Welcome!
The Dakota Baptist Convention is a network of Southern Baptist churches reaching across the Dakotas and around the world for Jesus Christ.
Our aim as a Convention is to assist our churches in starting new churches, sharing the Gospel, making disciples and building strong healthy churches for the glory of God.
Administration
Dr. Lee Merck
Executive Director/Treasurer
merck@dakotabaptist.com
Lee has been married to Christie for thirty-one years, and they have four daughters, three sons-in-law, and three granddaughters. He enjoys spending time with family, traveling, short-term missions, hiking and backpacking in the Rocky Mountains, playing golf, and fishing.
He pastored, planted, and replanted churches for thirty years and served for three years with the North American Mission Board as the Lead Church Planting Catalyst for the Montana Baptist Convention. Lee served as an adjunct professor at Yellowstone Christian College and has been a guest lecturer at William Carey University and Liberty University, Rawlings School of Divinity.
Dr. Merck earned degrees from William Carey University (BA), Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv), and Liberty University, Rawlings School of Divinity (DMin).
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
Funmi Adeyemo
Ministry Volunteer
dbcadmin@dakotabaptist.com
Funmi Adeyemo is serving as a volunteer Ministry Assistant with the Dakota Baptist Convention. I am married to Segun Adeyemo since 2004 and we are blessed with 3 children: Damola, Teni and Frederica.
Ryanne Heintz
Ministry Assistant
office@dakotabaptist.com
Check back soon!
Church Strengthening Team
Josh Brown
Church Relations Missionary
josh@dakotabaptist.com
Paul Young
Church Relations Missionary
young@dakotabaptist.com
Paul Young has served as the pastor of Dakota Baptist Church in Fort Totten, North Dakota on the Spirit Lake Reservation since 2006. He has served Dakota Baptists over the years as a member of the Executive Board, Chairman of the Executive Board, Convention President and on numerous other committees and workgroups. He started serving as a Church Relations Missionary in 2022, with a particular focus on connecting to Native American churches in the Convention.
Everett Hornbostel
Church Relations Missionary
everett@dakotabaptist.com
Everett Hornbostel serves as the pastor of Cornerstone Community Church, SBC in Mobridge, SD. He and his family (Rebecca and Nic) moved to Mobridge in the summer of 2018 from Bolivar, Missouri, where Everett served as the Assistant Director of Safety & Security for Southwest Baptist University. He earned his Associate of Science in Law Enforcement from Missouri Southern State University in 2008, his Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry with an emphasis in Pastoral Ministry from Southwest Baptist in 2012, his Master of Theological Studies in Church Planting from Midwestern Seminary in 2016 and his Master of Corporate Security Leadership from Missouri Baptist University in 2019.
Everett got his first taste of ministry in the Dakotas as part of a short term mission team from SBU in the summer of 2010. Between 2010 and 2012, Everett was part of teams that traveled to the Pine Ridge Reservation. From 2013-2018, Everett and Rebecca led teams of students to the Cheyenne River Reservation, primarily working in the small community of Cherry Creek with some work being done in Eagle Butte. An eventual move to South Dakota was evident when Everett and his family took a trip to Cherry Creek for a Christmas event in 2013 and returned to Missouri unphased by the sub-zero temperatures and blowing wind and snow. Everett and his family teach Taekwondo and self-defense classes in and around Mobridge as an extension of ministry work in the community. Everett is currently working on a project to adapt his Master’s Capstone project “Evaluating Church Security: Ten Podcasts for a Church Security Team” into a book format titled “Church Security Basics”.
Segun Adeyemo
Evangelism Intern
segun@dakotabaptist.com
Segun Adeyemo is currently serving as an Evangelism Intern at the Dakota Baptist Convention.
Prior to that, he has pastored Churches in Pretoria, South Africa and worked for TELL Africa Evangelism initiative after serving with a Christian charitable ministry in Nigeria.
In addition to his ministry calling and assignments, he has also worked in many African countries in diverse industries and professional fields which includes NGOs, Financial Services, Project Management and Business Development.
He is also actively involved in youth soccer development as a licensed soccer coach and is also passionate about using sport and other social strategies like storytelling to reach the lost for Christ.
Segun is married to his sweetheart, Funmi since 2004, and they are blessed with three wonderful daughters, Damola, Teni, and Frederica.
Church Starting Team
Stephen Carson
Church Planter Catalyst
stephen@bellefourcheconnection.com
Stephen and Kaye have been married since 2002 and God has blessed them with two sons. Stephen has been the lead pastor of Connection Church in Belle Fourche, SD since January of 2014. Prior to that, Stephen served as the Student Pastor at Longview Point Baptist Church in Hernando, Mississippi from 2002-2007. Upon completion of seminary, Stephen and Kaye moved to Kampala, Uganda to do a 2 year ISC term with the International Mission Board. They completed their term in October of 2009.
From 2010 through 2013 Stephen served as Missions Pastor, again at Longview Point Baptist Church. He served in that position until moving to Belle Fourche to plant Connection Church.
Stephen has also been a part time Church Planting Catalyst with the North American Mission Board since 2017.
Our Officers
Chip Holmes
President
Pastor of First Baptist Church, Wolsey, SD
John Fisher
Vice President
Pastor of Journey Church, Fargo, ND
Our Executive Board
Chairman: Josh Bonner
Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church; Rapid City, SD
Vice Chairman: Justin Lill
Member of First Baptist Church; Langdon, ND
Karen Holmes: Recording Secretary
Member of First Baptist Church; Wolsey, SD
Debra Page: Assistant Recording Secretary
Member of First Baptist Church; Miller, SD
Dave Utter – Member of Black Hills Baptist Church; Whitewood, SD
Kyle Monteith – Pastor of Grace Bible Church; Watertown, SD
Rob Graywater – Member of Dakota Baptist Church; Fort Totten, ND
George Crawley – Pastor of First Love Church; Lincoln, ND
John Fisher – Pastor of Journey Church; Fargo, ND
Will Page – Pastor of First Baptist Church; Miller, SD
Jeff Robison – Pastor of New Life on Main; Harvey, ND
Jon Ballard – Pastor of Connection Church; Spearfish, SD
Kristyn LaBine – Member of Hills of Grace Fellowship; Rapid City, SD
Matt Hadden – Director of Chanku Waste Ranch; Porcupine, SD, Member of Creator’s Fellowship; Porcupine, SD
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