Gilroy’s First Baptist Church (8455 Wren Ave.) recently
announced an addition to the staff. Brian Arendt has become the
church’s new Pastor of Youth and Education.
Gilroy’s First Baptist Church (8455 Wren Ave.) recently announced an addition to the staff. Brian Arendt has become the church’s new Pastor of Youth and Education.
Arendt is no stranger to Gilroy because he has been serving the congregation on a part-time basis since October while completing his M.Div. studies at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley. He will graduate in May, and then he and his wife, Julie, hope to be settled in South County before the birth of their first child in June.
The new pastor is a Sacramento native. Although he grew up in a loving family, they were not regular church attenders. It was in his junior year of high school when Arendt accepted Christ through the encouragement of of his Christian friends.
After graduation from high school, Arendt entered the University of California, Davis with the intention of being a pre-med major. This was not to be, however. He explains that he soon found out that he “wasn’t cut out to be a doctor.” He realized he was “asking God to follow me rather than following Him.”
The following year he transferred to Biola University, a Christian college in La Mirada, Calif. There he majored in Intercultural Studies with a minor in Biblical Studies and an emphasis in Computer Science.
One of the high points of his undergraduate years was a six-week missionary stint serving with his aunt and uncle in Ethiopia. He felt honored to meet the Ethiopian Orthodox Archbishop of the country and to be in ministry to the Ethiopians.
Although feeling a call to serve God, he decided upon graduation in 1998 that he should get a secular job to pay off student loans before seeking full-time church work. But as he engaged in volunteer ministry at a Southern California church and found it spiritually fulfilling, a pastor recommended he consider entering seminary.
Since his marketing job was unpleasant due to a long commute and a longing for something more fulfilling, he took this advice and began attending the Southern California campus of Golden Gate Seminary in Brea on a part-time basis.
In 2000, Brian and his new wife both began teaching at a Christian school in Whittier: she, sixth grade; he, computers. Although they loved their jobs and the area, they decided in the fall of 2002 to move to Golden Gate Seminary’s Northern California campus so Brian could begin full-time study for the ministry.
Soon after moving to Mill Valley, Brian began working in a youth ministry at a small church in Pacifica. When he discovered that his real call was to work with youth and young families, he contacted the Gilroy church. After an interview by Pastor Mark Milwee, he began several months of lengthy weekend commutes from the northern to southern tips of the Bay Area.
Arendt praises his experiences in Gilroy, particularly the “great couples who have volunteered to support me in this ministry.” He has built strong relationships and helped several families and students through struggles. He mentions particularly a trip with the youth group this winter to Hume Lake where members strengthened their faith and one accepted Christ for the first time.
A number of exciting events are already planned for the First Baptist Church Youth Ministry in upcoming months:
– a mission trip with a group of youth and adults to Mexico
– the church’s Vacation Bible School from June 20-24
– hosting youth groups from Texas doing a children’s sports camp at the church from July 11 to 15
– the annual 30-hour famine program when students enlist sponsors and local businesses to raise money for World Vision, a charity for malnourished children.
Pastor Arendt calls Gilroy as a “great community” and wants his church to be a resource. His goal is to help people build their faith in Jesus Christ so that when they find themselves challenged, they will have something strong to turn to.
To contact Brian Arendt, call First Baptist Church at (408) 847-6000. He invites all teens to come by for youth group on Wednesday nights at 6:30pm.
