OUR STAFF
DR. Ron Baity
Founding Pastor of Berean Baptist Church
Dr. Ronnie Baity grew up on his family’s dairy farm in the small town of Courtney, North Carolina. He trusted Christ as Saviour as a teenager, and was called to preach not long after.
He has been a pastor for over 50 years.
He is the founding pastor of Berean Baptist Church, which began in November 1980.
In addition to his position as pastor of Berean Baptist Church, Dr. Baity has been president of Return America since its founding in 2006. He also serves on the board of the North Carolina Christian School Association and has been a chaplain for the Winston-Salem Police Department since 1992.
DR. Earl Eaton
Media Ministry
Dr. Earl Eaton was born at home in Bassett, Virginia, to Bessie Dorsett Eaton and Cleavis Comumbus Eaton, who both worked for local mills.
He remembers six major events in his life. The greatest event in Dr. Eaton’s life took place in 1954. “I was a sinner, without hope, without purpose. But, changes took place that year when I repented of my sins and asked Jesus to come into my heart and save me!”
The second great event took place the same year when he met Patricia (Pat) Ann Stone. “She endured me for a year, however I finally won and we said ‘I do’, June 30, 1956 As time went on, Pat and I were advised by our physician that Pat was unable to have children, so we pursued adoption, and in the middle of July 1977 another great event happened. The Forsyth County Adoption Agency called and told us to come to the hospital and pick up a two month old ‘Baby Boy’. We named him Stephen Alan Eaton. Two adoptions took place in my family. I was adopted into God’s family, and Stephen was adopted into our family.”
Major events are not all “happy and joyful”. On July 6, 1992, Dr. Eaton’s father went to Heaven due to congestive heart failure complications, and on October 6, 2002, his mother was promoted to Heaven due to dementia and old age.
On Sunday, February 26, 2017, at 12:20 PM, Pat Eaton went to Heaven and joined her mother, Dr. Eaton’s parents, and many of their close friends.
“’He the pearly gates will open, so that I may enter in; for He purchased my redemption, and forgave me all my sin.’ Praise the Lord I will see them again!
Mrs. Belinda Lonaberger
Office Assistant
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)
Mrs. Belinda Lonaberger was born in Forsyth County and grew up around the Walnut Cove and Stokesdale area as a farmer’s daughter. They grew tobacco, wheat, corn, and many other vegetables, as well as raised beef and milk cows, pigs, chickens, horses, and dogs. Mrs. Lonaberger had a favorite palomino pony, “Polly”, and bred AKC-certified Old English Shepherds, a rare herding breed.
She graduated from Northwest High School. “My junior year is a year I will always be grateful for. That was the year someone lead me to the Lord. Because my parents were very moral people and taught me from right and wrong, I thought I was good enough to go to Heaven. But, while I was sitting at the foot of my brother’s bed at Cone Hospital, a preacher came by to visit and started talking to me about Heaven. After some time of walking me through the Bible, he showed me that I could never be good enough to go to Heaven on my own. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Saviour that day—best decision I have ever made!”
After graduating high school, Mrs. Lonaberger became a sewing operator at Blue Bell in Stokesdale and worked there almost 15 years. It was there she met her husband, Charles. They were blessed with two daughters, and she home schooled them for seven years. During that time, she was a Sunday school teacher for 2-4-year-olds for a number of years at the church they attended. That church started a Christian school, and they enrolled their daughters there, where she also taught for several years.
After coming to Berean in 2002, Mrs. Lonaberger served in the bus ministry for a number of years and sang in the choir while her health allowed. She now serves as office assistant. “I like to help behind the scenes wherever I can be a help for the Lord.”
In her spare time, Mrs. Lonaberger enjoys sewing, gardening, canning, embroidery, and other hand crafts.
Miss Michelle Lonaberger
Administrative Assistant
“…the joy of the LORD is your strength.” -Nehemiah 8:10b
Miss Michelle Lonaberger became a student of Berean Christian School in 9th grade, and soon after she and her family joined Berean Baptist Church in 2002. She trusted Christ as Saviour at age 15.
After graduating from Berean Christian School in 2005, she went on to hold an associate’s degree in medical office administration from Guilford Technical Community College and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Emmanuel Baptist University.
She has been on staff since 2007. She is the assistant Sunday school teacher for the Girls’ 5th and 6th Grade Sunday School Class and also serves in the choir and as violinist.
She grew up in Guilford and Forsyth Counties. She spent much of her childhood on her grandparents’ 50-acre farm, which helped spark a lifelong love of early American history.
In her spare time, she enjoys working on restoring her 1880s farmhouse, gardening, reading, and caring for her Papillon, “Joy”.
