Michael Van Sant

Associate Pastor

Discipleship and Families

Michael began serving at First Baptist in spring of 2011.  He grew up in Lilburn, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta.  Michael attended Berry College in Rome, Georgia where he majored in Mathematics Education, and met his wife, Dana, who was also a mathematics major.  After graduating in 2004, Michael and Dana got married on Berry's campus at Frost Chapel in March of 2005.  They have two daughters, Sadie (2010) and Josie (2012) and are a foster family.  

God alled Michael into full-time vocational ministry in March 2001.  He and Dana both have a heart and a passion for students and discipleship.  During a 2006 youth mission trip to Mexico, Michael and Dana both heard God's call for them to serve in student ministry. Michael began his studies in the spring of 2007 at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.  A month later, he was called to be the minister of Students at Calvary Baptist Church in Rome, Georgia. 
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After serving four years at Calvary, the Lord called Michael and Dana to Niceville in 2011.  After years of serving in student ministry here, Michael changed roles and now oversees Discipleship and Family Ministries. His passion for people seeing people Believe, Belong, and Become translates into ensuring that as a church we are helping people grow in Christ in every age of life.