Staff

Director of Missions:

Rev. Eddie Heath was born in Burlington, NC. He received his education from Bluefield College, Carson Newman College, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
From January 1984, to December 1996, he served as pastor of the Buckroe Baptist Church in Hampton, VA. During those 13 years of ministry the church grew from an average attendance of 75 in Sunday School to an average attendance of 255. Eddie saw this as a very rewarding and exciting 13 years of ministry.
In December 1996, Rev. Heath began serving as a Field Strategist for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. His area of responsibility is the Tidewater Region, which includes seven associations: Rappahannock, Mid-Tidewater, Peninsula, Portsmouth, Blackwater, Norfolk, and Accomack. There are over 250 churches in these seven associations.
Eddie trains and assists local search committees in their efforts to fill staff positions; helps church leaders develop strategies for church growth and church health; serves as a resource person in networking churches with other needed resources, and training deacons for Team Ministry Approach.
Eddie is married to Kathy Heath.  They have five children and thirteen grandchildren.   Eddie’s hobbies are golf and spending time with his grandchildren. Rev. Eddie Heath began as Director of Missions with Mid-Tidewater Baptist Association of Virginia, Inc. on January 1, 2016.

Office Administrator:  

Barbara Bareford began her work at MTBA on November 3, 2014. As Barbara has lived in this area all of her life, she is well acquainted with the Middle Peninsula region and the Mid-Tidewater Baptist Association of Virginia, Inc.  She is a member of Saluda Baptist Church where she serves as a Deacon and Clerk.  She previously worked at RockTenn (West Point) and their previous entities.   She is married to John Bareford and lives in Saluda, within walking distance of the MTBA Office.  Barbara’s hobbies are gardening/lawn, walking, listening to gospel/country/bluegrass music at local venues, and spending time with family and friends.   MTBA has truly blessed Barbara and continues to do so through her wonderful sisters and brothers in Christ.