Pastor John Botkin
Pastor John was born and raised in the suburbs outside Cincinnati, Ohio. God brought him to faith through a VBS week at age 8, and began calling him into Christian ministry at 15 (when he was still known as ‘Johnny’).
After high school, Pastor John attended Cedarville University where he completed work for his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Studies, with a minor in philosophy and religion. Upon graduating, John married the love of his life, Melinda, and moved to Louisville, where he studied at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. There John and Melinda had their first son, Joshua, and John eventually graduated with an Advanced Master of Divinity degree in theology.
John was then called to pastor Bangor Baptist Church in January of 2003. Since then, he has also served as Moderator of the Bay Area Baptist Association. He and Melinda have also had two more children – Rebekah, and David.
Some of Pastor John’s heroes/influences/favorite authors in ministry include (in no particular order): Robert Murray M’Cheyne, Charles H. Spurgeon, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, John Owen, Jonathan Edwards, John Calvin, George Whitefield, D. A. Carson, Tom Carson, John Piper, Voddie Baucham, C. J. Mahaney, Mark Dever, and Tim Keller.
Pastor John also maintains a blog called the DEAD THEOLOGIANS SOCIETY which meets at the intersection of theology, life, and pastoral ministry.
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Pastor Joe Blaylock
Pastor Joe grew up in southern Michigan, where at the age of 10 he was called by God to trust in Christ during a Bible camp. After high school, Joe attended the University of Michigan and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree of Engineering in Industrial & Operations Engineering.
Upon graduation, Joe married high school sweetheart, Leigh. Shortly after, he was commissioned in the US Navy and moved to California where he served aboard the USS FRESNO (LST-1182). While living in California, Joe and Leigh’s first daughter, Rachael, was born.
Joe later moved his family to the to Great Lakes, Illinois where he worked on staff of Commander, Naval Reserve Readiness Command, Region THIRTEEN. Joe continued his miliatary service moving back to Michigan where he served as Commanding Officer, Naval Reserve Center, Saginaw. During this time, Joe and Leigh were blessed with three more children, Bridget, Miranda, and Joshua.
In 1999, Joe stopped serving the Navy in active duty and started working full-time at Delphi as an engineer, though he continues to serve in the Navy Reserve.
In addition to their other four children, Joe and Leigh adopted their son, Nikita from Khabarovsk, Russia in 2004.
The Blaylock family began attending BBC in 2007. Having previously served as an elder in another church, Joe began training to serve as an elder at BBC. In November 2008, Joe was approved by the congregation to serve as one its first elders.
Joe enjoys reading, hunting, gardening, music, playing the guitar and wood working. But most of all, he enjoys being a husband and home schooling Dad.
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Pastor Richard Taglauer
Pastor Richard is a Bay City native, growing up in the Lutheran church. After attending High School, Richard was drafted into the US Army in 1970.
While serving with the 101st Airborne division in Vietnam, Richard’s faith reached a new level. Though saved as younger boy, Richard found himself “all alone and at the end of his means.” It was then that Richard began to pursue God and his will for his life with a greater intensity and commitment.
When he returned the States, Richard’s renewed commitment to the Lord was expressed in his service to the local church. Over the years Richard has served in several ways – teacher, trustee, education board members, VBS teacher, church treasurer, building and grounds committee members and more.
A high-point in Richard’s life was marrying his wife, Denise, in1992. Together they have six grown children, Dorrie, Clair, Stephanie, Danielle, James, and Christopher.
After previously serving at a sister church, Richard came back to BBC in 2004. Feeling God’s call on his life, and at the encouragement of Pastor John and the members of BBC, Richard began to pursue a leadership role in the church which would grow into the official position of elder. Over the last few years, he trained both informally and later formally for eldership.
In November 2008, Richard was approved by the congregation to serve as one its first elders.
Richard enjoys studying the Bible, spending time with his wife and family, hunting, and strong, black coffee.
