Reverend David S. Bilyeu, M. Div.
Education: Judson College (Elgin, IL); Northern Baptist Theological Seminary (Lombard, IL)
The Reverend David S. Bilyeu, M. Div, has served as Senior Minister of the First Baptist Church of Marietta since October 2005. Pastor David, a native of Illinois, has served churches in Illinois and Ohio as a pastor, youth pastor, and music minister.
Pastor Bilyeu is a graduate of Judson College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Arts. Pastor David earned his Master of Divinity degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, IL. He is ordained through the American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region (Illinois/Missouri).
While growing up in Illinois, Pastor David was active in the Boy Scouts of America. He is an Eagle Scout (having earned scouting's highest honor in 1980). He also received the God and Country award, a religious honor of Protestant scouts. He was elected by members of the Lincoln Trails Council to receive the Vigil Honor in the Order of the Arrow, an honored camper's society. Pastor Bilyeu has hiked the mountains of Philmont Scout Ranch (Cimarron, NM), attended the 1979 National Order of the Arrow Conference, and the 1981 National Scout Jamboree. He recently completed a 76 mile canoe trip in Michigan with his oldest son.
While a student at Judson College, Pastor David served as a president and business manager of the college choir. During that time, he traveled extensively throughout the United States, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, and several European countries.
Pastor is a member of several professional organizations including the American Baptists Minister's council, the Boy Scouts of America, and the National Eagle Scout Association. He has also been a member of Rotary International, where he was a member of the Board of Directors, and Kiwanis International. Pastor David currently serves on the Marietta Bantam Baseball Board of Directors.
The pastor is Vice-President of the Marietta Baptist Association, one of several associations affiliated with the American Baptist Churches of Ohio (ABC/OH). First Baptist Church is currently in a covenant relationship with the ABC/OH and committed to a transformational process called Rise Up & Build! Most recently, Pastor David, along with 10 others, traveled to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi to assist in rebuilding a community ravaged by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina
Pastor David is married to the Reverend Patricia K. Bilyeu. Patty is a graduate of the University of Toledo (OH) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. Rev. Patty also earned the Master of Divinity degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has served churches in Illinois as interim pastor, youth pastor, and minister of Christian education. Rev. Bilyeu was ordained to the Christian ministry in her home church (The First Baptist Church of Greater Toledo) through the Toledo Baptist Association and the American Baptist Churches of Ohio.
The Bilyeus have three children, Andrew, Jacob, and Mark.
Emily Garrity
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Education: Waynesburg University (Waynesburg, PA)
Emily Garrity is our children/college minister. She has recently joined our staff, arriving in August 2008. She is a graduate of Waynesburg University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical and Ministry Studies (Children and youth). She has also gone through CCO (Coalition for Christian Outreach) training. The CCO is a campus ministry that partners with churches, colleges and other organizations to develop men and women who live out their Christian faith in every area of life During her time at Waynesburg, Emily grew much as a disciple of Christ. She had the opportunity to serve as a Resident Assistant for three years in the freshman dorms. Through the many conflicts, programs, and relationships that she had to work through, she feels that this was a large part of her preparation for campus ministry. Also during her time at Waynesburg, she had the opportunity to travel to Nashville, Mississippi, Jamaica and Nicaragua on mission trips. It was through these trips that much of her Christian worldview was formed.
Along with these experiences, Emily also had the privilege of working with children in two contexts during her college career; the first being Pine Springs Camp (Jennerstown, PA). Emily was a counselor at PSC for two summers. Here, she began to learn the hard, but wonderful work that it is to build up young disciples. She taught Bible lessons, lead nature activities, took children on off camp trips, and cared for their basic needs for ten weeks. This was a stretching, but growing experience for Emily. Secondly, Emily had an internship with the First Presbyterian Church of Waynesburg during the final semester of her senior year. It was here that she learned much in the way of leadership in children's ministry. There was no children's minister at the time of Emily's internship, so she had much responsibility in this internship. She led Bible lessons, recruited volunteers, and assisted other adults in their teaching of the children.
All of these experiences have contributed to Emily's personal and professional growth and she feels thankful for each of them. She believes that God provided each of these experiences in order to equip her for where she is now. She was amazed that she found a job where she could serve both college students and children: two age groups which she is passionate about. She looks forward to walking towards an abundant life in Christ with the students that she will work with.
Emily is excited to be a part of this church body. She knows that God has good things planned for FBC and for Marietta College. She recognizes that these ministries are not her own and looks forward to serving alongside of others in the church. Here's to building the Kingdom...