Dan Nelson, Pastor
Pastor Dan Nelson has served in California for 35 years. He was saved, baptized and called to preach at an early age. He has served as an evangelist, a staff member of the Northwest Baptist Convention working with youth evangelism. He has served three churches as their pastor and has been an ordained minister of the gospel for 39 years. Dan has served as Pastor of First Baptist Church for almost 27 years, coming to Camarillo in 1984.
Dan is a graduate of William Carey College. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Seminary. He has also earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from California Graduate School of Theology, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Dan teaches God’s Word on a consistent basis. Besides preaching during the Sunday Morning Service, he speaks in the Evening Service and leads a devotional at the Wednesday night Bible Study and Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m. He has also preached through the four gospels in the last six years, the book of Acts, and Romans. Pastor Dan believes the Bible is Inspired Word of God and preaches it as such. The Bible is used through reading, interpretation and application in the services at First Baptist Church.
Dan loves Christian History and has taught Church History at Channel Islands Bible College and Seminary. He does dramatic presentations such as his recent portrayal of George Whitefield, the great evangelist of the First Great Awakening in Britain and America.
Pastor Nelson has a vision to reach people for Christ from all backgrounds, cultures and age-groups. He is actively involved in church-wide visitation and seeks to train others to win people to Christ. He believes the church is not a club but an incorporating fellowship that should ever be expanding in ministry and outreach to the community. He calls people to Christ in the public invitation as well as seeking to reach others for Christ through personal evangelism.
Dan and his wife Janice have been married for 37 years. They have two daughters now living in the Northwest. Janice is the church pianist and a registered nurse.
Dan looks forward to meeting you and sharing more about the exciting opportunities of First Baptist Church of Camarillo. He certainly wants you to be involved in them and feels like we are the type of church family you will want to be a part of, while associating with God’s people and the teaching of God’s word. He hopes to see you soon.
Amy Cranage, Secretary
Amy Cranage is our church secretary. She is here at the office to answer any questions or help you get in contact with the right person.
She has grown up in the church as a child and now attends with her son Max. She teaches the 2's & 3's Sunday School Class in the Nursery.
Amy is currently a student at the Ventura County Community Colleges and is in the Paralegal Studies Program.
Tim King, Minister of Music
Tim King brings a wealth of musical experience to our church. He is an accomplished pianist and has played for several productions at the Camarillo Theater and was known as the “King of Keyboards” at the Moorpark Melodrama.
Tim leads the music on Sunday mornings as well as directs the choir. Last year, our choir sang an excerpt from Handel’s Messiah. Tim is in charge of our church’s musicals at Christmas and Easter. He also works with the Children’s and Youth Choirs.
Tim will be happy to share with you more about the music ministry and how you can be a part of it Just contact him at the below e-mail and he will be glad to answer questions and help you get started with our music ministry.
Bill Milton, Minister of Youth
Bill Milton has served as Minister of Youth for the last 6 years in our congregation. He is a native of this area and graduated from Rio Mesa. Bill has been married to his wife Lorrie for 15 years, and they have three boys.
Bill holds a Masters degree in Education from Pepperdine, and has a current California Teaching Credential. He became a Christian at the Oxnard Baptist Temple and through the efforts of the Baptist Student Union at UCSB as an undergrad, was called to Christian ministry and service.
Our ongoing youth ministry consists of Sunday school at 9:15 a.m. (with three classes 7-8th grade, 9-10 grade and 11-12 grade), a Jr. and Sr. High - Friday night Bible study at 7 p.m. with praise/worship, All Family Christian Skate night (the 3rd Monday of the month), and Rescue Mission Work (the second Tuesday of the Month.) The junior and senior high youth engage in discipleship groups through Awana (Sunday nights), and their Friday night bible study series. Bill would be happy to give you more information about our youth ministry. Please email him.
Our youth aren't limited to the ongoing youth activities. In addition to our weekly and monthly events we attend the Southern Baptist Tsunami Youth Conference (held between Christmas and New Year's) with 4000 other youth. In the winter we attend Snow Camp at Jenness Park and in the summer, Centrifuge Summer Camp (during first week of August). All the above conferences and camps give our youth intense times of Bible teaching, worship and praise, small group activities and fun recreation. Speaking of fun recreation, we also attend Baptist Praise Night twice a year at Magic Mountain, host various guys only gaming nights, and girls only Girls for God night out slumber parties. We strive to provide a biblical and fun alternative to the youth culture that surrounds our youth.