James Biesiadecki,  Senior Pastor

James was raised in Biloxi, Mississippi, and Atlanta, Georgia, but settled in Oklahoma via the U.S. Army. It was in Oklahoma that he accepted Christ and surrendered to his call to pastoral ministry. 

After serving in the U.S. Army in Desert Storm and Shield, James studied at Cameron University, of Lawton Oklahoma (B.A. Communications) and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forrest, NC (M.Div, ). His ministry experience has included pastor, church planter, and missionary in Central Asia. 

He has been married to his wife Brandi for over twenty years, and has four children Ansley, Chandler, Carly, and Warren.  Brandi also has her Masters degree from SEBTS, has served God as an author and speaker. 

Dr. Kevin Dray was born and raised in Bartlesville. After graduating from Oklahoma Baptist University, he moved to Kansas City to continue his education at Midwestern Baptist Seminary. While there, he met and married Kara. After graduation from MBTS, the couple moved to New Orleans as Kevin pursued Ph.D. studies at New Orleans Seminary. While there, they welcomed their first daughter, Grace, before being displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Since that time, they have been happy to call Bartlesville their home. In 2013, Joanna was born into the family. In addition to supply preaching throughout the local Association, Kevin has also served in a number of capacities at BFBC over the years, from Sunday School to DiscipleU, and from the custodial crew to interim Student Minister. He loves the Church, and is always looking for ways to serve and extend the Kingdom wherever the Lord leads.

A native Texan, Wade has been serving in music ministry for over 30 years, and at FBC Bartlesville since 2009.  Adopted into a Christian home, he was given the opportunity to discover and develop his musical gifts.  He graduated from Nederland High School, where he played percussion in the band, served as student accompanist for the High School choirs, and played piano at church.  He received the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from Lamar University in Beaumont, and the Master of Church Music and Master of Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.   Wade served as piano accompanist for the Singing Men of Texas for 17 years, and toured both nationally and internationally as a vocalist and guest accompanist in the CenturyMen choir.  He will celebrate his 34th wedding anniversary with his wife, Becky, a graduate of Baylor University, in 2019.  Their daughter, Ashley, is a watercolor artist.  Wade uses his gifts in music ministry to express the Scriptural mandate of Colossians 3:16.

Scott Borders,  Children's Minister

Scott was born and raised in a small town in southwestern Missouri. When he was nine years old, he accepted Christ. He attended Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville where he met his wife, Kristy, and they were married in June of 2007.  He graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 2009 and later with his Master’s degree in Intercultural Studies from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in 2011. Scott and his family served in the African nation of Malawi for two years where Scott and Kristy worked with secondary students, indigenous church plants, and a local prison ministry.

Scott and Kristy have four children; Constance, Darius, Ginevra, and Irik. 

Loren Rosebrook,  Student Minister

Loren was born and raised in Oklahoma City where he attended Wilmont Place Baptist Church. At the age of 14, he accepted Christ as his Savior. During his four-year internship at Wilmont, he surrendered to God’s call on his life to vocational ministry.

He has been involved in youth ministry since graduating high school in 2008. Loren attended SNU (B.A. Family Studies) and Danyel attended UCO (B.A. Organizational Leadership). Both are confident that the Lord has called them to invest in, and help disciple students.

Loren and Danyel were married in November 2010. They have a son, Linkon, daughter Everly and a baby girl, Lael.

Greg was raised in Hannibal, Missouri. He was saved at the age of 14 at a youth event and was baptized after rededicating his life at age 19. Greg surrendered to full-time Christian service while attending Hannibal-LaGrange College.  Then later to a call of overseas work while attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

Greg and his wife, Lena, have been married since 1985. They are blessed with three wonderful children- Joy, Joseph, and Joshua.

God has combined Greg’s experiences of playing high school and college sports, student coaching at the NAIA level, and working eighteen years in sports development in North Africa with his spiritual gifts of service and encouragement, and his love for Christ to give him a vision for using sports to bless lives and proclaim the Good News. 

Curt Gathright,  Church Administrator

Curt Gathright was raised in Del City.  He accepted Christ at the age of seven and was baptized at Carter Park Baptist Church.  He graduated from Del City High School and is a 1993 graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in Business Administration.

Curt and his wife Kenna were married in 2004.  They have three children; Molly, Toby and Andy.

Curt’s favorite verse features the words of Jesus in John 15:5. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Jeremy Hicks,  Associate Worship Leader

Jeremy was raised in Battiest, Oklahoma. At the age of 10 he accepted Christ as his savior at church camp and soon after began singing in church on a regular basis. He took up playing the guitar at the age of 16 and playing country/bluegrass gospel music at churches with his dad and brother. However, it was not until 2003 - when Jeremy began college at OSU-Okmulgee - that he began to see a true call on his life into music ministry. During this time, he began playing guitar for the Baptist Collegiate Ministries there and became the worship leader the following semester. In 2004, Jeremy achieved his Associates degree in Electrical-Electronics Technology and since then God has used him in bivocational ministry working in both Music and Youth Ministry roles wherever his job takes him. In 2007 he married Jess and the two of them began playing and leading worship at churches, conferences, and events statewide. They have two boys, Cohen and Carter. In addition to his ministry at the church, Jeremy works as a Site Field Engineer for KAMO Power, where he has been employed since 2006.

Manuel Durán
Hispanic Ministry Pastor

Pastor Manuel Durán was born in Portuguesa, Venezuela. Manuel and his lovely wife Johana have been married since 2008. The Lord has given them three beautiful children, Eliam Manuel, Carolyn Danella and Catherine Leah. Pastor Manuel was raised all his life in a Christian home, his parents and grandparents used the Word of God to build his spiritual life and at the age of 11 yielded and recognized Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

He studied theology at the Baptist Theological Seminary of Venezuela, obtaining his degree in theological studies with specialization in the area of Pastoral ministry. He is currently working on two master's degrees, one in Seminary (MBTS) in Pastoral Ministry and another in the seminar (SWBTS) in Theological Studies, as well as participating in the training program for church planters RED 1:8.

After visiting the city of Bartlesville, he felt that the Lord was calling him to Northeast Oklahoma where he was called to serve as the pastor of the Hispanic ministry of Bartlesville's First Baptist church. In this region there is a strong and growing Hispanic population, most of whom do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Manuel Durán, Hispanic Ministry Pastor