STAFF:
Kent Harrop, Senior Pastor
 “I am an American Baptist for many reasons, including: Our commitment to freedom of conscience, freedom to interpret the Bible, freedom of the local church to set its own direction and a commitment to holistic mission work with an emphasis on justice and peace. At McMinnville First Baptist we thrive on a free exchange of ideas, believing that freedom creates an essential environment for the Holy Spirit to speak into our lives.
I grew up in Rhode Island where I attended college. Graduated in 1983 with a Master of Divinity degree from Andover Newton Theological School in Massachusetts. I have served congregations in Massachusetts, Montana, California and Ohio. My call as pastor of McMinnville FBC began June 1994.
In addition to my ministry at FBC I enjoy volunteering in a variety of settings:
Board of Trustee’s at Linfield College,
May 2006 – May 2007, American Baptist Seminary of the West,
May 2007 – May 2008 President of Board for Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO).
My family consists of my wife Tricia, our daughters Lindsay and Katelyn and a vast array of animals. We love calling McMinnville home.”
Barbara Galbraith, Children and Youth Minister
Barbara Galbraith joined the FBC staff the fall of 2007 as Children's Ministry Coordinator. A lifelong American Baptist, Barbara was drawn to the FBC family due, in part, to the inclusiveness of all as children of God. The "all are welcome at the banquet table" theology resonates with her, and begins, she believes, with the youngest in our lives - our children. When our children are taught, by example, that "all are precious in His sight", the world becomes a more peaceful, grace-filled place in which to live and grow.
Prior to coming to McMinnville, Barbara served as the Site Director for Oregon's American Baptist Camp, Arrah Wanna, in the foothills of Mt. Hood. She has also served as the children's minister to our AB congregation in Medford, Eastwood Baptist Church. Outside of the professional ministry world, Barbara has been a preschool teacher, corporate childcare center director, bookstore manager, and community relations coordinator. However, her most-rewarding endeavor will always be her family.
The mother of five, Barbara's greatest joy is participating actively in the life of her children. Ranging in ages from preteen to almost 30 (!!), Barbara's kids are the lights of her life. "In their own individual ways," she says,"my kids inspire me to be a better person; a more loving and patient person, and a person more-accepting of the unique paths that we all walk in this journey of life." Barbara enjoys reading, high school and college sports, spending time at the beach, all kinds of music (especially played live and outside!), the theatre, baking, and just hanging out with her family, which in addition to the aforementioned children, includes her husband and best friend, Butch (George) and three cute and crazy guinea pigs named Joey, Franklin, and Juan Carlos. (Bindy, the camp dog extraordinaire, remains at Arrah Wanna to freely roam the 132 acres she has always called "home"...but Barbara will always call Bindy "family"!)
JP Bierly, Music and Small Groups Minister
"It is my pleasure to serve the body of Christ through the music and small groups ministry at First Baptist Church. At FBC, I have found a community of believers that are not ashamed to live an openly Christian life. Members minister to me each day through their Christ-like examples encouraging me to live my life in response to the gifts that God has entrusted me with. Regardless of how many 'talents' the Master has given me, I know that investing them at FBC will bear much fruit."
JP was born and raised in Beaverton, Oregon. He graduated from Southwest Christian High School in 1998. It was at Southwest that JP heard the Gospel and began learning about leading worship through music. JP graduated from Linfield College in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance. JP also earned a Master's degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from Portland State University in 2006.
While JP was a student at Linfield, he was invited to sing in the Chancel Choir at FBC under the direction of Marion van Dyk. JP loved the people and message at FBC and upon returning to McMinnville in 2005 to take the position of Administrator of the Linfield Chamber Orchestra he began singing in the Worship Team. The Lord had a calling in mind for JP and in 2006 he was asked to serve as Music Ministry Coordinator.
Donna Weed, Office Manager
The gift I received on Valentine’s Day, 2005 was becoming First Baptist Church’s Office Manager. It has truly been a gift of Love, feeling it each and every day through my daily interaction with members and friends, and a wonderful caring staff.
I should have realized my place would ultimately be in a church, when I was born . . . Being born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth (Pennsylvania, that is) . . . Where else should I have been. But life did have other callings for me, a 30 year career in the Travel Industry, mostly as a TWA Customer Service Agent and later as a free-lance Travel Consultant. It all came full circle, as I have found a wonderful new home and an exciting new career at FBC . . . My birth right!
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