Ministry Leaders
Edward and Michelle Blanchette
Pastor and Nursery Coordinator
Welcome to our website. We hope that the resources on it will be a help and a blessing to you.
I grew up in Newport, RI and was privileged to be brought up in a Christian home going to a good Bible believing church that laid the groundwork for my life today. I came to know Christ as my personal Saviour at the age of 19 while attending Heartland Baptist Bible College in Oklahoma City, OK.
I have had the privilege of serving as pastor of Halstead Baptist Church since August of 2008. Our desire is through the faithful preaching and declaration of God's Word, to see individuals and families come to know Christ as their Saviour, see them baptized and actively growing in the Lord while serving Him faithfully through the local New Testament Church. -Pastor Ed
I met my husband at Bible College in 2001 and we were married in 2004. God led us here to Halstead in 2008 and I have thoroughly enjoyed serving the Lord with him here; I love our people. We have six daughters whom I have the privilege of homeschooling.
Currently, I get to be the nursery coordinator. My goal is to plant the seeds of the Bible and the love for His Word so that as the children grow, so will their desire to serve our great God after they are saved.
My biggest ministry is getting to support my favorite preacher - who is my husband and the pastor of this wonderful church. I am privileged to be able to do much behind the scenes work and I'm willing to do whatever needs done. Will you come and serve with us? We would love to meet you. -Michelle
Daphne Bliss
Middlers Sunday School Teacher
God used my kids to bring me to church. When Pastor Chris was here, he came to ask about my boys being baptized and I decided I needed to find out what they were learning about. I wanted them to really understand what they were doing.
I wrestled with the Lord for a while and finally gave up and got saved on February 22, 2006. Currently, I get to teach four year olds through second grade at our church as well as help out in Children's Church. I'm so glad I was able to help Mrs. Cherrie before I took over for her. She really helped me.
I want the kids to learn the lessons about God, creation, Adam, Joseph and the coat of many colors, anything that is in the Bible. I love doing the crafts and all the papers with the kids as well.
Kay Drake
ASL Interpreter
Hi! Welcome to Halstead Baptist Church (HBC). I am Kay Drake. I grew up in a hearing family. At 18, I understood there was nothing I could ever do to earn my way to heaven. Jesus did it all when He died on the cross to pay the penalty of my sin. I have been married to David for 30 years and we have three grown children and two grandsons with another baby on the way.
I began learning ASL in January 1986. Over the years, the majority of my teachers have been Deaf, and it is from them I have learned their beautiful language, rich in culture and meaning. HBC offers ASL classes on Wednesday evenings that I am privileged to teach. Through classes and community events, students have the opportunity to learn ASL and communicate with the Deaf.
Whether you are Deaf or hearing, all are welcome at HBC. Services are interpreted. For those who prefer, FM devices are available as well.
Jared and Talia Krauss
Sound, Media and Livestream Ministry, Youth Leaders
Our goal is to make the spoken word clearly heard with minimal to no interruptions or distractions; to serve God with our best through serving the church; to allow Him to impact and move through hearts of all who watch and listen to the choir, congregational singing, specials, instrumentals, promotional videos, baptisms, testimonies, and most importantly the preaching! We want God to be honored and glorified in the use of the technology, graphic designs, and sound amplification He has blessed us with! Only our best is acceptable service and that is our desire. We pray that our passion for sound and media will always glorify Him and allow others to have a clear line to God speaking!
Our desire for the youth, is to ground them in truth. We want their foundational beliefs coming from God and His Word and that every decision and choice beyond that would reflect their Sure Foundation of Christ. We want to help them establish a relationship with God and nurture that walk with the Lord as they grow. We want to encourage the teens to not just come to church, but to be apart of it!
Dakota and Autumn Smith
Youth Leaders
I got saved at the age of 11 at a church camp meeting. The sermon that was preached was on where you would end up after you died. I had made a profession at the age of 4 and had been trusting on that. During the sermon I had an uneasy feeling that I didn’t know where I would end up, then the invitation was played and The Sea of Forgetfulness was sung. In the chorus “What Sin” stood out to me and I asked my dad how I would know if I was saved or not. He explained the feeling of certainty of knowing where you would go, and asked if I had that certainty. I did not, and proceeded to pray with repentance for my sins and asked Jesus to come into my heart. -Dakota
After making two false professions in my early years I spent the majority of my teen years living in doubt. Pride kept me quiet as I spent night after night talking myself into my salvation. My teen years were dark, depressing and hopeless until I came to truly know my Saviour on July 27, 2014 . The preacher got up and said, “If you’re talking yourself into your salvation every night…then friend, something is missing!” I knew instantly that I was not saved and needed to get it settled that day. I distinctly remember how grey and dark life was before I knelt to pray, and how I felt as the chains of sin rolled away after I confessed my sins and asked Jesus in. -Autumn
Our goals for the youth are to help future generations know what they believe and why they believe it. To help encourage the youth that they can have a personal walk with the Lord. That they are not alone and encourage them to invest in their church family.
Alyssa Krauss
Children's Church
I was saved at a young age right outside my home. While there were times I doubted if I was truly saved, the Lord always reminded me of the simple fact that “whosoever believeth in [me] should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Even though I was young that “whosoever” meant me too!
Not only has He saved me, but God has allowed me to teach the same Children’s Church program that I grew up in. I always loved this as a kid, and I am honored to teach other kids about the Bible.
We’ll learn about Bible stories, biblical principles, missionary stories, and have some fun along the way. If you have kids in K-6th grade, bring them to Children’s Church so they can grow spiritually as well.
Roger and Connie Ericksten
Men's and Women's Ministries
I was saved in 1998 at the men's fellowship meeting with Bro. Sam Davison preaching. My goal in ministry is to preach the word at the Diversicare Nursing Home in Sedgwick. I want to encourage believers there and at Halstead Baptist to faithfully serve the Lord in all the ways He directs with their whole heart. -Roger
I was saved when I was thirteen while attending summer camp in Topeka, KS. My goal for ladies ministry is to teach, in such a way, that the Word would be easy to apply to every day living. -Connie
Russell and Faith Krauss
Music Ministries/Couples Ministry/Janitorial Staff
I was saved at a young age and was blessed to be raised in a Christian home where my parents served in full-time ministry. Because of their example, I learned how to serve in church and the importance of serving God with all your heart and ministering to others. My goal is to honor Jesus in whatever area He allows me to serve and to extend grace and help to others. - Faith
