Wade Allen – Pastor

Wade has served First Baptist since August 2008. Wade attended Liberty University (BA), Southern Seminary (MDiv), and currently is attending Northern Seminary (DMin). Wade is married to Christy (1994) and they have three children, Anna (1997), Dawson (1998), and Levi (2004). Wade enjoys computers, great coffee, reading and all sorts of sports. He particularly enjoys Georgia Bulldog football.

Matt Headley – Worship Arts Director

I’ve been serving First Baptist since July of 2009. My wife, Heather, and I moved from Alabama to Muncie around the same time and love it here. Heather is a grad student in piano at Ball State and I’m a student at Northern Seminary in Lombard, Illinois. I am incredibly fortunate to serve God with some wonderful people at First Baptist. Leading people in our gathering each week in a life-altering encounter with the God of the Universe is a humbling privilege. When I’m in Muncie and have time I enjoy pursuing adventures like camping, running, making music, watching movies, playing with gadgets, and most anything that involves getting dirty. As a musician, I feel like the kind of music I listen to says something about who I am. A list of my favorites would include: anything Heather does, Ray Lamontagne, Bebo Norman, Josh Garrells, John Mark McMillan, Third Day, Ravel, Brahms, Rossini, DC*B, Jeff Buckley, Matt Maher, Charlie Hall, Shane & Shane, Coldplay, Fernando Ortega, Moses Hogan, Eric Whitacre, Stephen Sondheim, Amos Lee, and so on.

Robert Burton – Minister for Pastoral Care

Robert has served First Baptist since 2008. He and his wife Lydia have been members of First Baptist since 1999. Robert Burton, retired after forty one years in ministry, thirty two of which was as a hospital chaplain, is Minister for Pastoral Care for First Baptist and Pastor of our sister church, Riverside Avenue Baptist Church. A graduate of Carson-Newman College (B.A.) and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (B.D., Th.M., and D.Min.), he is a Board Certified Chaplain (Retired), AAMFT Clinical Member, and a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He and his wife, Lydia, sing in the choir at First Baptist. She is a registered nurse. They have three grown daughters, Grace, Mary Jane, and Nannette and six grandchildren, Jacob, Will, Helen, Audrey, and John. His hobbies include collecting books about cars (which is cheaper than collecting cars themselves) and being a rather serious audiophile with an assortment of vintage vacuum tube amplifiers.

Alex Harker – Administrative Assistant

Alex has served First Baptist in technological, video, web and administrative capacities since 2009. Alex grew up in Champaign, IL and Indianapolis, IN. He recently graduated with a bachelor of science degree in Media Communication from Indiana Wesleyan University and moved to Muncie in June 2009. Alex is a graduate student at Ball State University and is working on a Masters in Communication Studies with an expected graduation in May 2011.

Jenny Hudson-Roberts – Children’s Ministry Director

Jenny has been involved for many years at First Baptist. She has served as Children’s Ministry director since January 2008. Jenny graduated from Ball Stat University in 1999 with a B.S in Elementary Education and a Kindergarten Endorsement. She works full-time as a Reading Recovery teacher at Robinson Elementary school in Anderson, IN. Jenny is married to Keith Roberts. She has three children, Ethan (1995), Avery (2002), and Amelia (2006).

Jan McGregor – Wednesday Food Coordinator

Jan was born in Muncie on Feb. 14, 1962. Her parents are Bob and Nina Oisten. She was raised at FBC, but began attending Full Gospel Temple when she met her husband, Mark. Jan went to Yorktown High School, attended BSU for two years and onto Amber’s Beauty School. She graduated from beauty school prior to having her first child, but decided to serve as a stay at home mom. Jan and Mark have two children Lychell (1984) and Nicole (1988-2002) and live in Selma. Jan has worked in the Muncie Community Schools Cafe for the past 15 years; currently at South View Elementary. She enjoys reading, cooking, gardening and being with my family. Jan is glad to spend time with her FBC family on Wednesday evenings.

Ella Mae Lemen – Financial Clerk

Ella Mae has served First Baptist as financial clerk for several years. Ella Mae’s job is to pay the bills. Over the years she has worked in the Nursery, Junior Department, Youth, served on Stewardship and served as Wedding Hostess. She has also worked in a local physician’s office almost 13 years. Ella Mae and husband Dan are long time members of First Baptist. They have been married 45 years and have 3 wonderful children and 2 great sons-in-laws and 1 great daughter –in-law ; Shari (husband Scott), Sandi (husband Ed) and Jeff (wife April). They have been blessed with 5 (almost 6 beautiful grandchildren); Josh, David, Jacob, Julia, Chance and Brady. They enjoy spending time with family and friends. They also enjoy watching the Indianapolis Colts football team.

Fred Shulze – Organist Emeritus

In the Spring of 1970, Fred Shulze received a letter in Seattle, Washington inviting him to become a Professor of Music at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. He held this position from 1970 until 2002 when he retired after 32 years. In 1971, he was asked to become organist at First Baptist Church of Muncie, Indiana. Fred received the Bachelor of Music in organ performance from Wheaton College in 1957. After a year of graduate study at the University of Michigan, he returned to Oregon where he became an instructor in music at Cascade College in Portland in 1959. In 1962, he took a leave of absence and earned a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University in 1963. He then returned to Cascade College where he taught until 1968 when he received a teaching assistantship for doctoral studies. In 1970, he received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in organ performance from the University of Washington. In January 2010, after more than thirty-eight years Dr. Fred Shulze has retired from his position as organist at First Baptist Church. Fred has been coping with several health concerns during the past several months, and we can only wish him well as he continues in the effort to get a diagnosis and treatment. He now holds the title of Organist Emeritus for First Baptist.