First Baptist Church of Blanchard, OK
Pastor Andy Finch has a deep commitment to preaching and teaching God's Word with clarity and conviction so people can find the hope and help they need to face the opportunites and challenges of real life. Andy is motivated by a desire to see real life-change through the power of Jesus Christ in every person who walks through the doors of First Baptist Church. He truly cares as much about growing people as he does about growing our church. Andy is an effective and visionary leader who strives to mobilize the entire church to live on mission for Christ in their homes, schools, work places and community.
Andy grew up in Houston and Orange, Texas, where he was liscened and ordained for the ministry at First Baptist Church. He is a 1994 graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and 1997 graduate of Baylor's George W. Truett Seminary where he received his Master of Divinity degree. Andy came to FBC Blanchard in the fall of 2006 after serving at his last pastorate in Sand Springs, OK for nine years. Currently, Andy is in the process of completing the final phase of his doctorate from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago, IL.
Andy enjoys spending time with his family, playing and watching all kinds of sports, reading and spending time with friends.
Andy is blessed by the support of his wife and best friend, Steva, who graduated from OBU with a degree in nursing. Currently, Steva devotes her time to their four children: Catherine, Anna, Caleb and Seth. She also enjoys serving in women's and children's ministries at church, spending time with friends, encouraging other women through mentoring, reading and music.
Ken Austin serves as our Minister of Music. Ken gives in-depth attention and direction to the church’s worship and music ministries throughout the week. This added attention gives Ken the opportunity to develop a full instrumental section to accompany the worship services. Ken already uses guitars, a piano, a keyboard, a bass guitar, drums and an organ and is looking to add other instruments such as horns and woodwinds as well. He leads adult choir and is helping the church develop new choirs for all age groups. Ken does a great job of blending new praise music and time-honored hymns in a very uplifting and dynamic worship experience that deeply connects the worshippers to the heart of God.
Ken was born in Tulsa and raised in Bristow, Oklahoma where he was highly involved in band, choir and drama throughout his school years. He graduated in 1979 from Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, where he met his wife, Diana (McQuerry). Ken continued his studies in music and church ministry by taking classes from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Ken has served in music ministry for over 28 years in churches throughout Oklahoma. For the past 12 years he has also served as the worship leader for children’s camp at Falls Creek. Ken enjoys all types of music and relates very well to all types and ages of people. In addition to leading our music ministries, Ken also helps in increasing First Baptist's participation in local and foreign mission projects. Ken has participated in or helped lead previous trips to Venezuela, Mexico, Russia, China and Australia.
Regarding his calling to First Baptist, Ken said, “I believe God has gifted me with mercy and the ability to encourage others by helping them discover their “sweet spot” and use the gifts and/or develop the talents that the Lord has given them. I believe that God called me to be a worshipper and to have the blessed honor of helping to lead people to the throne of God Almighty. My chief joy and calling is planning and leading worship. I am very open to using various expressions of worship including instrumental and vocal music, choirs of all ages, multiple musical styles, drama, Scripture reading, multi-media video clips and testimonies. In the end, I strive to coordinate it all with my pastor’s message or sermon series. I want to follow my pastor’s lead as he dreams and plans for proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as he facilitates the nurturing and encouraging of believers, and as he leads the local body of believers to be a strong witness to the lost in the local community, as well as the state, the nation, and the world”
Ken and his wife Diana, who is a school music teacher, have two daughters, Jessica Rubicam and Lindsay Rhodes, both grown and married. Ken enjoys riding his motorcycle with friends, playing tennis, playing golf with his dad, dating Diana and playing in the bluegrass band, Dutch Creek.
E-mail NickHello, My name is Nick Atyia and I am the Student Pastor at FBC Blanchard. My wife and I are excited that you have visited the FBC Blanchard web site. We hope that you will take time to visit us on location. We love teenagers and have been serving together in ministry all of our marriage. Here is a little infomation about our family.
Nick and Libby joined First Baptist Church in September of 2003. They have been married since January 20, 2001 and have two beautiful boys. Gabriel was born in 2004 and Easton was born in 2006. They love FBC and the community of Blanchard. Nick has been in Student Ministry since 1998. Nick and Libby are graduates of Oklahoma Baptist University and Nick is currently working on a Master's Degree in Christian Education.
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