Pastor - Russell Jones
Pastor Russell came to First Baptist Church on April 1, 2021. He and his wife Victoria (and Victoria's father Paul Schwanz) moved to Pierre from Belton, Texas.
Russ took a rather unusual path to pastoral ministry, to say the least. The son of a Southern Baptist deacon, Russ practically grew up in the church; unfortunately, like many young people, he drifted away from church as a young adult and stayed away for twenty-five years. At forty-six, Russ had an epiphany and came to his senses, realizing that no matter how far he’d run, God was with him still. His wife Victoria was very supportive and they began searching for a church home the very next day.
Soon work took Russ, Victoria, and their children from southwestern Ohio to College Station, Texas where he started teaching Sunday School and working with leadership committees and other “behind the scenes” work at First Baptist Church of College Station. The drive to learn more and better minister to that Sunday School class were the catalyst that drew him to begin taking seminary classes and eventually (Russ can be a little stubborn) accept his calling to pastoral ministry at the age of 50. (It seems that everyone BUT him had known for some time).
Family and career changes brought about another move that precipitated Russ and Victoria planting Mosaic Fellowship in Belton, Texas with the help of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, the Bell Baptist Association, and Freedom Road Biker Church as sponsors. Mosaic Fellowship was deliberately planted in the poorest part of Belton in an attempt to reach the poor and the marginalized, which made ministry there…different.
Until recently Russ's full-time job was teaching 6th grade English in Killeen, Texas and Victoria was a church secretary at Heights Baptist Church in Temple, TX (where Russ also spent some time as Interim Youth Pastor). They have three children, all adults: Kayla, a Navy veteran attending nursing school in Ohio; Mandi, who lives and works in the Killeen area; and Taylor, who is living in Los Angeles trying to get into the entertainment industry as a scriptwriter/producer.
Victoria has three cats (they’re definitely hers – they only tolerate Russ because he feeds them half the time) and Russ has an AussieDoodle puppy (Australian Shepherd/Standard Poodle mix) named Buckeye with whom he is quite enamored – he’s an ornery rascal but cute as a bug.
Church Secretary - Larae Schoenfelder
Larae Schoenfelder has been a member of FBC since she was 13, so she says “I can honestly say that I was raised in this church.” She’s been the secretary at FBC for over 17 years.
Larae and her husband Paul have two adult children and one grandchild.
From spring to fall, you will probably find them camping somewhere. They also enjoy being out on the pontoon. “It's the simple things,” Larae says.
Deacons
Bonnie Pitlick-Rus
Moderator
Pat Quinn
Property
Desiree Quinn
Vice-Moderator/Worship
Lori Hall
Christian Education
Alex Ruppelt
Treasurer
Cindy Kemnitz
Fellowship
Paula Weeldreyer
Financial Secretary
Bev Wilson
Clerk
Pat Weeldreyer
Missions
Jeff Speact
Evangelism/Shepherding/Membership
Wendy Speaect
Evangelism/Shepherding/Membership