Lead Pastor, Danny Branch
Bro. Danny was raised in Samson and a product of First Baptist Church of Samson. He is the blessed husband of Cricket Branch and father of Mark, Matthew, Madison, and Andrew. His family began attending FBC in 1987 and he was saved as a teenager in 1988. Having graduated from Samson High in 1989, he felt a call to ministry but didn’t pursue that calling at the time and just sought to grow in the Lord; instead, he continued his education at Enterprise State Junior College and then on to the University of Alabama obtaining a BS in Secondary Education. During that time, he also served in the Alabama Army National Guard for 9 years. While teaching, he furthered his education at Troy University in Dothan in 2001 by obtaining an MS in Educational Leadership in School Administration.
Bro. Danny worked in the field of education for 25 years as a teacher, principal, and/or Central Office supervisor in Slocomb, Samson, Geneva, and Kinston. During his tenure as an educator, he felt and answered the call to ministry and began bi-vocational ministry serving as a pastor and as a children’s minister in 2010. Having humbly served at Reese Baptist and Piney Grove Baptist churches as pastor, as well as children’s minister at FBC Samson, he retired in 2021 and accepted the call to pastor his home church here at First Baptist Church of Samson in February 2021. As a product of this church and having spent a successful career elsewhere, Bro. Danny considers this calling to his home church as one of the greatest honors and most humbling experiences of his life.
Bro. Danny enjoys spending precious time with his family, studying God’s Word, enjoying sports of all kinds including hunting & fishing, and pulling for the Crimson Tide.
Bro. Danny was raised in Samson and a product of First Baptist Church of Samson. He is the blessed husband of Cricket Branch and father of Mark, Matthew, Madison, and Andrew. His family began attending FBC in 1987 and he was saved as a teenager in 1988. Having graduated from Samson High in 1989, he felt a call to ministry but didn’t pursue that calling at the time and just sought to grow in the Lord; instead, he continued his education at Enterprise State Junior College and then on to the University of Alabama obtaining a BS in Secondary Education. During that time, he also served in the Alabama Army National Guard for 9 years. While teaching, he furthered his education at Troy University in Dothan in 2001 by obtaining an MS in Educational Leadership in School Administration.
Bro. Danny worked in the field of education for 25 years as a teacher, principal, and/or Central Office supervisor in Slocomb, Samson, Geneva, and Kinston. During his tenure as an educator, he felt and answered the call to ministry and began bi-vocational ministry serving as a pastor and as a children’s minister in 2010. Having humbly served at Reese Baptist and Piney Grove Baptist churches as pastor, as well as children’s minister at FBC Samson, he retired in 2021 and accepted the call to pastor his home church here at First Baptist Church of Samson in February 2021. As a product of this church and having spent a successful career elsewhere, Bro. Danny considers this calling to his home church as one of the greatest honors and most humbling experiences of his life.
Bro. Danny enjoys spending precious time with his family, studying God’s Word, enjoying sports of all kinds including hunting & fishing, and pulling for the Crimson Tide.
Associate Pastor to Students, DJ Sims
DJ was born and raised in Ozark, AL where he graduated from Carroll High School in 2009. Upon graduating high school, DJ felt the calling of pastoral ministry through his upbringing at the 0800 Protestant Service at the Main Post Chapel on Fort Rucker. DJ attended the Baptist College of Florida where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Leadership/Christian Education in 2014. During college, he was introduced to First Baptist Church of Samson, where he would become a member and serve in different areas, mainly with the youth. After Bible College, DJ served at Center Ridge Baptist Church in Ariton, AL leading music and teaching teens. In 2017, he was the pastoral trainee at First Baptist Church of Enterprise, AL where he would be ordained for Gospel ministry in December 2017. In May 2018, he would join our church family again as the interim Student Minister. DJ has been our full-time Associate Pastor to Students since 2019 and has been humbled to serve and grow in this church body. He is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Christian Education from The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans, LA.
On May 15, 2021, DJ married Daphne Halsey of Enterprise, AL. The couple has enjoyed growing in the Lord through service and worship here at FBC and look forward to everything that the Lord has in store for them in the future.
DJ is an avid fan of football (War Eagle!), basketball, and soccer. He enjoys music, drawing, writing, reading, and cooking for his lovely wife!
DJ was born and raised in Ozark, AL where he graduated from Carroll High School in 2009. Upon graduating high school, DJ felt the calling of pastoral ministry through his upbringing at the 0800 Protestant Service at the Main Post Chapel on Fort Rucker. DJ attended the Baptist College of Florida where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Leadership/Christian Education in 2014. During college, he was introduced to First Baptist Church of Samson, where he would become a member and serve in different areas, mainly with the youth. After Bible College, DJ served at Center Ridge Baptist Church in Ariton, AL leading music and teaching teens. In 2017, he was the pastoral trainee at First Baptist Church of Enterprise, AL where he would be ordained for Gospel ministry in December 2017. In May 2018, he would join our church family again as the interim Student Minister. DJ has been our full-time Associate Pastor to Students since 2019 and has been humbled to serve and grow in this church body. He is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Christian Education from The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans, LA.
On May 15, 2021, DJ married Daphne Halsey of Enterprise, AL. The couple has enjoyed growing in the Lord through service and worship here at FBC and look forward to everything that the Lord has in store for them in the future.
DJ is an avid fan of football (War Eagle!), basketball, and soccer. He enjoys music, drawing, writing, reading and cooking for his lovely wife!