Elder Led

 

Leadership Philosophy

 

Fellowship Bible Church is led by an elder team that looks at leadership not as a position of power but as a position of service under the higher authority of Jesus Christ. The elder team takes this responsibility as a serious calling. The leadership team also strives to be transparent about its decision-making process.

 

 

Our Elder Team

 

Scott Roulier

Charlie Schaaf

John Mark Rutter

Matt Gunter

Stan Fretwell

Chuck McClain

 

 

 

Pastor, John Mark Rutter

 

 

A Message from John Mark

 

“At Fellowship Bible Church we are all on a journey together. The highest goal of this journey is to learn how we can give honor to God through our lives. Key to achieving this goal is learning to be a place where we care deeply for one another. We don’t always get it perfect, but we desire to be more than just a place where you feel welcomed. We want to be a place where you feel cared for and loved by us and by God. We want to be a place where you find real and vibrant fellowship.”

 

 

“As the pastor of Fellowship Bible Church, I hope that you find this to be such a place. Coming to church can be an intimidating experience, but if you are looking for a place where people care for one another and care about God, then I invite you to drop in one Sunday and find out more about us.”

 

 

Information about John Mark

 

John Mark is a husband and the father of two children. His wife, Desiree, teaches and works full time keeping up with their kids. Their children are in grade school and growing each and every day. He loves hanging around with the excited and motivated Christian men and women in this church, sharing the love of God with each other and those outside the church.

 

 

Books He Loves

• What’s So Amazing About Grace, Phillip Yancey
• The Church of Irresistible Influence, Robert Lewis
• Inside Out, Larry Crabb
• Desiring God, John Piper
• Simple Church, Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger
• The Connecting Church, Randy Frazee

 

 

John Mark’s Personal Journey

 

“My personal journey began as a young child, when I saw the authentic life of my parents and their very real love for one another and for God. As a result, I began to recognize then that my problems weren’t something that I could solve on my own. The life I saw in my parents was there not because they were exceptional by themselves but because they had something exceptional in their lives. That something was Jesus. I realized that hope rested in Jesus alone and made the decision to follow him all my life.

 

When I was in college, I was redirected by God from my premedical studies into full-time service in the church. It was also at this time that I met and married my wife, Desiree. After graduating with a degree in philosophy from the University of Central Arkansas, I worked as a youth pastor for four years. Our family then moved to Dallas, Texas, where I received a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. I’ve been here at Fellowship Bible Church since 2006 when I was called to become the pastor.”

 

Worship & Student Pastor, Christian Baxter

 

 

Message from Christian

 

“What I have found at Fellowship are people who want to journey through life together, with a desire to have God lead. Our hope is to facilitate this through corporate worship, small-group gatherings and church/community wide events. Come do life with us at Fellowship Bible Church!”

 

“As the worship and student pastor I hope to lead you into passionate corporate worship of our great God, as well as to give students a place to gather among peers and seek God together through fun, fellowship and worship.”

 

 

Info about Christian

 

Christian is married to his beautiful and talented wife, Megan. Together they are the parents of their precious daughter Liv. Christian’s passions are music and people and loves it when the two come together.

 

Christian grew up in Batesville and desires to see God’s Spirit move in a powerful way in the lives of its residents. He also has the privilege of traveling and leading worship with the Christian Baxter Band across the U.S. at various venues, events and camps throughout the year.

 

 

Musical Influences

• Hillsong United
• U2
• Charlie Hall Band
• Jimmy Eat World
• Copeland
• Leeland
• David Crowder Band
• Passion Worship
• The Beatles
• Coldplay

 

Christian’s Personal Journey

 

“At a very young age I was introduced to the idea of who Jesus was and all the typical children’s stories of the Bible. But it wasn’t until I was 15 and attended a Christian summer camp that Jesus changed my life. I was presented with this question: ‘Was Jesus just someone I knew a lot about or was Jesus my King, Savior, Lord of my life, and the person I lived for?’ I could not honestly say, ‘Yes, he is,’ to any of those things and that night pleaded for God’s grace and forgiveness and asked him to save me from myself. That night was a catalyst in my life.”

 

“When I got home from camp my parents gave me my first guitar! It is neat to say that when God came into my life so did music. Soon after that experience I felt an urgent call to follow God’s will in doing his ministry with my life. Since then God has always put me in places to do his work with my life.”