Our Leadership Team

The Pastors

  • A smiling older man with glasses, light-colored hair, and a mustache, wearing a blue striped shirt, against a plain light background.

    Dawes Dunham

    LEAD PASTOR

  • A smiling man with a shaved head wearing a dark navy polo shirt, standing against a plain light background.

    Paul Fink

    ASSOCIATE PASTOR

  • A man with a short beard and mustache, wearing a teal Under Armour polo shirt, smiling against a plain light-colored wall.

    Luke Watkins

    YOUTH PASTOR

  • A man with glasses and a beard smiling, wearing a black shirt and a striped tie.

    John Messner

    MUSIC PASTOR

Pastor Bios

  • Rev. Dawes J. Dunham graduated from Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, PA with a BS in Bible and a Masters degree in Biblical Studies. Pastor Dawes began serving as Associate Pastor for FBC in September 2009, having served the First Baptist Church in East Stroudsburg as Associate & Youth Pastor since 1997. Prior to his ministry there, he served in Maine & New York. Pastor Dawes & his wife Brenda have six sons and seven grandkids.

    His hobbies include running, biking, fishing and reading.  He is an avid sports fan of teams who enjoy breaking his heart with excruciating losses.

  • Pastor Paul D. Fink was born in New Castle, PA. He graduated from Liberty University in 1997 and from Dallas Theological Seminary in 2001. He taught at Baptist Theological College in Cebu, Philippines during the fall of 2001 and spring of 2002. After returning home from the Philippines, he pastored the New Wilmington Alliance Church from the fall of 2002 until the summer of 2011. He and his wife, Ruth, have two sons, Peter and Andrew.

    Pastor Paul is a fan of all three professional Pittsburgh sports teams, enjoys reading about science and technology and watching science fiction movies.

  • Joining FBC in September 2014, Youth Pastor Luke Watkins graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor’s in Religion, Concentrating on Youth Ministry in 2008. Since then, he has been a Youth Counselor at a residential group home for at-risk teens and as a Therapeutic Staff Support for Philhaven in Lancaster, PA. He was also a Youth Leader at Community Bible Church in Marietta, PA, along with several other volunteer positions serving with youth. He and his wife, Sara, have four children: Malachi, Emmy, Lily and Theo.

    His hobbies include reading, playing board games, football, ultimate frisbee and frisbee golf, and Chicago Sports teams.

  • Pastor John joined FBC in August of 2014. He comes with loads of experience in performing and directing music. He graduated from Eastern University with a BA in Music Education. He is the front man of the Christian Rock Band, SALINE, and has been a worship coordinator or a musical director at multiple churches and Christian camps. He most recently was the Music Teacher at Columbia County Christian School in Bloomsburg, PA. 

    His hobbies include playing/writing/recording music, playing baseball or basketball, reading, watching the Phillies and playing board games (Settlers of Catan anyone?). 

    Pastor John and his wife Shelly have 4 children: Jackson, Jodi, Jonathan, and Jenna.

    John and Shelly both have a heart for adoption and would love to talk to anyone interested in foster care and/or adoption!

MEET OUR STAFF TEAM

Group of fifteen people posing outdoors in front of a house with bushes and a brick wall, smiling at the camera.

Get to know our staff and ministry team below!

Meet the Ministry Team

  • A woman smiling at the camera, wearing a beige knit turtleneck sweater and earrings, against a plain light-colored background.

    Katie Yarger

    CHILDREN’S DIRECTOR

  • A smiling man with short brown hair and a goatee, wearing a light gray and red collared shirt, standing against a plain off-white wall.

    Buddy Yarger

    CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR

  • A woman with long brown hair wearing teardrop earrings and a brown knitted sweater, smiling at the camera against a plain light-colored background.

    Rachel Renno

    LEAD SECRETARY

  • A woman with long brown hair wearing earrings and a white sweater, smiling at the camera against a plain light-colored wall.

    Jennifer Van Horn

    SECRETARY

  • A middle-aged man with a shaved head and light hair, wearing a black denim jacket over a pink shirt, standing against a plain off-white wall.

    Jack Miller

    CUSTODIAN

  • A smiling man with a beard and short brown hair, wearing a black shirt, standing against a plain wall.

    Devin Lewis

    CUSTODIAN

  • A woman with brown hair, glasses, and earrings smiling outdoors with green foliage in the background.

    Melissa Varholak

    CUSTODIAN

  • A smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing glasses and a light gray hoodie, standing against a plain gray wall.

    Jessica Wallish

    CUSTODIAN

  • An elderly woman with short white hair and glasses, wearing a patterned blouse, a necklace, earrings, and a light pink cardigan, standing in front of a blurred background of what looks like books or sheet music.

    Carol Cotner

    ORGANIST (RETIRED)