Faith Baptist Church

Welcome to the website and thanks for your interest in Faith Baptist Church! I also want to thank you for your interest in the music and worship opportunities at our church.

Just a little bit about me…I was born in Baltimore, Maryland, but as a child growing up, we moved around quite a bit. Although I lived in several states by the time I was in high school, my family always ended up back in Maryland, so I consider Maryland my home and I have a real heart for this area. Through the love and nurture of my grandmother, I accepted Christ as my personal Savior and Lord and was baptized when I was seven years old. God’s been working on me ever since!

After graduating from Kenwood Senior High School in Essex, MD, in 1981, I went on to Towson State University to pursue my Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education. It was while I was in college that I heard God’s call to full-time ministry during a three-week mission trip to Rwanda, Africa. I saw needs that I never knew existed, and I had an overwhelming belief that God was calling me to go home and make a difference with my life by serving Him through music and the local church. After graduating from Towson in 1989, I enrolled at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, to pursue the Master of Divinity in Church Music Degree.

After graduating from seminary in 1994, I was ordained to the ministry, and I was called to serve as the full-time Associate Pastor of Music and Outreach for Ogletown Baptist Church in Newark, Delaware, where my love for music and evangelism was more fully realized. While serving there, we saw an increase of over 225 members in three years.

In November 1997, I was called to serve as the Minister of Music and Worship for the First Baptist Church of Frederick, Maryland. We saw a tremendous amount of growth, had three worship services, developed the Frederick School of the Arts, and saw hundreds of people fulfill their potential to lead in music and worship, and lead others to know Christ.

After six years at First Baptist, I “retired” and purchased The Cascade Inn Historic Bed & Breakfast where Jan and I serve as Owners and Innkeepers for hundreds of guests from around the country. It gives us the opportunity to serve people through the Ministry of Hospitality.

But, I believe God continually calls us to fulfill our potential, and on December 14, 2008, Faith Baptist Church called me to become their part-time Minister of Music and Worship. We have found a real sense of family here and we’re excited about the future!

As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize that church is more than just a place to worship…it’s also about family. Over the past couple of years, I’ve been able to experience first-hand the true meaning and depth of a church family that loves people, cares about the community, and is willing to take risks in order to reach people where they are.

My wife, Jan, and I believe that we are here because God wants us to make a difference with our lives by serving Him through music and worship. I believe that it’s when we encounter God through worship, Bible study, ministry, discipleship, evangelism and fellowship that He can change us and make us whole.  My prayer is that you will find a life-changing experience here at Faith Baptist, and that you will also discover the real meaning of a true family of faith!

If you want to contact me about ways to get involved with the Music & Worship Ministries, or just to say “Hey!” please don’t hesitate to drop me a note at duane@faithsbc.org or call me at the church at 301.834.7755.  It would be a privilege to get to know you!