Pastor David and Gayle Williamson
By Ed Gregory, BCI Field Staff for Eastern Iowa
First Baptist Church of Dunkerton, Iowa is alive and church on the move again. Their pastor describes the Church as a well-established, vibrant church – on fire for the Lord. Sitting on the corner of a major street in the northern part of Dunkerton, and surrounded by fields of corn and beans, its desire is seen in the slogan Making Christ Known. “God has placed in her midst a wonderful group of men serving as elders and deacons, and the women of faith have proven to be pillars in this wonderful church!” In addition to worship services which average about 75 and a thriving AWANA program which ministers to as many as 100 children and workers, the women enjoy a Bible study on Tuesday mornings and the men study together during a Saturday morning prayer breakfast.
This Church also stands as a testimony to God’s grace and faith as they have weathered the storm of the sudden and tragic loss of their beloved Pastor. They have worked through this crisis time with support from many including interim pastor and wife Jim and Cathy Luders. Now, the Lord has blessed them with a new Pastor and wife in the persons of David and Gayle Williamson. He was installed as Pastor on September 28.
The Williamson’s first became acquainted with First Baptist Dunkerton in 2008 when they partnered with the church in AWANA outreach efforts using their gospel illusion and puppet program. They returned in 2009, and Williamson recalls, “I remember falling in love with the people of this church and the Dunkerton community. So – when Tim Lubinus mentioned they were looking for a new pastor, my heart leapt.” He continues, “My wife and I were just finishing our college degrees through Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City while I pastored a small SBC church in NE Kansas City. It wasn’t long before God slammed doors shut and placed us on a moving sidewalk heading north to Dunkerton Iowa. There were so many impossible details which seamlessly fell into place that we knew it was God not only directing our path, but picking us up and carrying us. Throughout the process the decision was unanimous to call me to FBC, with the pastor search committee, with the congregation’s vote, and certainly in our hearts.”
“ As with any new pastor coming into an established church setting, the first year or so will be our honeymoon period. As FBC has adopted us into their family, we eagerly want to join with and share in the “household chores” of ministry. My desire is for God to see us through this adoption process and certainly for Him to show up and show off in our midst,… .” which He has already begun to do !
