Elders

APBC is led by a plurality of elders. We believe the New Testament affirms two offices in the local church, elders and deacons. Our elders serve together to shepherd APBC by teaching the Word of God, leading and equipping the church for ministry, providing pastoral care, and praying for the church. 


*We believe the New Testament uses three terms interchangeably to describe one office. Elder, overseer, and pastor.

  • Rich shadden

    Senior Pastor

    Rich began serving as senior pastor of Audubon Park Baptist Church on October 9, 2011. Dr. Shadden's primary responsibilities include preaching/teaching, vision casting, pastoral residency training, and the day to day administrative responsibilities of the church. By God's grace, he became a follower of Jesus when he was 16 years old. Dr. Shadden holds a M.Div. from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Theology from Mid-America. He also teaches as an adjunct professor of theology for the Bethlehem College & Seminary Memphis Location that meets at APBC, and serves as coordinator. He and his wife Kristy have four children, Luke, Eliza, Isaac, and Silas. 

  • Don gale

    pastor of worship

    Don began serving as an elder of Audubon Park Baptist Church on March 25, 2018. A primary area of ministry Don gives oversight to is the music of the church. Don is involved in helping lead our congregation toward singing Christ honoring songs when we gather for worship. He became a Christian in college, and soon thereafter was discipled by his pastor who taught him the doctrines of the Christian faith. Don earned a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Memphis, as well as a Master's in English. He works full time in Finance at Fedex. He's married to Megan, and they have five children, Eden, Owen, Henry, Judson, and Ellis. 

  • Dallas Pitts

    Dallas began serving as a pastor of APBC in 2018. Bio to come. 

  • Jeff Fendley

    Jeff began serving as a pastor of APBC in 2023. He became a follower of Christ as a teenager.  He has served in vocational ministry but spent most of his career in corporate training and human resources.  He retired in 2023 from Walgreens and now serves part-time with Marketplace Chaplains.  Jeff has a Master of Education degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary.  He is a widower and father of two grown sons.   

  • John Lewis

    John began serving as a pastor of APBC in 2023. The primary area of ministry for John is overseeing Equip classes. He also helps with the preaching and teaching ministry. By God's grace, he became a believer at the age of eighteen. John holds a bachelor's degree in Christian studies from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and a Master of Arts in Exegesis and Theology from Bethlehem College and Seminary. He works full time in carpentry at 323 Woodwork. John is married to Mandie and they have two children, Caleb and Micah.