237 N. Main Street
Suffolk, VA 23434
(757) 539-4152
Dr. Bryan J. Ray, Senior Pastor
I am so excited to be the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Suffolk, Virginia. God has called me here to be an under-shepherd of Jesus Christ, compelled by His redeeming love to feed this church on His Word and to bring the message of salvation to those who are without Christ. God has also placed me at First Baptist Suffolk to emphasize the church's mandate to glorify God and reach the nations for Christ. It is my heartfelt conviction that God's strategy for growing this church is through the passionate expository preaching of God's Word, dynamic worship services, vital prayer ministries, and a strong Bible study and outreach plan. I believe that First Baptist Suffolk exists for the following purposes: worship, evangelism, discipleship, missions, ministry, fellowship, and multiplication. I have a deep desire for the members of First Baptist Suffolk to intimately know, personally love, and corporately exalt God, grow through biblical preaching and teaching, and share Jesus with the lost in our community and throughout the world through evangelism, ministry, and missions.
My conversion, calling, life, and preaching are firmly founded upon the strong conviction that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God," and that it is therefore God-breathed, pertinent, relevant, powerful, life-giving, and is "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). Therefore, God's Word is truth without any mixture of error, and it is eternally trustworthy. It is the final Word of appeal and authority in all areas of knowledge, understanding, and living. I am committed to the diligent study of God's Word and to the call for obedience to Jesus Christ. My doctrinal stance is conservative, and follows the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message statement of faith of the Southern Baptist Convention.
For the glory of God alone!
Pastor Bryan Ray
Pastor's Background
Dr. Ray became the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church September 11, 2005. He received his Doctor of Ministry in Expository Preaching degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2003. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1998. His undergraduate studies were completed at Union University in Jackson, TN, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1995.
Micah
Micah joined the ministry team of FBC on July 19, 2004. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Church Ministry at Clearwater Christian College in 1997. He is currently working on a Master's of Divinity at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Michael Turner
Hello! My Name is Michael Turner, and as Associate Pastor of Music and Worship it is my privilege to introduce to you the Praise and Worship Ministry of First Baptist Church. Our goal is a simple one. Revelation 4:11 says, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Our goal is to please God and bring glory and honor to Him.
We were created to worship God. And as believers our redemption should bring us into a life-style of worship (Romans 12:1-2). A proper relationship with the Lord Jesus leads us to share our faith in an active and verbal way. Therefore fulfilling 1 Peter 2:9 which says, "you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, ...that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
At First Baptist we desire to provide musical activities that give the body of Christ opportunities to lead in and to be a part of worship.
It is our desire to lead God's people in worship that has it's foundation on a clear understanding of God's word.
Jesus says in John 4:23 "For such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers." We have been redeemed so that God may receive worship - so that our lives might glorify Him."
I pray that you will consider your part in worship and praise as you are gifted of God and as you are led in service and worship to our Lord Jesus Christ.
If you wish to check us out further, then look at our music ministries page and see what opportunities await those who desire to serve the Lord through the Worship Ministry.
Background
Michael joined the ministry team of FBC in August of 2001. He received his Master of Church Music from Southwestern Seminary in 1982. His undergraduate studies were completed at Texas Tech where he earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree.
Marty Terrell
What's up? My name is Marty Terrell, and I am excited to serve First Baptist Church as Associate Pastor of Student Ministries. Our student ministry ranges from grades 7-12 and offers something for everybody, including you! We offer 3 unique environments:
LOST & FOUND (Reach Out. Look Up.)
We meet in our youth room every Wednesday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. This is a great place for our students to bring friends and help them get plugged in to games, worship, and Bible studies that relate to students on all levels of spiritual maturity. Come join us this week! We'd love to have you come get to know us and what we're all about.
SUNDAY SCHOOL (Connect. Know the Word.)
Every Sunday morning we come together at 9:45 a.m. and divide into classes based on grade and gender. Sometimes we even serve breakfast! We use StudentLife Bible study curriculum, working through a six-year comprehensive plan that walks our students through the entire Word of God over the course of their time with us. Check us out this Sunday!
3-D (Know Christ. Make Him known.)
Hungry to go a little deeper? We also offer small groups on Sunday nights to challenge our students in their walk with Christ.
We'd love for you to come be a part of what God is doing here. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me at youth@fbcSuffolk.org!
Background
Marty joined the ministry team of FBC on February 1, 2003. He received his Master's Degree in Leadership for Evangelism and Discipleship from Columbia International University in 1998. His undergraduate studies were completed at the University of Virginia where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance in 1993.