Melissa came on staff at Word of Life in August 2022, as the Youth Ministries Administrative Coordinator. She was born and raised in Everson, WA with her parents and two siblings. She has always had a heart for the Lord and service. From a young age she was involved in the church choir, nursery and was a part of Teens for Christ. Her passions include missions, worship, and singing. Other past ministries she has been involved with include Sunday School Teacher, Women’s Ministry Lead, Youth, Outreach and the Homeless Ministry.
Melissa met her husband George on a Christian dating site and they have a loving family that includes two boys and two girls. She and her husband are grandparents to 4 wonderful grandchildren. They also have a 3-year-old Black Lab named Bear. Melissa loves doing family outings that can include hiking, biking, snowshoeing, fishing, kayaking and games at home. Melissa loves to travel and is always looking forward to a new adventure.
Melissa's favorite Bible verses, if she had to choose, would be these:
Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Isaiah 43: 1-3 – (1) But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. (2) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. (3) For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Monica came to Word of Life in March 2022 as the Office Administrative Assistant, she grew up in Herron, Michigan with her parents and six siblings. She has always had heart for truth and ministry which led her to seeking out her faith in Christ during her teenage years. She attended a Community Bible Study held at Word of Life for several years and would go to the services occasionally with her best friend. Through the great communities she interacted with that were made possible through Word of Life she was able to come to a saving faith in the Lord and has been changed ever since!
Getting a call to serve the Lord elsewhere Monica left Alpena and worked in ministry at SpringHill Camps for five years, dabbling in EMS, Fire, a coffee shop and working at a middle and elementary school. She met and married her husband Aaron, and after two years they welcomed their newest member of the family Jethro, a German Shepherd mix. Monica has always enjoyed the outdoors and being in God’s creation and is always up for an adventure! The Rose family often enjoys motorcycle rides, traveling and spending quality time with family and friends both new and old.
Her favorite Bible verses if she had to choose would be these:
“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.” Proverbs 19:20
“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Linda Fisher began working at WOLBC on November 10th, 2004 as our Site Manager. Her responsibilities include cleaning, maintenance, and opening and closing the building for special events. She says, “You also have to be gregarious, coordinating with coworkers in a productive, timely, and professional manner. I am filled with joy to participate here, helping whomever needs it.”
Linda was born and raised in Alpena, MI, along with 6 siblings. They were raised in the Catholic faith by their father who was a captain on the ships that navigated the Great Lakes, and by their mother who “stayed at home to raise the rugrats.” Linda has two sons, Dustin and Ryan, a beautiful granddaughter, Kya, and a labradoodle named Luna. She enjoys activities such as softball, working out, listening to music, dancing and boating.
Linda started attending WOLBC services around 2016, to which she says, “I owe my ever-developing relationship with God.”
One of her favorite quotes from the Bible would be found in Matthew 5:10: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. (NIV)
Steve Bauman, a Michigan native, began his ministry as our WOL Pastor of Youth Ministries in December 2023. He has a Master of Ministry degree from Baptist Bible Seminary (Clarks Summit, PA), was Ordained in 2015, and comes to us with 7 years of full-time ministry experience (plus many years as a volunteer) leading, teaching, equipping, and discipling youth, plus oversight of children’s ministries and other areas, most recently in Otsego, Michigan.
Steve's desire is to reach younger generations with the Truth of God's Word and train them in how to serve, follow and grow in Him, so that they are well-prepared for the first day they are on their own.
Steve has been married to Peggy for 17 years, and they have two daughters: Shiloh and Sierra.
Steve and Peggy are excited about serving Christ here in Alpena and exploring all the outdoor activities our community has to offer. Steve also enjoys hunting, sports (especially soccer), games, video games, and more.
Tim Decker came to Word of Life Baptist Church as the Administrative Pastor in October 2019. Tim is a second-career pastor and entered the ministry after spending a decade in the accounting industry. Tim has served as Senior Pastor in two rural Michigan churches over a period of 11 years before coming to WOL and sees God’s hand in merging his experience together into this Administrative Pastor role at WOLBC.
As Administrative Pastor, Tim’s primary responsibilities at WOLBC are to oversee the day-to-day operations within the church, oversee the further development and implementation of ministries, oversee the Deacon and Deaconess Serving Team pertaining to all membership matters, and to develop spiritual leaders.
Tim met his wife, Janette, on a Cornerstone College Chancel Choir trip to Florida, and says, “Magic happened at the Magic Kingdom,” whenever he tells the story. They were married in May 1996 and have two teenage sons: Andrew (AJ) and Wesley.
Tim’s greatest joy in ministry is seeing lives transformed by the Word of God and seeing further transformation as people grow more into the likeness of Christ. He enjoys engaging God’s Word with people, whether it be teaching, preaching, or one-on-one, and finds that God has also gifted him for administration.
Outside church-life, Tim enjoys serving as a Michigan State Police Chaplain, playing disc golf, stopping down by Thunder Bay, watching Premier League Soccer or a variety of TV shows, and has found great joy in watching his boys compete in high school athletics and participate in school bands.
Tim has a hard time nailing down a favorite Bible verse, but if forced to choose would usually answer with a passage he learned in AWANA as a student:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrew 12:1-2 (NIV)
Scott Joy began his ministry as our WOL Lead Pastor in January 2014. Although he was new to this specific role, he wasn't new to our church. He was born and raised here! In fact, it was here, as a young man, that his call to ministry was first affirmed and encouraged at what was then called Ripley Blvd. Baptist Church.
On December 28 of 1985, he and Linda, his high school sweetheart, were married and a week later he accepted a call to serve in his first church in Sioux Falls, SD. Since then, they have served in a variety of settings, including 17 years in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada.
Scott's greatest joys in ministry are when he's sharing God's Word with the church Body or helping an individual grow as a disciple of Christ.
During his free time, you'll find him enjoying the outdoors, tinkering in his wood working shop or spending time with Linda.
They have been blessed with a loving family. Their son Joshua and his wife Jessica have three children; their daughter Katelynn and her husband Daniel have two children. Their oldest daughter Jessica was ushered home to the Lord in 2014. They were blessed to have 23 years with her and await a wondrous reunion in glory.