Staff

 

Bruce Peterson, Pastor
Office hours 9-3 Mon-Thurs
By appointment days and evenings
Call: 764-8243 (Church)

My wife, Sharyn and I were both born in the midwest.  We have been in full time ministry for over 35 years and have pastored churches in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Utah and Oregon prior to coming to Big Rapids, MI, in August, 2008.

I have attended seminary at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Western Evangelical Seminary (George Fox University). Along with my training in theology, I have a Masters degree in Christian Counseling.

Sharyn works full-time as a teller in a local bank. Together we make our home in the countryside with our American Eskimo dog, named Zhivago. Our two foster boys tell people they raised us right!  We enjoy RVing, hiking, fishing and remodeling our home. We love listening and singing southern gospel quartet music.

We believe our being here at First Baptist Church is a fulfillment of God’s promise to us in Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not lean upon your own understanding but in all our ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your steps.”

Violet Fullmer, Office Specialist
Office hours 9-1 Tues, Wed, Fri
Call: 764-8243

I was born in Stanwood, MI and was raised in Big Rapids.  I graduated from Big Rapids High School in 1979.  On May 14, 1983 I married Jeff Fullmer.  We have three girls who are still at home.  When I was 9 years old during Vacation Bible School here at First Baptist I asked Jesus to be the forgiver of my sins and the leader of my life.  I have worked in the church office since 1992.  I like to crochet in my spare time and as a family we like to camp.  I praise the Lord for Godly parents who raised me to want to serve the Lord. 

Romans 8:38-39 are a great comfort to me.  Because it states "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither  the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separte us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

 

Dave Westover
Volunteer Assistant for Caring and Outreach  Call:  796-6559 or 250-9626

I was born April 19, 1939 in Big Rapids and graduated from Big Rapids High School in 1957.  I enlisted in the Air Force August 14th of that year and retired as a Master Sergeant after a 20 year career in electronics.  Marjorie Hooker and I were married May 24, 1958 and moved to El Paso, TX where I was stationed with the Air Force.  We have four children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  At the age of 26 I committed my life to the Lord Jesus Christ and in 1972 I began a ministry of church planting.  For 32 years I served as pastor of churches in South Dakota, the UP of Michigan, my last church was in Grand Rapids, MI where I retired from fulltime ministry in 2002.  Since then I have done volunteer ministry.  I enjoy working in my garden, doing carpentry, and minor repairs on cars.  One of my joys is watching things grow, especially when I see people grow in their relationship with the Lord.