Meet Liz Coates. While she didn’t initially plan on pursuing a career in ministry, Liz works as the Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Spiritual Formation at First Baptist Church and says “I can’t imagine doing anything other than this now.” When she isn’t hard at work at FBC, Liz spends her time hiking and day tripping to mountain towns and enjoying intimate dinners with friends.
We’d like to thank Liz for sitting down with us to answer some questions about her life in Gainesville.
Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
Answer: “I grew up in a pastor’s home and didn’t intend on becoming an ordained minister. I needed a job straight out of college and started in the church and here I am years later loving what I do. I love congregational ministry.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County, and what do you love there?
A: “2 Dog, I get the house salad and add black beans and I love their bread. Their food is fresh and real and I love it.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?
A: “I have lived here for 18 years and worked here for that same amount of time–either in restaurants or in church.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met in Hall County?
A: “Joe Tu, he is the Vietnamese pastor here at First Baptist. He came to America during the Vietnamese Crisis and rebuilt his life here. He is afraid of nothing and just beams with joy. He is a chicken farmer, helps resettle Vietnamese immigrants, and also a pastor.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: “There are two: Iceland, I would go there for fun and because I’m interested in seeing it. And, Lesbos, Greece to work with Syrian refugees.”
Q: What is your favorite movie OR what is the first movie you remember seeing in a theatre?
A: “The Little Mermaid.”
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “Do something you love for your work, be kind to yourself, and slow down.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “To own a horse–it would teach me to be a better person and would force me outside to a place that’s wonderful and beautiful.”
Q: What is your favorite music/ 3 bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: “The Grateful Dead, the Lumineers, and Justin Timberlake.”
Q: What local place makes you the most nostalgic about Hall County?
A: “Northside Drive, that’s where I lived when I first moved here and I was able to walk everywhere.”
Q: Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative: with whom would you love to have lunch? Why this person? Where in Hall County would you take them?
A: “One of the monks from the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. He was a cool person, very funny, and extremely wise. I’d love to be able to sit and talk with him again. Outside of 2 Dog on the patio.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “The people, the Square, being able to head north and see the mountains, the trees, the parks, and crossing the bridge over the lake every morning. I have also found the best friends a person could’ve dreamed of and churches in this town love to work together.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
A: “Doing work I love and surrounded by good friends. No matter where I am, Hall County will always be my home.”
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “I’ve been to over 20 countries and I don’t speak a single foreign language.”
The Faces of Hall County is a project to showcase the amazing people that live or work in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured please email babernathy@gonorton.com.
We’d like to thank Liz for sitting down with us to answer some questions about her life in Gainesville.
Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
Answer: “I grew up in a pastor’s home and didn’t intend on becoming an ordained minister. I needed a job straight out of college and started in the church and here I am years later loving what I do. I love congregational ministry.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County, and what do you love there?
A: “2 Dog, I get the house salad and add black beans and I love their bread. Their food is fresh and real and I love it.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?
A: “I have lived here for 18 years and worked here for that same amount of time–either in restaurants or in church.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met in Hall County?
A: “Joe Tu, he is the Vietnamese pastor here at First Baptist. He came to America during the Vietnamese Crisis and rebuilt his life here. He is afraid of nothing and just beams with joy. He is a chicken farmer, helps resettle Vietnamese immigrants, and also a pastor.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: “There are two: Iceland, I would go there for fun and because I’m interested in seeing it. And, Lesbos, Greece to work with Syrian refugees.”
Q: What is your favorite movie OR what is the first movie you remember seeing in a theatre?
A: “The Little Mermaid.”
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “Do something you love for your work, be kind to yourself, and slow down.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “To own a horse–it would teach me to be a better person and would force me outside to a place that’s wonderful and beautiful.”
Q: What is your favorite music/ 3 bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: “The Grateful Dead, the Lumineers, and Justin Timberlake.”
Q: What local place makes you the most nostalgic about Hall County?
A: “Northside Drive, that’s where I lived when I first moved here and I was able to walk everywhere.”
Q: Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative: with whom would you love to have lunch? Why this person? Where in Hall County would you take them?
A: “One of the monks from the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. He was a cool person, very funny, and extremely wise. I’d love to be able to sit and talk with him again. Outside of 2 Dog on the patio.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “The people, the Square, being able to head north and see the mountains, the trees, the parks, and crossing the bridge over the lake every morning. I have also found the best friends a person could’ve dreamed of and churches in this town love to work together.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
A: “Doing work I love and surrounded by good friends. No matter where I am, Hall County will always be my home.”
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “I’ve been to over 20 countries and I don’t speak a single foreign language.”
The Faces of Hall County is a project to showcase the amazing people that live or work in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured please email babernathy@gonorton.com.
