ABOUT US | Our Pastor
Our Pastor
Rev. Lester D. Lattany is the Son of the late Charles Allen, Jr. and Catherine Drummond Lattany of Brunswick, Georgia; he is married to the former Stephanie Goddard of Johnson City, TN and father of two children – Rev. Lester Demetrius Lattany and Catrina Verae Fisher. Catrina’s husband is Kenneth Fisher, Jr. Rev. Lattany and Stephanie are the very proud grandparents of Bravona, and Emmanuel Lattany and they have two adopted grandchildren Kayden and Desiree Carter.
Rev. Lattany became the Pastor of the Friendship Baptist Church of Johnson City, TN. on December 19, 2018. Rev. Lattany served as the Founder and Pastor of the New Jerusalem Baptist Church of Johnson City, TN for 8 years before merging with the Friendship Baptist Church. Rev. Lattany served as Pastor of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Kingsport, TN for 18 years prior to establishing New Jerusalem Baptist Church of Johnson City in January 2010. Rev. Lattany served as the President and CEO of United Way of Washington County TN, Inc. from November 1, 2002 until his retirement on December 31, 2016. Prior to his role at United Way, Rev. Lattany served as the CFO-Treasurer and Director of Community and Economic Development-Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Johnson City, TN.
Rev. Lattany is a graduate of Brunswick College, Brunswick, Ga., where he received his Associate of Science Degree and Tusculum University, Greeneville, TN where he received both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts degree.
His community involvement include the following organizations: Bethel District Baptist Missionary and Educational Association; (Immediate Past Moderator serving 16 Churches with 1600 members) Tennessee Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention; Greater Kingsport Area Ministerial Alliance; (Former President) United Way World; United Ways of Tennessee (Former Board Chair); Tusculum University – Board of Trustees; Frontier Health, Inc.; Frontier Health Foundation (Former Vice-Chair); Select Seven Credit Union; Tri-Cities Christian Schools; (Former Board Chair, Current CFO) CORE Services; Mountain States Health Alliance-Washington County Community Board (Former Vice-Chair); Heissee Johnson Hand-Up Fund; Nativic Civitan of the Appalachian District of Civitan International (Immediate Past President); Milligan College-Goah Scholars Committee; ETSU Roan Scholars Selection Committee; City of Johnson City Sesquicentennial Commission (Current Commission Chair)
His Special recognitions include: Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society; Outstanding Young Men of America; Johnson City Chamber of Commerce Leadership 2015 Certificate of Achievement; Leadership Kingsport Certificate of Achievement; Regional Citizen and Ambassador Certificate of Achievement; Who’s Who Historical Society; International Who’s Who, Who’s Who Among Professionals and Who’s Who in in Public Service. AHERN, Pastor of the Year (2015-20016)
Mrs. Stephanie Goddard Lattany
FIRST LADY
First Lady Stephanie is a 1975 graduate of Science Hill High School in Johnson City, TN. She was a member of the Marching Band playing the French horn and the flute. She attended Walters Sate Community College and East Tennessee State University with a focus on Early Childhood Development. She served as an Assistant Teacher in the Upper East Tennessee Human Development’s Head start program. Stephanie served as a Records Clerk for the City of Johnson City Police Department. She retired from Good Samaritan Ministries of Johnson City after serving as Intake Coordinator. “. Stephanie was recognized by the NAACP as a “Servant to the People of God”.
Mrs. Stephanie is described by Pastor Lester D. Lattany as the “Wind Beneath his Wings”. Her support over his 29 years of preaching ministry is one of the reasons our Pastor considers himself so very blessed.
Stephanie served as First Lady of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Kingsport, TN, First Lady and Founding member of the New Jerusalem Baptist Church of Johnson City, TN and now serves as the First Lady of the Friendship Baptist Church of Johnson City, TN. She is a member of the Mass Choir, The Gracie Norris Missionary Circle, and the Seekers Sunday School Class.
To Pastor Lattany, her husband, she is “Pretty Girl” and Mrs. Stephanie. To her Mother Veral Jean Neal she is “Stephon”. To our Assistant Pastor, Rev. Demetrius Lattany and to her Daughter Catrina Fisher, she is Mama. To her grandchildren, Sadie and Emmanuel Lattany and Kayden and Desiree Carter, she is “Nana”
To Friendship Baptist Church, she is
Stephanie our “First Lady.