Church Staff

Gabriel Zelaya was called to serve our congregation as an Associate Pastor of Worship in December of 2018. Gabriel earned his B.A. in Worship Ministry and is working toward his M.Div in Apologetics and Philosophy. Once he finishes his M.Div, he plans to pursue post-graduate studies. Gabriel has served, in various ways, in worship ministry since he was 18. Married in March of '20, he and his wife Samantha have one son and a tremendous dog named Addie. 

Gary Barkley has been a member of Pisgah Baptist since 1979, was ordained as a Deacon in 1983, and began serving us pastorally in 2003. He has earned a B.S. degree from Liberty University. Pastor Barkley has served the MBC as a member of the Executive Board from 2001 to 2007, and has served the SBC as a Trustee of the International Mission Board from 2011 to 2019. His community involvement includes his participation in the Excelsior Springs Christian Ministerial Alliance and PBC’s disaster relief and benevolence efforts. Married in October of ’74, Pastor Barkley and Diane have three grown daughters and are blessed by seven grandchildren. 

Mark D. Spohn has been a member of Pisgah Baptist since 1984 and has served in many volunteer capacities since that time. Pastor Spohn began his vocational ministry with Pisgah in 1999 when he began to serve formally in music ministry. He transitioned out of music ministry in 2018 and continues to serve our congregation pastorally. Pastor Spohn’s community involvement includes his participation in the: Downtown Excelsior Partnership; Excelsior Springs Public Safety Sales Tax Oversight Committee; Excelsior Springs Chamber of Commerce; Excelsior Springs TIF Commission; and, as the proprietor of the Payne Jailhouse Bed & Breakfast, a business that he and his wife, Anna Sue, enjoy tremendously. Pastor Spohn has attended classes at Park College and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Married in April of ’88, he and Anna Sue have two grown sons and are blessed by three grandchildren.

Laura Mize has been teaching children about Jesus for 30 years; it's her favorite way to serve. She believes in teaching children according to Deuteronomy 6:6-7 which says, "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them DILIGENTLY to your children by talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up." Married in August of '91, she and her husband Jeff have two children and three grandchildren.

Laura also likes dinosaurs and tater tots.