ABOUT FIRST B
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OUR LEADERSHIP SERVES THE CONGREGATION AND COMMUNITY
ELDERS AND STAFF
Led by a board of unpaid lay elders along with two paid pastor-elders, the elder board oversees the big picture vision and health of the church, while the two paid pastor-elders (the Lead Teaching Pastor and Lead Executive Pastor) oversee and manage the church staff and the day-to-day ministries of the church.
ELDERS
steve toler
ELDER
GLEN EICKMEYER
ELDER
AL HOUCK
ELDER
CRAIG DICKISON
ELDER
marlin schultz
ELDER
Wendell Ard
ELDER
Marc Bickley
ELDER
DARYL MOLYNEAUX
ELDER/LEAD TEACHING PASTOR
BRAD LAUER
ELDER/LEAD EXECUTIVE PASTOR
LEAD PASTORS
DARYL MOLYNEAUX
LEAD TEACHING PASTOR
BRAD LAUER
LEAD EXECUTIVE PASTOR
YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTRY
ANNA LANCASTER
FIRST B KIDS PASTOR
dustin zerwas
YOUTH PASTOR
PAUL HERRIOTT
COLLEGE PASTOR
camp harlow STAFF
Mike Bothman
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
GRANT SPIES
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
KATHIE FISCHER
OFFICE MANAGER
JORDAN WEINKAUF
FOOD AND AQUATICS DIRECTOR
GROUPS MINISTRY
SANDY PARK
GROUPS PASTOR
DAVE MERTZ
SENIOR LIFE PASTOR
MARIANNE DRISCOLL
WOMENS PASTOR
MISSIONS AND OUTREACH
PHIL LITTLETON
MISSIONS AND OUTREACH PASTOR
COMMUNICATIONS
ENOCH HOWELL
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
LEVI BAGGE
WORSHIP PASTOR
JEN QUINNELLY
MUSIC AND WORSHIP COORDINATOR
RUDY HERR
CONNECTIONS PASTOR
OPERATIONS
NANCY COX
HUMAN RESOURCES & EXECUTIVE OFFICE
RICH MINKLER
FACILITIES MANAGER
ELLEN HAXBY
ACCOUNTANT
WE STAND ON A FIRM FOUNDATION
WHAT WE BELIEVE
First Baptist Church is committed to core beliefs that reflect the historic, orthodox beliefs of the Christian Church through the ages and which form the foundation for our key decisions. We believe that in these essential beliefs, we are to have unity (Eph. 4:4-6); in non-essential beliefs, we must have freedom (Rom. 14:1-2); and, in all beliefs, we need to demonstrate love (I Cor. 13:2).
Learn more about what we believe and to ask your questions by taking the Next Steps Class
THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible is the divinely revealed, living Word of God and is our ultimate authority for faith and life. We believe both the “Old” and “New” Testaments (which contain 66 books) are verbally inspired (“God-breathed”) and are entirely true and without error in the original writings. We believe the Bible is powerful and indispensable in a believer’s life, and is incapable of leading one astray when clearly understood through a sound method of interpretation and the work of the Holy Spirit. (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:20-21)
GOD
We believe there is one true God who is the Living and Almighty Creator and Ruler of the universe. We believe He has eternally existed in three distinct persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – who are co-equal in being, nature, power, and glory. We believe God created everything for His glory and that everything is subject to His sovereign will. (Matt. 28:19; Gen. 1:1; Heb. 1:1-13; Acts 5:3-4; John 10:30)
JESUS CHRIST
We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the only way of salvation. We believe He was born of the virgin Mary and is God the Son. We believe He has always existed in absolute perfection, without sin, and that He died on the cross for our sins. We believe He rose physically from the dead in order to conquer sin and death once for all and He is now ascended to the right hand of the Father into glory. We believe He alone is the mediator between God and people, making it possible for us to come into a right relationship with Him. (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; John 1:14; I Tim. 2:5; Phil. 2:5-8)
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son, and is still active today in transforming people’s lives. We believe He convicts people of their sin, draws unbelievers to God, and indwells every believer for the purpose of enabling him/her to live a life pleasing to the Lord. We believe He gifts each believer in unique and special ways to serve and build up the body of Christ. (John 14:16-17; 16:7-12; Eph. 1:13-14; 1 Cor. 12:7-11)
HUMAN BEINGS
We believe people are uniquely created by God, for God, and are desperately in need of God. We believe every person is a special creation of God, for they alone are created in the “image of God.” Sadly, while people were created for the purpose of relationship with God, because of sin, this fellowship has been broken. As a result, all of us are sinners by nature and by choice, and apart from the saving work of Christ, will experience the consequences of our sin – eternal separation from God. (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:10, 23; 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3)
SALVATION
We believe salvation, from beginning to end, is the gracious work of God, based on the finished work of Christ. It cannot be earned through self-improvement or good works. We believe it is only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness that anyone can be saved from the penalty of sin. We believe that when a person turns from their self-ruled life and turns to Jesus in faith, accepting what He did on the cross for them, he/she is saved. We believe all who receive Christ become children of God and are secure in Him. (John 1:11-13; I Cor. 12:13; Col. 1:18)
CHRISTIAN GROWTH
We believe Christian growth happens when a believer, through the power of the Holy Spirit, engages in an ongoing process of being transformed into the image of Christ. We believe this growth (or sanctification) is a work of God’s grace that is neither automatic nor instantaneous, and requires a believer to keep in step with the Spirit through purposeful and disciplined involvement in spiritual disciplines of prayer, worship, Bible study, fellowship, serving, giving, sharing our faith, etc. (Philippians 2:13; Galatians 5:25; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Peter 1:3-7)
THE CHURCH
We believe the Church is God’s people and that it exists to glorify God and to fulfill His purpose of making disciples throughout the world. We believe it exists in two manifestations: 1) the universal church which consists of all those who know Jesus Christ as Savior throughout all time; and, 2) the local church which consists of a community of believers in Christ who, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, have voluntarily joined together for worship, for instruction, and for service of our Lord as a local manifestation of the body of Christ. We believe Jesus alone is the Architect and Head of the Church. (Matt. 28:18-20; I Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:47; Rom. 12:5; Col. 1:18)
THE FUTURE
We believe in the “blessed hope” – the literal and imminent return of Christ to claim His people. We believe Jesus has gone before us to prepare a place for believers in heaven. We believe He will judge His people and reward them according to their deeds. We believe the Bible teaches there is a literal hell for those who reject God. (I Thess. 4:13-18; John 14:1-6; I Cor. 15:51-52; Matt. 10:28)
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT US
REGISTER FOR OUR next steps to membership class
Want to hear more and know more about First B? Come hear about who we are, what we believe, what we value, and where you can connect to the First B family through our Next Steps Class for new members and those considering membership. Free childcare (4 and under) and lunch provided. Reservation required. Click below for our next available class!
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF EUGENE
over 170 years of God’s faithfulness
The First Baptist Church of Eugene was founded in 1852, by seven charter members. Six of them were from the Harlow and Tandy families who arrived in Oregon in 1851, via the Oregon Trail. They met in the log cabin home of Mahlon H. and Frances Harlow, two miles northeast of Eugene on the Forks of the Willamette River.
The church grew rapidly and moved to downtown Eugene in 1857, where members met in a building owned by M. H. Harlow, until they could erect a church. The first church building was constructed in 1867 at 8th Avenue and Pearl Streets. It was replaced by a larger frame building at the same site in late 1880s. And in 1927, a much larger brick structure was erected at East Broadway and High Street. This building became the Shedd Institute when the church moved to its new site on land originally settled and donated by the Harlows off Coburg Road near Armitage Park in 2003.
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WE AIM TO BE PEOPLE OF THE WORD
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