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Our Team

Cross Lanes Bible Church is a pastor led, deacon served, and congregationally governed church.

Ben Edwards

Senior Pastor

Ben Edwards grew up in Kanawha and Putnam counties. He was saved and baptized while at Cross Lanes Bible Church and graduated from Cross Lanes Christian School. He returned to Cross Lanes in 2024 to serve as the senior pastor of CLBC. He provides spiritual leadership through preaching and teaching, oversees the vision and direction of the church, and shepherds the congregation through discipleship, prayer, and pastoral care

Ben and his wife, Jo, were married in 2010. Jo has worked as a physical therapist for over fifteen years. They have three sons currently enrolled at CLCS.

Ben received an M.A. in Biblical studies from Northland International University and an M.Div. from Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary.

Ben previously served near Detroit, MI for sixteen years, as Dean and Instructor in Practical Theology at Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, the Pastor of Discipleship at Inter-City Baptist Church, and the Director of Urban Ministry for Inter-City Baptist Church. Prior to coming to Detroit, he was the Assistant to the Director of Graduate Studies at Northland International University, worked as an intern in the WV State Treasurer’s office, and also served on the staff of churches in West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Alberta. He has a burden to see God’s Word proclaimed around the world and has served on ministry trips to Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and Africa.

Mark Boyd

Assistant Pastor, Worship and Stewardship

Mark Boyd has called the Cross Lanes, WV area home his entire life. He began attending Cross Lanes Bible Church in the fall of 1978, where he met his future wife, Cheryl, in the youth group. They were married in 1980 and have been faithfully serving the Lord together ever since.

Mark and Cheryl raised two daughters who both attended Bright Beginnings Preschool and graduated from Cross Lanes Christian School. Today, each is married—one to her CLCS high school sweetheart and the other to her Cedarville University sweetheart—and both are raising families of their own out of state. Mark and Cheryl are the proud grandparents of three busy grandsons and one beautiful granddaughter.

In April 2005, Mark joined the staff of Cross Lanes Bible Church as Assistant Pastor of Worship & Stewardship. He oversees the church’s music program and serves as Treasurer/Controller for all of the church’s ministries, including missions, the preschool, Cross Lanes Christian School, athletics, and a variety of auxiliary, fine arts, development, and activity funds.

Mark’s faith journey began early—he received Christ at home with his parents at the age of eight, having been brought up in church from birth. The following Easter, he was baptized by Pastor Otis Caldwell at Grace Baptist Temple. He attended Mountain State Christian School in Culloden, later graduating from the first senior class of Elk Valley Christian High School (at the time, Cross Lanes Christian only went through 8th grade). After two years at Bible college, Mark completed his education at the University of Charleston, earning a double major in Accounting and Finance. He subsequently became a Certified Public Accountant, passing all four parts of the CPA exam in the fall of 1990.

Mark’s personal passion is music—he is an accomplished church pianist and accompanist, playing keyboards, piano, and organ for over 50 years. His confession is Christ, his profession is financial statement accounting, and his passion is playing the piano. He enjoys short trips along Lake Erie with Cheryl, who also serves on staff as the Preschool Director, and likes to relax with challenging Extreme Sudoku puzzles. Mark hopes to never retire but to slow down enough to keep up with his grandchildren and continue serving the Lord through music and ministry.

Eddie Riley

Administrator, Cross Lanes Christian School

Eddie Riley grew up in Hickory, NC. He was saved and baptized at Tabernacle Baptist Church. God called him into the ministry after graduation from High School in 1978. He attended Bob Jones University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible Education in 1983. He earned his M.Ed. from West Coast Baptist Bible College in 2019. He is professionally certified through the American Association of Christian Schools.

With over 40 years of experience in Christian Education, Eddie and his wife, Milissa, have served in schools across the United States, from NC to AZ, FL, VA, NJ, and currently in Cross Lanes, WV. Since 2013, Eddie has been the Administrator of Cross Lanes Christian School, providing leadership to a team of over 30 staff members and ministering to hundreds of students and their families. His professional training and organization skills are evident in his oversight of all school events and activities. He also serves by teaching the Senior High Bible class, speaking in chapel, and providing pulpit supply at CLBC.

Eddie and his wife, Milissa, have not only dedicated their professional lives to Christian education but have also instilled these values in their family. They were married in 1983 and have two children, Charity and Micah, both of whom are graduates of Christian schools. Milissa, in particular, has been involved in Christian education her entire life, following in the footsteps of her father, who was a Christian school Administrator for over 40 years. She is a 1984 graduate of Bob Jones University and has served as a teacher, coach, and office manager. Currently, she is the receptionist, development secretary, and attendance clerk for Cross Lanes Christian School.

Eddie’s commitment to Christian education is evident in the various leadership roles he has held. He has served as a teacher, coach, Athletic Director, Dean, Youth Pastor, and Assistant High School Principal. His dedication to the field is further demonstrated by his service on the executive board for the Garden State Association of Christian Schools (GSACS) from 2002 to 2012, and his ongoing service on the West Virginia Christian Education Association executive board since 2014. Before moving to WV, Eddie was the Pastor of New Life Bible Church in Deptford, NJ, for 4 years. He also was an NCAA and MiLB certified baseball and ASA softball umpire in FL and VA for 8 years.

Eddie has served on several accreditation teams in evaluating the educational process and protocols of Christian schools in NJ, WV, and Indiana. He is an avid writer who has published over 24 educational articles for His Good News, an online magazine published by WVCEA.

Cheryl Boyd

Director of Bright Beginnings Preschool

Cheryl Boyd has been a devoted member of Cross Lanes Bible Church for over 45 years, ever since moving to West Virginia during her senior year of high school. Cheryl was saved at age 12 in her Sunday School class and baptized soon afterwards. It was at CLBC where she met her husband, Mark, and where they began their life together in faith and service. After attending college at Bob Jones University, she and Mark were married at Cross Lanes Bible Church. They have been blessed with two daughters, Marie and Amy—both graduates of Cross Lanes Christian School. Marie currently serves as an Education Specialist at a Christian school and is the mother of two young children, while Amy is a full-time homemaker with two young sons of her own.

Cheryl began her professional journey in the insurance industry, serving 11 years as an Administrative Manager. As her daughters grew, her heart was drawn to Christian education. She spent 10 years as a First Grade Teacher’s Aide at Cross Lanes Christian School before transitioning to Bright Beginnings Preschool. For the past 18 years, Cheryl has faithfully served as the Lead Teacher and Director of this vital ministry.

Her passion lies in teaching young children—helping them grow academically while also nurturing a love for Jesus through Bible instruction. Cheryl’s ministry reflects her deep commitment to shaping young hearts and minds in a Christ-centered environment.

Alongside her husband Mark, Cheryl has been actively involved in nearly every area of church life, including youth and children’s ministries, music, hospitality, decorating, cleaning, maintenance, and more. Their faithful behind-the-scenes service is a testimony to their love for the Lord and their church family.

Vicki Webb

Church Secretary

Vicki Webb grew up in Putnam County and came to know Christ about a year before dear friends invited her to Cross Lanes Bible Church. She became a member in 1971 and is grateful for the godly teaching she received here during her teenage years.

In 1974, she married her husband, Ed, at CLBC. They have been married for 51 years and are blessed with three children and ten grandchildren.

Vicki has faithfully served in various roles over the years. She worked with the Bright Beginnings Program for 14 years before becoming the church secretary in 1999, where she handles a wide range of office responsibilities.

Her ministry passion is working with children, and she is also active in the Ladies Bible Study Group. During the school year, she serves with the Good News Club in a local elementary school, sharing the hope of Christ with the next generation.

Rae Lanham

Financial Secretary

Rae Lanham has been a faithful member of Cross Lanes Bible Church since 1978. Over the years, she and her late husband, Sam, who went home to be with the Lord in 2020 after 57 years of marriage, raised their two sons, Eric and Reid, in the church and school ministries.

She began serving as the Financial Secretary for both the church and school in 1986, faithfully managing the financial records and supporting the ministries behind the scenes. In addition to her work in the office, she has been actively involved in various church ministries, including the Nursery, Jolly Seniors, and Bible studies.

Her heart for missions has also taken her on trips with Sew Very Loved to Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas, where she has used her gifts to serve others and share the love of Christ.