Minister of Music
donnie (at) seventhandjames (dot) org
Donnie grew up in San Antonio. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in
music theory from Baylor University and his Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting from the University of Texas. He has come to us from the First United Methodist Church of Waco, where he was Director of Music for 27 years. Currently, Donnie serves as Dean of Arts and Sciences at McLennan Community College. Donnie’s wife, Nancy, is also
a graduate of Baylor and is an accountant with her own company, Balmos Computer Service. Nancy and Donnie are the parents of three grown children: David, Jonathan,
and Mandy.
NANCY BALMOS
Financial Assistant
JULIANNE BEST Director of Youth Choir
thebests (at) grandecom (dot) net
Originally from Arizona, Julianne has been at Seventh since 2001. A soprano, she has performed with many symphonies and opera companies, and she has been involved as a director in choral music at the secondary levels in several churches and public schools. She has a Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Music (Vocal Performance) from University of Colorado at Boulder.
Julianne has a private voice studio in the Waco area and is an adjunct professor of voice at Baylor. She is married to Robert Best, a voice professor at Baylor. They have two daughters, Katherine and Jessica. Prior to the Youth Director position, she served as assistant for the Choristers children's choir.
LYDIA MCCALL BRATCHER
Organist lydia (at) seventhandjames (dot) org
Lydia McCall Bratcher joined Seventh & James as a Baylor student in the 1970s and
has been involved in the music ministry ever since. She sang in the College Choir and
the Sanctuary Choir while at Baylor, and later directed children’s choirs and
accompanied children’s, youth, and adult choirs. She is a deacon and has been involved for many years with the Meals On Wheels ministry of the church.
Lydia received her degree in piano pedagogy from Baylor University and studied organ briefly during that time. She resumed her organ study in the fall of 2002 and began serving as interim organist at Seventh & James in September 2003.
Lydia has taught piano and theory in her independent studio for over 25 years and she also works as the choral accompanist at Midway High School. She and her husband Kent, a local attorney, were married at Seventh. They have two children: Blake and Larkin.
BURT BURLESON
Interim Pastor
HERBERT COLVIN
Organist Emeritus Herbert_Colvin (at) juno (dot) com
Herb served as organist for Seventh & James from 1969 to 1999. He was Professor of Theory and Director of Academic Studies of the School of Music at Baylor and has served as the University Carillonneur since 1988. He has composed numerous organ-piano duets, organ solos and anthems. Herb and his wife, Mary Ila, are active members of Seventh, serving as deacons and choir members. They enjoy travel and frequent visits with their three daughters and their families.
LORIE SEFCIK CROWDER Director of Handbell Choirs lorie (at) seventhandjames (dot) org
Born in Taylor, Texas, Lorie earned her Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor in 1984. A member of Seventh since 1989, Lorie joined the staff as handbell director in 1996. She and her husband, Richard, have two children, Elizabeth and Lincoln.
PAULA HOOVER
Children’s Choir Coordinator phoover (at) wacoisd (dot) org
Paula has been working with the children’s music program off and on for the last 21 years. Paula teaches elementary music at Hillcrest Professional Development School in Waco. Paula has a bachelor’s degree in vocal music education / church music from William Jewell College. Paula is married to Carl and they have three daughters, Hallie, Helen and Harper.
COSME LOZANO
Custodian
AL MENDOZA
Wednesday Evening Cook
LENITA ROCKENHAUS
Preschool Coordinator
Lenita was born and raised in the Philippines. She moved with her family to Waco in 1997 and began working at the Piper Center for Family Studies and Child Development as an Assistant Teacher. Lenita is a part-time student, a senior, attending Baylor University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies. She is married to Eric and they have two children, Craig and Conrad, and three grandchildren, Makenna, Kamryn, and Greyson. Lenita has served as the Preschool Coordinator at Seventh since 2007.
LESLIE ROSENCRANS
Minister of Congregational Life leslie (at) seventhandjames (dot) org
Leslie is originally from Waco, Texas. She received a Bachelor of Science in Family
and Consumer Sciences from Baylor University in 2001. After graduating from college Leslie served as the Director of Faith Relations at Waco Habitat for Humanity until joining the staff at 7th in 2005. Leslie graduated with a Masters of Divinity from Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in 2006. She is married to Matt who serves Minister to Students at Seventh & James.
MATT ROSENCRANS
Minister to Students matt (at) seventhandjames (dot) org
Matt is originally from Louisville, Kentucky. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Louisville in 1999. After college he served as an
intern in campus ministry at Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Kentucky, and Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky. Matt graduated with a
Masters of
Divinity from George W. Truett Theological Seminary in 2007. He is married to Leslie, who serves as Minister to Congregation Life at Seventh & James.
PAT STROTHER
Church Secretary pastrother (at) seventhandjames (dot) org Pat has a degree in church music from Baylor and worked in Seventh’s youth program for two years before entering Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where she earned an M.A. in christian education. She worked in Kentucky as a social worker in the area of adoptions and juvenile corrections. Prior to joining Seventh’s staff in 1987, Pat was a caseworker at the Methodist Home in Waco.
Valerie was reared in Satin, Texas. She is an active member of the Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church, where she sings in the choir, teaches Sunday school and serves as the church secretary. She joined Seventh’s staff in 1986. She has three children, Marcus, Amber and Victoria, and three grandchildren.
To contact us you can also mail, call, e-mail or visit us at:
Seventh & James Baptist Church
602 James Avenue, Waco, TX 76706
Phone:(254) 753-6425 & Fax: (254) 753-1909
E-mail: mail (at) seventhandjames (dot) org
Pat has a degree in church music from Baylor and worked in Seventh’s youth program for two years before entering Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where she earned an M.A. in christian education. She worked in Kentucky as a social worker in the area of adoptions and juvenile corrections. Prior to joining Seventh’s staff in 1987, Pat was a caseworker at the Methodist Home in Waco.
Valerie was reared in Satin, Texas. She is an active member of the Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church, where she sings in the choir, teaches Sunday school and serves as the church secretary. She joined Seventh’s staff in 1986. She has three children, Marcus, Amber and Victoria, and three grandchildren. 
