We still have open slots available with some of our counselors, and their bios are below.

To schedule your appointment, please send an email to kelli@polishingthepulpit.com or give Kelli a call at 877.338.3397.

Appointments are kept confidential.

Dr. Jerry L. Martin

Jerry is the Dean of the School of Human Services at Amridge University, in Montgomery, Alabama. He is a graduate of the Memphis School of Preaching and also holds a B.A. in Bible, a M.S. in Counseling, and a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Amridge University.

Dr. Martin is a licensed professional counselor. He is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, a professional member of the American Counseling Association and an associate member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.

Dr. Martin and his wife, Denise, have been married for 42 years. They are the parents of four children and the grandparents of ten.

John W. Moore

A native of Dripping Springs, Texas, John has served as a full-time preacher and minister for the Dripping Springs congregation since May of 2001. He began preaching in Dripping Springs in 1998 while working as a full-time member of the faculty at the Southwest School of Bible Studies in Austin, Texas and still continues with the school teaching on a part-time basis. Prior to his work with Southwest, John served as the campus minister and director of the Bible chair at the University church of Christ in San Marcos, Texas, located near Texas State University.

He is a certified public school teacher and a graduate of Southwest Texas State University, where he earned both a B.S. in Education and a Masters in Education degree in the department of Counseling and Psychological Services. He has also done postgraduate work at the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, Jerusalem University, Austin Graduate School of Theology, and Abilene Christian University where he completed his work for the Master of Arts in Religious Studies. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member of the Austin Graduate School of Theology teaching college accredited Bible classes in the Dripping Springs community.

In addition to his work at the Dripping Springs congregation, John continues to teach part-time at the Southwest School of Bible Studies, serves on the advisory board of World Video Bible School, and completed 9 years of service as a school board trustee for the Dripping Springs Independent School District. He is the assistant director of the annual Southwest Bible Camp, and the Director of the annual AIM Youth Leadership camp at Peach Valley.

He is the narrator and author of both the book and video, Searching For Truth, and served from 2005 through 2008 as a co-editor of the monthly periodical The Gospel Journal. John is also the narrator and instructor of Learning to Use the Greek New Testament, a thorough study of New Testament Greek presented in 35 lessons on 13 DVDs. Since 1986 he has preached in Gospel Meetings in over eighteen states, and has conducted or participated in yearly campaigns to various foreign countries including Jamaica, Tobago, Malaysia, and Singapore.

John is married, and he and his wife Carla have three sons, Jordan (daughter-in-law, Erin), Jacob, and Micah.

Teresa Taylor

Teresa has lived in Northport for the past 34 years where she has been an active member of Northport church of Christ. She has taught children’s bible classes for the past 28 years and has presented at Ladies’ Days/Retreats.

She is a licensed professional counselor and has a private practice in Northport. She is licensed through the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling, is a member of the National Board of Certified Counselors and the Alabama Counseling Association.

Prior to having a private practice, she worked for Family Counseling Services in Tuscaloosa and Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center in Walker County.   During her first career, she worked for the Tuscaloosa County School System as a teacher, a elementary counselor and a secondary school counselor.

Teresa and her husband, Glenn who is an Elder at Northport Church of Christ, have been married for 39 years. They are the parents of two children and the grandparents of 3 boys.

Cayron Mann

Cayron Mann, as a widow, has personal experience with grief/loss. She has worked with The Healing Place locally which helps grieving children. She worships with the Highland Park congregation in Muscle Shoals. Her counseling master is from the University of North Alabama.

Bill Bagents

Bill Bagents and his wife, Laura, lost their younger son, Allen, in 2010. Since that time, Bill has done more and more grief counseling. Bill has been asked to speak on grief and loss at several congregations. As a minister, he has helped with 200+ funerals and does volunteer palliative care chaplaincy work at the local hospital. He is co-founder of the Alpha Center, a Christian counseling center since 2001.

Professional Memberships: American Association of Christian Counselors American Counseling Association

David Looney

David Looney is a native of Memphis, Tennessee and currently lives in Jackson, Tennessee.

David is a 1986 graduate of Memphis School of Preaching and graduated from Freed­Hardeman University in 2007 with a B.S. in Bible and in 2009 MA in Ministry also from Freed­Hardeman University. David is currently a candidate for a Doctor of Ministry in Marriage and Family Therapy at Amridge University in Montgomery, Alabama and has completed all of his coursework and is writing his dissertation on Special Needs Children and Change with emphasis on Divorce of Parents of children with Autism.

David has completed nearly 800 hours of supervised training in chaplaincy and Community Mental Health and is working toward becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor. David has been preaching for nearly 31 years and currently serves as the minister for the Ellendale Church of Christ in Memphis, Tennessee.