Our People

Meet some of the people of Tillicoultry Baptist Church.

Dee Jess

Pastor & Trustee

Hi there,

My name is Dee Jess & I love Jesus!

I am one of the leaders here at Tillicoultry Baptist Church. I am married to Hyeyoung & we have three wee offspring. My background is in education, counselling, pastoral work & missions.

I graduated from Spurgeon’s College in 2011 & served with the Baptist Missionary Society for a decade in North East Asia.

I was born & raised in South London. My parents moved to the UK from the sunny island of Jamaica in the 1950’s. My conversion & call to missions happened simultaneously, when I was 17 years old. I trained & worked with Youth With A Mission New Zealand many moons ago & also served as a youth minister in London for three years.

I am passionate about the gospel, which is essentially good news for sinners like me, through the finished work of Jesus 1 Tim. 1:12-15.

I enjoy good conversations, great movies, grand coffee & the glorious Scottish countryside!

Jemma Wraight

Children & Family Worker

Hi there,

My name is Jemma Wraight and I am the Children and Families Worker here at Tillicoultry Baptist Church. I am married to Matty and we have a wee boy Ezra, who is 7 years old.

For the last 15 years we’ve served the Lord in England and we are excited to move north to my hometown of Tillicoultry. My background is youth/children’s’ ministry and church planting in Matty’s hometown of Burnley. For the last six years I have served on the Capernwray Hall Bible School staff team as Outreach Coordinator and lecturing on Evangelism and Mission. I was also pleased to complete an MA in Missions in 2022.

The thing I love to do most is tell people about Jesus, I have a passion for evangelism and believe every Christian has the responsibility to share their story of how the transforming power of Jesus is working in their lives. If we have an encounter with the living Christ, how can we keep it to ourselves? One of my favourite quotes on evangelism is from D.T Niles; “Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread”. How can we keep silent if we have the answers to life in all its fulness? My heart is to equip and enable every Christian no matter how young or old to be proud and passionate to invite others into a relationship with God who loves them.

I cannot express how privileged the Wraight’s feel to be ‘called’ back to Tillicoultry. I grew up here myself and became a Christian through local Christians serving the youth and children in the town. I am excited to once again pick up that torch and introduce families to Jesus and have lots of fun along the way, and I cannot wait see all God will do though the ministry of TBC!

I enjoy, walking, reading and watching football and looking forward to re-connecting with the great folk of Tillicoultry.

Elder • Trustee

Having been a member of TBC for twenty years I am delighted to have joined the leadership team in 2025. Originally from Northern Ireland, I have come to love this bit of Scotland, nestling at the foot of the Ochils. I have worked as a local GP for many years but now my passion is to use those skills connecting people to change lives as I serve with the overseas development charity, Vine Trust

Elder • Treasurer • Trustee

I am part of the leadership team with responsibility for finance. Music is a particular love of mine and I enjoy playing with the others in the worship team. Outside church I spend many hours “taxiing” children to work, friends and football training…and occasionally manage to do some real work as a solicitor.

Elder • Trustee

I’m a dad of two, and husband to Gyda. I tend to prefer a one to one chat over a crowded room, but love nothing more than finding out what makes people come alive. I connect with God best through music, and can often be found hiding behind the drum kit, as well as enjoying live music of all sorts. The best listener in our family is our scruffy terrier, so we’ll often be seen walking the hills and paths around Tilly. He has a loud bark but is very friendly so come and say hello!

Elder • Trustee

I have been part of the leadership team since the end of 2019 and have helped run the Monday Ladies Bible Study/Life Group for the last 17 years. I’m married to Robert and have 3 grown up sons. Since retiring from nursing, I enjoy spending my time meeting friends for coffee and walking our dog.

Elder • Secretary • Trustee

I re-joined the leadership team and took on the role of Secretary in June 2021. I’m involved with the Forth Valley CAP Debt Centre and promoting the CAP Money Course locally. I love spending time with my grown-up kids and grandchildren, sailing and taking short breaks around the country in my VW campervan.

Elder • Trustee

As well as being on the leadership team, I can often be found in the music group on Sunday morning playing various instruments and leading too. I’m also involved with the sound team as well as the facilities and functions team. I’m a dad of two young girls and husband to Ruth.