CROSS-CENTERED LIVES

The cross is at the center of our mission as a church, because the cross is at the center of the good news of Jesus Christ. The cross is where God’s love and mercy meet. Bringing us to the cross is how God changes us from desperate sinners to forgiven children. Keeping the cross central is what empowers us to live free, joyful and humble lives serving others for the glory of God.

The message of the cross isn’t a concept to grasp at one moment in time and leave behind. As Christians, the reality of the cross is the continual source of God’s grace needed to live each day.

5 LOVES

Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples of all the nations, (Matthew 28:19) and we are committed to carrying out that mission at Faith Baptist Fellowship. Our desire is to build a family of Christ-like believers who are proclaiming a cross-centered gospel and living cross-centered lives. To reach that goal, we have developed 5 Loves & 5 Commitments to keep us focused. Everything we do at Faith Baptist Fellowship flows from these tenets.

DISCIPLESHIP

Making Disciples

We think the Christian life has stages of development much like human life. From the point of birth to taking first steps to walking and eventually running, everyone is on a spiritual journey.

As a church, our goal is to make disciples and equip them for growth and service during each stage of maturity. From helping those who are exploring the claims of Christianity to encouraging long-time believers to grow, we want to encourage everyone who attends Faith Baptist to believe, live and share the gospel.

After making a commitment to follow and serve Christ, we encourage believers to be baptized and become members of Faith Baptist Fellowship.

MINISTRY AREAS

Our Five Loves in Action

What we do on Sundays and throughout the week as a church flows out of our 5 Loves. Our ministries exist to put our 5 Loves into action!

1. Love God

Worship Ministry

Organizing & Leading Worship

Through preaching, prayer and singing, our goal is to unify the congregation at Faith Baptist in worship services that:

Faithfully represent Jesus
Clearly tell the gospel story
Foster genuine affection for God

2. Love God's Word & Prayer

Faith University

Encouraging Growth Through Weekly Classes

Faith University, our version of Sunday school, encourages adults of all ages to apply the gospel in all aspects of life. Most classes are offered from 9:55-10:45 a.m. on Sunday mornings, but Bible studies and other classes are also offered throughout the week.

Currently, Faith University is being offered only at our Faith Baptist South at 57th & Minnesota Ave.

Children’s Discipleship

Introducing Kids to God’s Love

All children are a blessing and our ministry exists to provide solid, biblical teaching starting in the earliest stages of life. Opportunities are available throughout the week for your children to learn about God’s love.

Sunday Mornings

Nursery

Nursery volunteers are eager to care for your children, birth to 3 years old.

Children’s Worship

During the sermon, we offer gospel-centered activities and teaching for kids ages 3-6 outside the main worship center. We request your child be toilet trained before attending.

Sunday School – Faith Baptist South

At our 57th & Minnesota Ave. location, Faith University, our version of Sunday School is offered for three-years-old children through adults. Visit the Children’s Ministry Check-In Center on the 2nd floor to find your child’s class and receive registration instructions. We request your child be toilet trained before attending.

Wednesday Nights

Through the Gospel Project ® for Kids [link: https://www.gospelproject.com/kids/], children age 3 through 5th grade participate in scripture memorization, engaging activities and lessons to realize the Bible is not just a collection of stories, but one unified story – God’s story of redemption. Kids are immersed in the gospel through every story, theological concept, and call to mission from Genesis to Revelation.

Faith Baptist South at 57th & Minnesota Ave. hosts our Wednesday night activities. Children who attend both Faith Baptist South and Faith Baptist West are welcome to join the fun!

To sign your child up for Wednesday Night Children’s Ministry, please contact Leanne Pulling or Kaya Hall. We request your child be toilet trained before attending.

Youth Discipleship

Showing Students How to Follow Christ

A volunteer staff of 15-18 caring adults works to create a loving and accepting place for students in 6-12th grade. We desire to help students clearly see the gospel. Students explore the gospel’s impact on life and weigh the decision to trust Christ as Lord and Savior. We also help students who have chosen to follow Christ to grow as disciples and begin bearing fruit as they serve God.

3. Love One Another

Faith Groups

Living out the Gospel, Together

Faith Groups are gatherings of six to twelve adults who:

Study God’s Word
Strengthen each other’s relationship with Christ
Grow closer as a church family
Share and care for needs in the group
Serve the overall church body and community

Adults of all ages are strongly encouraged to join a Faith Group. If you’re new to Faith Baptist, these groups will be essential in connecting you to the overall church family and helping you grow as a disciple of Christ. Faith Groups meet throughout the week, so you can find a time that works best for you.

Visit a Faith Group

Care Ministry

Loving and Caring for People

Faith’s Care Ministry is one way that we endeavor to equip and empower people within our congregation to love each other well and to fulfill their purpose of being “God’s workmanship created for good works” (Ephesians 2:10a).

We all encounter trials, troubles, and temptation. Faith Baptist Fellowship strives to be a church where it is okay to not be okay, and where people are comfortable acknowledging their struggles and need for support and encouragement.

Our Care Ministry strives to activate the family of God at Faith Baptist Fellowship to care for and love one another as Jesus loved.

4. Love Our Neighbors

Kingdom Opportunities

Meeting Needs in Our Community

The Kingdom Opportunities team works to meet physical and spiritual needs in our community, and beyond, through service opportunities.

We show Christ’s love to others by partnering with area ministries and provide short-term missions trip opportunities.

Share Ministry

Share is our church’s benevolence ministry. Within certain limits, the Share ministry uses available funds to assist with basic food, housing, utilities, or clothing needs for losses due to economic or personal hardship.

Financial assistance is first considered for regular attendees of Faith Baptist (any residency) and then for other residents of Lincoln or Minnehaha Counties who are experiencing financial need.

To donate:

Give to the special offering collected monthly at Faith Baptist, on Communion Sunday after each worship service.
Donate Online. Please designate your special gift to the Share ministry.

Apply for Help:

Regular Faith Baptist attendees (of any residency) and non-Faith Baptist attendees who are residents of Minnehaha and Lincoln county can contact the church during office hours to begin the application process by calling 605.331.3800. Assistance is considered for food, housing, utilities and clothing needs.

5. Love the Gospel

Missions

Spreading the Gospel Across the Street & Around the World

Based on Matthew 28:19 and Acts 1:8b, the Missions Team aims to:

Focus its resources in the areas of evangelism, training/equipping, church planting and outreach.
Partner with those whose goal is to reach the lost with the gospel.
Share with our local community, the surrounding area, our country and finally every part of the world with the message of the gospel.

PASTORS

Dana Olson

Lead Pastor, Preaching & Vision

Pastor Dana is our senior pastor for preaching and vision. He leads the staff and serves as an elder at Faith Baptist Fellowship. He has a heart for encouraging people to study, understand and apply God’s Word.

Dana’s first senior pastor position was at Trinity Baptist Church in Lincoln, NE from 1983 to 1996, which explains his support of the Cornhuskers!

From 1996 to 2009, Dana was director of Prayer First, the prayer mobilization ministry of Converge Worldwide (Baptist General Conference). He has spoken at hundreds of churches, conferences and on mission fields around the world. He continues to serve on America’s National Prayer Committee and the Denominational Prayer Leaders Network. Dana’s ministry at Faith Baptist continues to be defined by his passion to inspire people to pray.

In the fall of 2009, Pastor Dana was called to Faith Baptist Fellowship to serve as the senior lead pastor for preaching and vision.

Dana and his wife Christa have three adult daughters. Anna makes her home in Sioux Falls. Mary is working with unreached people groups in New York City, and Betsy is earning her PhD in physics at the University of Minnesota in Mankato. Dana’s father was a pastor for over 50 years and is now with Jesus. His mother Mary lives in Sioux Falls and is a member at Faith Baptist.

Email Pastor Dana: [email protected]
David Vilhauer

Pastor of Discipleship & Operations

Pastor David focuses on providing ways for people at Faith Baptist to deepen their walk with God through studying the Bible together. He provides leadership for Faith Groups and Faith University as well as overseeing operations, finances, and personnel. David is gifted in teaching, administrating, serving and shepherding.

David grew up on a farm near Olivet, S.D and graduated from South Dakota State University in 1978 with degrees in Biology and Dairy Manufacturing. After graduation, he served on active duty in the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant, including a one-year tour in Korea. For over 15 years, David worked in quality assurance for companies such as Kraft Foods.

In 1998, he moved with his family to Sioux Falls to be closer to his aging parents. David sensed a leading to attend seminary for more biblical training, so he enrolled in North American Baptist Seminary. During this time through Exodus 3:12, God confirmed that David was being “sent” even though the ‘how, when and where’ might not be clear. David knew the affirmation would come, but God was calling David to trust Him in the now.

After completing an Education Ministries Masters Degree and an internship with Faith Baptist, David was hired as part-time pastor of Christian Education and Assimilation. In June 2004, David became part of the full-time staff.

David has been married to his wife Evonne for more than 25 years. Their daughter Kimberly and son-in-law Tristan are currently stationed at Fort Polk, LA where Tristan serves with the US Army. Dave enjoys racquetball, basketball, reading, spending time with his family and working on home improvements.

Email Pastor David: [email protected]
Thomas Slawson

Pastor of Worship & First Steps

Pastor Thomas leads the congregation in singing songs that faithfully represent Jesus, clearly tell the gospel story and foster genuine affection for God. He also works to welcome and connect new attenders at Faith Baptist.

Bio coming soon...

Email Pastor Thomas: [email protected]