Bruce Powers is a native of Wake Forest, NC.  He received his BA in Psychology from SamfordUniversity and MA and PhD in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame.  He received his Master of Divinity from the Campbell University Divinity School.  Before entering Ministry Bruce was the Chair of the Department of Psychology at Mount Olive College.  He continues to teach college courses while pastoring WBC.  Before coming to WBC he served churches in Buies Creek and Calypso, NC. Bruce has a passion for helping people develop authentic faith and discipleship in their lives.  Bruce is the father of three children, Ann, Abby, and Brett. In his free time Bruce loves spending time with his family, reading, and following college sports (GO IRISH!).

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Traci Bunn Powers is a native of Newport News, VA. She attended the Campbell University Divinity School where she earned a B. A.in Religion and Master of Divinity. She was ordained to the Gospel Ministry in January 2001 by her home church, Orcutt Baptist Church in Newport News, VA. Traci has been in full time ministry for over 14 years serving in a variety of settings ranging from rural to urban. Before feeling called to be a pastor she served in a variety of church staff positions serving churches in Buies Creek and Fayetteville, NC. Traci came to WBC as Pastor in 2006, aftering serving as pastor of Calyspo Baptist Church in Calypso, NC. She is currently serving as a member of the General Board for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. In additional to ministry she is the mother of three chidlren, Ann, Abby and Brett. In her free time she loves spending time with her family, watching college football, cheering for the Boston Red Sox, and baking delicious foods.

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Betty Burnell was born and reared (that’s a southern expression) in Portsmouth, Virginia, although she did spend a few childhood years in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  She was and is fortunate to have a family that encouraged her to do anything she could do, and she has accepted that gift quite willingly.  Always interested in art and design, she began first pursuing music and dance, and continued studying both vigorously from childhood through college at Radford where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.  Her sacred music calling came very early: at the age of four, she was a soloist in a Christmas musical in a Methodist church.  While her interest and participation in musical endeavors never waned, after completion of her baccalaureate, she followed a career path in municipal government which led to obtaining a MA from Old Dominion University for studies in finance, accounting and computer based information systems.  She retired from service information systems.  She retired from service as Director of Museums leading a system of four art, history and children’s museums.  Since her retirement she has continued her work as an artist and fine craftsperson, but her greatest and most rewarding professional calling is as Director of Music Ministries at Westhaven Baptist Church which she accepted first as an interim director in August 2007, then full time in January 2008.  Betty is married to J. Robert Burnell and they enjoy a family which includes one married son, five grandchildren (two of whom are married), and four great grandchildren.  Together, Betty and Bob enjoy making art, sailing and sailboat racing, reading and movies. 

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Alan is originally from Pennsylvania, but moved to Hampton Roads in 1989. He began attending Westhaven Baptist Church in 1998, and started teaching in the Children's Department and helping with Youth events back then.

Alan is currently a Bi-Vocational Youth Coordinator, also working full-time for the U.S. Navy.  He makes sure that the youth attending WBC have a safe haven to hang out in, are exposed to good Christian adult role models and are led in interesting lessons based firmly on the Holy Bible.  Alan knows "the world" is stealing God's children one by one and he works hard to make Youth events and trips more than just a fun thing to do, but rather times that will help them to become the people He knows they can be, especially after High School graduation.

Alan and his bride (Wendy) have three children and reside in Portsmouth.  Besides work, more work and family time, he is the cook (not the baker) of the family, a VERY novice guitar player, a comic book collector and he plays just enough Mario Kart to maintian the title of "Best Driver in the House".

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Debbie Gray is a native of Portsmouth, VA and a life-long member of WesthavenBaptistChurch. She is a graduate of I. C. Norcum High School and has been in the pharmaceutical industry for many years. She is currently employed by Bon Secour Health Systems at MaryviewHospital where she has served in the Pharmacy since 1996 holding state and national certifications.  For over the past 30+ years Debbie has played piano and organ for WBC, officially coming on staff 8 years ago. When not working, or chin deep in music at church, she enjoys animals--especially her lab mix dog, traveling, counting cross-stitch, watching pro baseball and football, and cheering for the Trojans of USC (something the pastors try not to hold against her!).

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Wendy Morrison is a native of Newport, PA.  She received her BS in Human Resource Management and her MA in Industrial & Labor Relations from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  She was the Human Resource Manager for Norfolk Key &  Lock Industries in Chesapeake prior to being hired as the secretary at Westhaven.  Wendy is married to Alan Morrison and is a devoted mother to her three children, Chelsey, Isaac & Nathaniel.  In her free time she enjoys traveling to PA to visit her family, surfing the net,  and going out to eat with Alan.  She is an avid fan of the TV show 24, and the #1 fan of the Christian group “The Newsboys” and the singer Carman.

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E. Perry Lilley is a lifelong native of the Westhaven area of Portsmouth. He served as an electrician for 20 years with the Seaboard Airline Railroad after completing his apprenticeship there.  He then worked for the Shipyard for 21 years.  He was asked to do building security in 1967 when the new sanctuary was built and has been seen around the halls of our church keeping an eye on things and fixing what needs to be fixed ever since. He was married for 61 years to Mary Lilley who served as the church secretary for over 30 years. He enjoys fishing, flying small aircrafts and spending time with his grandchildren.

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