Anthony Rodriguez was homegrown in Union, NJ. He came to know his Savior and Lord Jesus in a personal way through the love and ministry of First Baptist Church (FBC) of Union when he was 19. He graduated from Kean University with a BA of Psychology and Sociology. He was trained at FBC and sent to seminary, where he graduated with a Master of Divinity from Columbia International University. He also met and married his lovely bride Monica while in school in South Carolina. They moved back to NJ where Anthony became an elder and eventually interim pastor at FBC. He was voted in and became senior Pastor in July 2012. He is passionate about teaching Biblical truth in context and applying it to our lives. He and Monica have two children that God has blessed them with.
You can reach pastor Anthony through e-mail by clicking here.
Brian Dennis, one of 5 siblings, was raised in a Christian family in Cranford, NJ. He went to college in Waynesburg, PA where he earned a BA in Psychology. After marrying his High School sweetheart, Debby, they moved to Union in 1978 where they raised their 3 daughters. After having worked for numerous banks and mortgage companies, Brian now handles closings for different title companies.
As a child, Brian went to the First Baptist Church, Roselle, NJ. During his high school years, he attended the First Presbyterian Church of Cranford, NJ. After college and kids, Brian ended up at First Baptist Church, Union, NJ where he was baptized on May 21, 1989 and became a member.
Brian has served on the Board of Trustees and the Board of Deacons, and has now been an Elder for the past 7 years. He also enjoys serving as a Sunday School teacher, organizing the Men’s Retreats and holds the position of Financial Secretary for the church.
Pedro Ruiz was born in the beautiful city of Moyobamba, in the country of Peru, in South America. There Pedro accepted the gift of Eternal Salvation, that was presented to him by the work of the Southern Baptist Church Missions when Pedro was ten years old.
At the age of twenty Pedro married his beautiful bride Ursula. Pedro and Ursula now have three beautiful children and four wonderful grandchildren.
One year after getting married Pedro moved to the USA and he served in the US Army, from where he received an honorable discharge.
Later Pedro attended Union County College in Scotch Plains, NJ, where he obtained an Associate degree in Electronic Engineering. Pedro also graduated from Kean University in Union, NJ, where he gained a Bachelor degree in Accounting,
Pedro attended the “Escuela de Laicos” at the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Newark, NJ. Some of the classes Pedro took there were Introduction to Christian Theology, Christian Ethics, Hermeneutics, and History of the Church.
As an Elder Pedro enjoys teaching the adult Sunday school class, covering the Children’s Bible Church every now and is devoted to prayer.
Kevin Bishop immigrated to the United States from the island of Trinidad at the age of 18. After he graduated college in 2000, he was invited to the First Baptist Church's Men's Retreat by a friend and that weekend he became saved. He later became a member of FBC and in 2004 he began to sense God's call on his life to be in full time ministry. He began his bible training at Philadephia Biblical University before transferring to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He graudated from seminary in May, 2012 and was ordained by his home church FBC in August 2012.
Kevin and Margie are FBC's own missionaries to Ecuador. They are with Reaching and Teaching International Ministries, and currently in language training school. In Ecuador they are involved in providing sound biblical training to untrained pastors and church leaders. For more information on the missionary work God is calling them to please click on the link below:
Kevin and Margie - Reaching and Teaching
Monica Rodriguez is a southern belle, being born and raised in VA from a large family. She graduated from James Madison University with a BA in Psychology and Minor in Family Issues. She fell in love with Jesus when she was 18 and eventually went to Columbia International University to learn more about Him and His Word. There, she met and married Anthony Rodriguez and graduated with a MA in Clinical Counseling and is licensed in the state of NJ as a LPC. After he was called to be Pastor at First Baptist Church she signed on to serve him and the church as secretary. She enjoys serving in this loving church family and is excited to be raising their children amongst all these supportive brothers and sisters in Christ.
