Leadership

Steve has been the senior pastor at FBC since November 2021. Steve and his wife, Laura, have two wonderful children, Ruth and Elijah. Steve grew up in Mississippi and completed his bachelor's degree at the University of Mississippi. After college, Steve and Laura moved to California for seminary training. He earned a Master of Divinity from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary and a PhD in theology from Gateway Seminary. Steve has served churches in Mississippi, New Mexico, and California and has taken numerous short-term trips around the world for evangelism and teaching.

Steve’s greatest desire is to glorify God by making disciples. He has a passion for serving the local church through pastoral ministry, preaching, and teaching and especially loves applying deep biblical truths. Aside from ministry passions, Steve enjoys reading, teaching theology and Baptist history, watching sports, and traveling. More than anything, Steve loves spending time with God's Word and God's people, so feel free to stop by and visit anytime!

Grant was born in Upland, California, and his family moved to Barstow when he was only four years old. After their move, the Finch family joined First Baptist Church in 1990, and Grant’s life has been intertwined with this incredible church ever since. At the age of six , Grant placed his faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized . Grant felt the call to ministry as a young man, and that calling was affirmed by the people at FBC Barstow when he was only 16 years old. Grant graduated from Barstow High School and went on to complete a bachelor's degree at California Baptist University in 2012 and a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2015.

Grant married his wife, Emily, in 2008 while serving in the youth ministry in Hesperia, California. Since then, Grant and Emily have served together in various ministry roles in California and Texas. Some of you may remember Grant and Emily from their first ministry together here at FBC Barstow from 2008 to 2012 when Grant served as our youth pastor while pursuing his education.

Grant and Emily are excited to be back in Barstow for Grant to fulfill his calling as an associate pastor in a place that has always felt like home with people who have always felt like family.

Jon has been married to Kortney since 2023.  He has been a member of FBC Barstow since 2009. Having been a part of music ministry from a young age, Jon has developed a musical talent that he uses to help lead the people of FBC in authentic and genuine worship. Before Jon joined FBC full-time, he spent five years as a music teacher in various districts throughout the High Desert. In the fall of 2023, Jon and his wife, Kortney realized that full-time ministry is where God is leading them.

Jon graduated from Central High School in Barstow, CA. He then went to California Baptist University, where he received a classical music education and earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. Jon has a Master of Arts in Education and a Single-Subject Teaching Credential from Azusa Pacific University.  Jon also holds a Master of Music in Music Education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and is a Master of Divinity student at Gateway Seminary.