Rev. Linzy & Carla Slayden
Senior Pastor

Senior Pastor Linzy Slayden, Jr. was called to pastor Friendship Baptist Church the third week of July in 1992. His experiences as a youth director, music director and associate pastor helped to prepare him to pastor this rapidly growing church. Pastor Slayden was born in Moline, IL and raised in the Quad-Cities area until moving to the small farming community of Cambridge in his junior high years. It was here that he graduated from High School, and met and married his high school sweetheart, Carla.

While working at John Deere, and pursuing an associate degree in management and marketing, he met Jesus Christ. On a Friday morning in February of 1975, he pulled into a parking lot, and there accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. Not long after that he felt God’s call and surrendered his life to full time service while ministering as a youth director at Trinity Baptist Church in Rock Island, IL. He enrolled at Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO in 1979, graduating with honors in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology. He won awards for expository preaching and public speaking during his college career. He also served as President of the Fellowship Sunday School Class at Baptist Temple in Springfield.

In the fall of 1984, the Slaydens moved to Tulsa, OK where Linzy accepted the position of Associate Pastor at Southeast Baptist Church. They served there for eight years before accepting the call to Friendship Baptist.

The Slaydens were married on October 13, 1973 in Cambridge, IL. Carla completed her Associate Degree in dental assisting, and attended Baptist Bible College for 2 years working on a degree in Christian Education. Carla is involved in the music ministry, Awana, and oversees the ladies ministries at Friendship. They have four children and five grandchildren. Dr.Geoff Slayden and his wife Noelle reside in Owasso with their daughter, Kaylie and son, Hudson.  Jon and his wife Kristy and their son, Isak and daughter, Ally, are serving as the Campus Pastor at Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO. Their daughter Rebecca and her husband Lance Harrington, Youth Pastor at Abundant Life Baptist Church, and their son Parker reside in Lee's Summit, MO.  The Slayden’s youngest son Christopher and his wife Martha are attending OU Medical School.

Pastor Slayden enjoys sports of all kinds, especially basketball. (ask him to show you his rebounding technique some time!) Other things he enjoys are reading, old movies, and spending time with his family.

Mike & Lisa Gleason
Music Pastor

Mike became part of the staff at Friendship in March of 2007. He oversees the music and arts department of the church.

Mike was born in Lansing, Michigan and grew up in a ministry oriented family. His parents provided many opportunities for him and his three siblings to use their gifts to serve the church and community. When he was a junior in high school at a youth camp he surrendered his life to full-time ministry.

Upon Graduating from high school he went to Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College and studied to be a music minister. This is where he met his wife, Lisa, and they were married a year after Mike graduated in 1988.

The Gleasons have spent the last 20 years ministering in churches in Colorado, California, Minnesota and now Oklahoma. 

They have 4 children; Seth, Aubrey, Trent and Ciara. They also have a dog named Walker who is just like another child and keeps everyone entertained. They reside in the city of Owasso and love being a part of this great community.

Jeff & Kina Smith
Youth Pastor

Jeff joined the Friendship staff in September of 2004. He directs the Senior High youth program and oversees the Junior High program as well.

 Jeff grew up in Springfield, Missouri and was taught at an early age the importance of a relationship with Jesus Christ. He felt God wanted to use him in ministry and attended Baptist Bible College. While there he met his wife, Kina. They both graduated college in 2000. Jeff received a degree in Youth Ministries and Biblical Studies, and Kina in Elementary Education.

Upon graduation, Jeff and Kina moved to Melbourne, Florida where Jeff served as Youth Pastor for four years at Bethany Baptist Church. With the Holy Spirit’s guidance, the youth department grew from 20 to 60. Jeff was also very involved with the local schools and was a part of a mentoring program for the teens, among other things. He taught the youth what it means to have a personal relationship with God and many of the students have made decisions that will change their lives forever.

Jeff and Kina have three sons, Austin, Brenden and Casen. They are excited about the Youth Ministry of Friendship Baptist Church and what God is doing for the youth ministry, the church and for the great city of Owasso.

Stephanie Wheeler
Mission Intern - Children's Ministry

Stephanie joined the Friendship staff in June 2009. Her ministry focus will be on children.

Stephanie is a life long Owasso, Oklahoma resident and graduated from Owasso High School in 2005. She accepted Christ when she was a young girl at a mother/daughter conference. Stephanie grew up attending churches with her family and as a teenager she joined the Friendship Baptist Church.

While Stephanie was a teenager in the Friendship youth group she felt God calling her into fulltime ministry, but did not understand the Lord’s direction until her first year at Baptist Bible College. While at BBC she felt God calling her into fulltime missions. During her college years Stephanie took missions trips to Salt Lake City, Utah, and two trips to Costa Rica. It was clear this is where the Lord was directing and confirmed His call upon her life to world missions.

Stephanie graduated from Baptist Bible College in May 2009 with a degree in Intercultural Studies. She graduated with honors including being the female recipient of the Key Award, the highest award BBC gives to a graduate. The Key Award is given to the graduate who excels in leadership, faithfulness, attitude and academics.

Pastor Linzy Slayden and the Friendship family welcome this bright and godly young lady to the staff.

Sandy began working at Friendship in July of 1992. She is the Office Manager and Financial Secretary. Her commitment to excellence makes her very valuable and effective.

Sandy was born in Altus, OK and was raised in Altus and Enid, OK. She trusted Christ as her personal Savior at a youth fellowship in Chickasha, OK. She met her husband, Hank, in Tulsa, OK while attending Airline Training School. They were married in 1957. They have three daughters, all married and residing in the Tulsa area.

Sandy has over 25 years experience as a Church Secretary but she is also active in many areas outside her secretarial duties. She has been involved in the AWANA ministry, Music ministry, and Children's ministry.

Sandy enjoys reading, sewing and walking. Hank and Sandy live in Tulsa, OK.