Our Staff
Tanner Brown
Senior Pastor
Rev. Tanner Brown was called as Senior Pastor of Pollocksville Baptist Church in January 2026 and serves in ministry alongside Dr. Sharon Bender, Associate Pastor of Education. Tanner Brown was born and raised in New Bern North Carolina and attended New Bern High School. Tanner is a graduate of William Peace University with a dual degree in Psychology and Religious Studies. He graduated from Campbell Divinity School with a Master’s of Divinity Degree in 2023. Tanner has been serving with us at Pollocksville Baptist since 2019 as Youth Minister and now as Senior Pastor. Tanner is married to the lovely Sarah Vail Brown who is a fourth grade teacher.
Dr. Sharon Bender
Associate Pastor of Education
Sharon began her ministry as pastor of Pollocksville Baptist Church in August 2018. Throughout her career, she has served in several Baptist churches as an Associate Pastor, focusing on Youth, Children, and Christian Education. Sharon holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Campbell University, as well as a Master’s in Christian Education and a Doctor of Ministry from Trinity Seminary.
After retiring in December 2024, Sharon has returned for the upcoming year to serve alongside Tanner as Associate Pastor, continuing her commitment to the church and its ministry.
Sharon and her husband, Wade, live just outside Pollocksville on a small hobby farm, where they care for three goats, five chickens, four barn cats, and two guineas. They have two grown children and are the proud grandparents of four grandchildren.