Mountain Brook community as we strive to conform to the image of Christ each and every day. 

Bill Garner

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Co-Founder & Guys Ministry Coordinator

/ 205.317.1031

 

I was born and raised in a Christian family in Augusta, Georgia. As I grew up, I had many experiences that challenged and strengthened my faith. After high school, I attended the University of Augusta in Augusta, Georgia, where I realized my calling of working with students.

My first “hands-on” ministry experience was in Young Life as I helped spearhead the growth and development of the middle school/junior high ministry in the Augusta area. After spending three years on staff there, I felt God calling me into the arena of education and coaching. 

 

In fall of 2005, Zach Skipper and I began the journey that would eventually lead to the launch of Bigtime Ministries in November of 2006.  Bigtime is the realization of a dream for me! My desire is to bring students closer to Jesus through relationship-building and Bible teaching. I am an active member of the Church of the Highlands in Birmingham. 

I enjoy traveling, University of Georgia football, and spending time with my family and friends.

Zach Skipper

Executive Director and Founder

/ 205.422.1220

 

Zach grew up in Nashville, TN where he went on to graduate from Vanderbilt University. Upon graduation, Zach served four years as Naval Officer working as a Navigator and Operations officer on two different ships based out of Virginia. While in college, Zach sensed a call to make disciples of students. In 2003, Zach moved to Birmingham to work on a Masters of Divinity at Samford University. While at seminary, he began coaching football and basketball at Mountain Brook Junior High. Through relationships built in the school community, Zach started leading bible studies with guys in junior high and high school. In 2005, he founded Bigtime with help from Bill Garner and several other dads in town. In 2015, Zach married Haley Hill and they now have two children Sawyer (3) and Jackson (1). 

 

In the fall of 2016, Zach and his family moved to Nashville to be near some family while Zach worked in economic development and leadership development as a consultant. In those years away from Bigtime, The Lord gave Zach a vision and heart for college and young adults who are searching to make sense of their story and launch into meaningful work and ministry. Zach has returned to lead Bigtime in 2020 with a renewed passion for cultivating Christ-followers from middle school, through high school, into college, and beyond.