Pastoral Staff

Senior Pastor:  Rev. Dr. David L. Wheeler (Pastor David) holds a Doctor of Theology degree from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, a Master of Divinity from Yale University Divinity School, a Master of Arts from the University of Kansas, and a Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown College.  In additional to pastoral ministry in small and large churches across the country, he has held faculty positions at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Fuller Theological Seminary, and San Francisco Theological Seminary/Southern California.  He has also held visiting professorships at American Baptist Seminary of the West, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, and at seminaries in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Columbia, and Russia.  His sermons, essays, and academic articles have been published in a number of leading theological journals and magazines.  Pastor David is married to Carol, who has worked as the Director of Volunteer Services for a mental health hospital serving children and youth.  Their daughter Clare is a high-school science teacher in New Orleans, and their son Micah is a recent graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute.

Associate Pastor for Christian Education and Discipleship:  Suzanne (Suzie) Gilmore, a native of Portland, holds a Masters of Divinity from Western Seminary in Portland and a BA from George Fox University in Newberg with majors in both Christian Ministries and Biblical Studies and a double minor in Philosophy and Political Science. In addition, she has completed a year of full-time graduate work at San Francisco Theological Seminary.  Throughout her past eight years of career work before coming to First Baptist, she has served as an intern Chaplain at Legacy Emmanuel Hospital, Director of Children and Youth Ministries, Children's Choir Director, Interim Youth Director and a College Intern Supervisor.  Suzanne loves children, the church, and Jesus!  She and husband Lance have made their home in the historic downtown Milwaukie neighborhood where they love being close to family, having a coffeeshop on every corner, and having a close-by golf course!

Associate Pastor for Cambodian Ministry:  Rev. Peter Im has served our Cambodian Ministry since 1986. In addition, he serves as Vice President of Cambodian Ministries for Christ. In 1974, he became a Christian in Cambodia before the country turned to communism. He received training as a pastor in a refugee camp in Thailand and at Multnomah Seminary in Portland. His passion is to lead Cambodians to Christ, the only way to God. He and his wife Shirley are the parents of three children.  He enjoys running and gardening in his spare time.

Associate Pastor for Hispanic Ministry:  Rev. Miriam Mendez holds a Master of Divinity degree from George Fox Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from National Louis University (Evanston, IL).  Her postgraduate studies include a one-year residency in clinical pastoral education from Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center, the completion of a Spiritual Formation and Discipleship certificate and Spiritual Director certification from George Fox Seminary.  She has served in pastoral ministry for more than 10 years in both English and Spanish speaking congregations.  She is also an adjunct faculty member at George Fox Seminary.  She is the mother of two young adults -- Jonathan and Julianne.   She enjoys spending time and having good conversations with family and friends, taking long walks, reading, playing Scrabble and a good cup of coffee. 

Associate Pastor for Senior Adult Ministry and Visitation: Rev. Ed Stelle grew up in Medford, Oregon, the son of a pastor. After serving in the United States Navy he attended Simpson Seminary in San Francisco and was ordained as a pastor in the Apostolic Faith Church in 1968. He served as Chaplain of the Portland Police Bureau for 30 years, and was the Associate Pastor of Rivercrest Community Church of Portland. He is currently the Supervising Chaplain of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, supervising six chaplains and 100 volunteers throughout the jails and offices of county sheriff. Accompanied by his wife, Zel, Ed began his service at First Baptist Church in May of 2001.

Worship Staff

Music Director:  Travis Hatton holds a Masters of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from the New England Conservatory of Music and a Bachelors of Music degree (Magna cum Laude) in Music Theory and Composition from the University of the Pacific.  Mr. Hatton as appeared as a guest conductor with orchestras in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as well as with orchestras in Alaska, Colorado, Tennessee, Texas, California, Massachusetts, and Indiana.  Before coming to FBC, Mr. Hatton served as Director of Music and Art at Tabor Heights United Methodist Church in Portland.  He considers it a great pleasure and a blessing to be able to serve in ministry through music, which he believes to be one of the most important and beautiful blessings God has given to mankind.  In addition to his position at FBC, Mr. Hatton is currently the Conductor of Portland’s Sunnyside Symphony Orchestra, Director of Orchestras at Valley Catholic School (in Beaverton) and Conductor of the Vancouver Children’s Opera.  He lives in Vancouver with wife, Lynelle, and two children, Kyle and Kara.

Organist: Chris Nordwall has been playing professionally for churches since he was in high school.  Chris was accompanist for the Portland Symphonic Boy's Choir and was one of the staff organists for Uncle Milt's Pizza Parlor in Vancouver, Washington.  While living in the Bay area, Chris served as organist and choir director for First Baptist Church of Oakland and later organist for the Unitarian Universalist Church in Berkeley. He has toured throughout the United States and Australia with his father, Jonas Nordwall, performing duo concerts.

Praise Accompanist: Toni Pfau serves as accompanist with the Voices in Praise at our casual (9:00) worship services.  Outside of church, she works as a pianist for the Oregon Repertory Singers and musician for the Crestwood care center.  She is also an independent music instructor for children, teaching piano, keyboard, voice, and guitar.  Seasonally, you can also find her playing piano at Nordstrom and at the Portland Airport.  Toni attended George Fox University, majoring in music performance.

Administrative and Lay Staff
 

Facilities and Events Manager:  Keith Ponce grew up in Portland, and worked in the furniture industry for 34 years.  He has an associates degree in Electronics.  He enjoys being with his family, reading, baseball, bicycling, computers and hiking.  A member of FBC since 1999, Keith feels very fortunate to be working and worshipping at the same church.  Keith is married, with two children.

Business Administrator:  Cathy Francis lives in Beaverton with her husband Rick.  She has two grown children.  Cathy loves to read just about anything, and has occasionally been caught reading the dictionary for fun.  She also loves to work in her vegetable garden, knit, crochet, spin and tat (Remember tatting?  Your grandmother probably did that!).  She also loves to put things in order, which works out well for her job.  Cathy spends some of her free time cruising the internet, finding all sorts of interesting things and trying to keep ahead of her kids in "coolness" factor.  They don't care, but that's only because she's winning.

Administrative Assistant: Charlene Fischer has been a member of First Baptist Church since childhood; in fact, her parents were married here. After retiring from U.S. Bancorp, she began working at the church in 1995 as the receptionist. In 1997 she became the Church Secretary. She is currently serving on the Membership Committee, and helps at the Welcome Center, with the Rose Festival Open House, and Fellowship Hour. She has also been an active volunteer within the community. Charlene loves the beach, collecting bears, and spending time with her family and friends.

Receptionist / Admin assistant:  Genie Bridwell joined FBC in 2005.  She lives in Cedar Mill, is married and has 3 grown daughters (and one grandchild).  She is experienced working as a church secretary at her own church as well as having previously been the Director of Children’s Ministry and Membership.  She is a voracious reader and can read up to 20 books in a quiet week.  Genie belongs to a "Monday Night at the Movies" group that meets weekly.

Drop-in Ministry Director: Jack Brophy heads up the organization and administration of our feeding ministry, including co-ordination with the Oregon Food Bank and other social-service organizations.

Food Services Director: Mary Olson is the "kitchen Czarina," responsible for second-Sunday dinners, Wednesday evening meals, and other church meals. She also co-ordinates the volunteers in the kitchen and keeps the church running on a full stomach.

Wedding Hostess:  Chris Beard has more than 15 years of experience planning weddings at First Baptist; in fact, she and husband Dan were married here themselves!  She also has extensive experience with wedding planning and coordination at other venues in the Portland area.  Chris' other professional experience includes producing news, public-affairs, and morning talk-show programming for KGW and KATU television stations in Portland.

Custodians: Tommie Young not only takes care of janitorial duties throughout both buildings, but also rearranges furniture in rooms and in the sanctuary as needed for special events and regular meetings.