First Baptist Church of Doylestown

Christopher Sutton
Senior Pastor
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With the conviction that God has made His will known to you and to us, Shirley and I
accept the call to come to First Baptist Church. Serving Christ together, we will move forward telling others the wonderful news that whoever believes in Jesus will have abundant life in the here and now and eternal life in the future.

We have a strong sense that we are standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. Beginning in 1846, our wonderful church has maintained a consistent witness for Christ in Bucks County and throughout the world. First Baptist Church has a rich heritage of Missions, Bible teaching, and Christian fellowship.

We want to continue that legacy by proclaiming Christ to this generation. Now is the time to build bridges to those who are without Christ in our day. There are people all around us who will respond to Jesus if we will reach out to them in His name.

I call upon you to join me in the great adventure of leading others to Christ! If one man tells others about Jesus, it is a good thing. However, if an entire church focuses on telling others about Jesus, it is a better thing! We can reach more people together than we could ever reach individually.

Our job description as followers of Christ is very simple. We are to "make disciples"
(Matthew 28:18-20). We are to reach out to them with the Good News and then teach them to obey everything Jesus has commanded. Reach and teach. This we will do until Jesus comes.

Carrying you in our hearts,
Chris and Shirley Sutton

Dean Mellen
Spiritual Formation Pastor

Dean Mellen brings a rich background of cross-cultural ministry to the role of the Spiritual Formation Pastor. Spiritual formation is all about who we are and who we are becoming. The Spiritual Formation pastor is responsible for creating an environment that facilitates life transformation in all the adults who attend First Baptist. Spiritual formation is not about programs; it’s about life change. It’s about becoming more like Christ.

Dean wants you to know that he is crazy about Judy. Not just any Judy, but Judy Mellen, his wife. Their three young-adult children are Keira, Joshua and Brittany. Josh is married to Colleen, and Dean says you need to talk to him before you ever, even think about asking either of his daughters for a date.

Dean and Judy have had the privilege of serving in missions in Portugal and Belgium. Dean was a teacher at a Bible school near Lisbon, and later at a Bible school and seminary in Leuven, Belgium. After almost 20 years of ministry in missions, Dean became the Director of Adult Ministries at a church in Winnipeg, Manitoba. First Baptist called Dean and Judy to join their team in the fall of 2005.

The Spiritual Formation Pastor’s focus is to glorify God by being and developing healthy, balanced disciples of Jesus Christ.

Todd Bunce
Associate Pastor of Worship & Music

Todd Bunce has been the Associate Pastor of Worship and Music at First Baptist since March 3, 2003 at precisely 8:00 am. He directs or oversees all of those ministries at the church related to music or the worship services: the music program (worship teams, choirs, solos and ensembles, bell choir), sound and video, facility decorations, and service planning. His job title purposefully puts Worship ahead of Music, because while music is an important part of First Baptist, it is not an end in itself – it is simply a means to worship our Savior and God.

Todd grew up in northern New Jersey, attending Pascack Bible Church, where he first began to cut his chops as a pianist. He studied Music Education at Montclair State University (back when it was only a wee little College), graduating in 1992. Todd worked as a music teacher in several New Jersey schools, and was also the Director of Music at Lafayette Federated Church for 5 years. A highlight of his music career was traveling the country with the Refreshment Committee, a Christian musical theatre company based out of St. Paul, MN. His most important accomplishment, however, was meeting his wife Sharon, who was also a Music Ed major at Montclair State studying voice. (One might say they are a couple who truly make beautiful music together.) They were married on August 21, 1993, at precisely 11:11 am. They have three children: Evan, Lily, and Leah.

When not romping with his kids, Todd works hard to keep his house or cars from falling apart, tends to his many collections (coins, business cards, TV Guide covers, albums and CDs, Christmas decorations, sands of the world), or watches Law & Order at precisely 10:00 pm.

Peter Gowesky

Studen Ministries Pastor

From my heart to yours:

It all started back in the 11^th grade. That was when God began to burden my heart for ministry; especially ministry to students. When I graduated high school I went to Houghton College for a year, and then transferred to Philadelphia Biblical University. While at PBU I served as a Junior High Youth Pastor in West Chester PA, and grew to love Youth Ministry. God had given me a joy and a passion for teenagers. In 2004 I was married to my amazing wife Tiffany. She has been an incredible gift from God. In that same year, I also began a new ministry on Long Beach Island, NJ. I served there as Youth Pastor for 4 years. God has blessed me so richly; while we were there God gave us two wonderful children, Noah and Grace. In November of 2007 God brought my family and I to Doylestown, PA to serve here at FBC as the Pastor of Student Ministries. I am incredibly thrilled to be here apart of this church family.

My wife and I strive to better connect students with three relationships; with God, with one another, and with the student ministry leaders here at FBC. One of the greatest joys in my life is help students realize that you don’t have to wait until you’re an adult to make a difference in this world! I am excited to see how God is going to work in my life, and in our Student Ministries here at First Baptist Church of Doylestown!

Due to the fact that life as a teenager can often times be frustrating and confusing, we have a time set aside each Sunday night where we will get together and talk about life as a teenager, and what God wants for our lives. You should come join us. We really enjoy getting together and having a great time of playing games, laughing with one another, building relationships and encouraging each other.

Jan Cooper
Director of Children's Ministries

Jan Cooper began working at First Baptist in 1999, filling the newly created part-time role of Director of Children’s Ministries. She oversees children’s programs from nursery through sixth grade, including Sunday School, Children’s Church, Awana and Vacation Bible School.

After graduating from the University of Illinois in 1976 with a Bachelors in Rhetoric and German, Jan worked in student ministries with Campus Crusade for Christ in both Germany and Austria. She received a Masters of Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1985.

In 1985, Jan married Keith Cooper, a chemical engineer. They moved to Vermont, where she became active in women’s ministries and increasingly in children’s programs and education. They relocated to Doylestown in the summer of 1999. Jan and Keith have four children: Chelsea, Julia, Lucas and Austin.

Jan enjoys reading, cooking, skiing, camping and hiking.

Pamela Hahn
Administrative Assistant to Children's Ministries

Pamela Hahn joined the staff in June of 2006. She has taught at Good Beginnings Pre-School since 2005. In 1988 Pamela married her husband, John. They have one daughter named Shelby and the latest addition to their family is a beloved coon hound named Danny.

In her free time, Pamela enjoys spending time with her family, doing crafts, decorating and gardening.

Susan Haladay
Bookkeeper
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Marion Turner
Financial Assistant
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Meredith Heckenberger
Church Secretary
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Meredith became First Baptist’s church secretary August 20, 2007. Her job ranges from fielding phone calls, receiving visitors to the church, scheduling facility use, maintaining the church calendar and helping ministry heads with correspondence and publications.

Meredith grew up in Hilltown. She graduated High School from Pennridge. After high school, she attended Baptist Bible College, where she received her Associates in Office Professions. When she was done college, she worked at her church, First Baptist of Perkasie, as the assistant to the youth pastor. She is heavily involved with the youth group and loves ministering to the teens there. She has a passion for serving the Lord and doing whatever He asks of her. She is excited to be working in the church office at First Baptist of Doylestown.

Beth Bawden
Media and Publications Coordinator

Beth joined the FBC staff in October of 2007. She is responsible for the weekly bulletin and other publications, as well as maintenance of the website.

Beth has been married to Jeff since August of 1997. They have two sons, Gabriel and Jacob. They are members of Davisville Church in Southampton and are very active in their couples' Sunday school class, as well as their small group.

Tim DiBlasi
Building and Grounds Superintendent

Ginger Youngman
Director of Good Beginnings Pre-School & Kindergarten

Ginger Youngman serves as the Director of Good Beginnings Preschool and Kindergarten. This is her fourteenth year of teaching, with experience in elementary and early childhood education.

Ginger graduated from Wartburg College in Iowa with a bachelors of arts in Elementary Education and an early childhood endorsement with a multicultural certification. Upon graduation she served as a Missionary Teacher in Ukraine with Campus Crusade for Christ from 1994-2004.

In 2004, Ginger moved to this area. She taught first grade at a local Christian school (PMCA) and then preschool at Good Beginnings. She completed her Masters in Education from Philadelphia Biblical University in 2006.

Ginger was married in 2004 to Mark Youngman. Together they enjoy ministering to young adults, playing games, and hiking. In addition to working with children, Ginger enjoys watercolor painting.