Johnston Welcomes First Baptist Pastor with Open Arms

For Tim Deatrick, it wasn't so much that he chose ministry, it was that ministry chose him.

The newest senior pastor at Johnston's , Deatrick grew up the son of a pastor.

"It's one of those things, like how do you know you're in love? You just know," he said about his career choice. "It sounds kind of a mystical kind of a thing. I just sensed that this is what God wanted me to do. I wouldn't have a sense of fulfillment in life in any other field."

Calling Carries Heavy Schedule and Great Moments

When Deatrick entered the ministry in 1984, it was with eyes wide open.

"I knew the demands, the schedule. I had no visions of grandeur," he said of watching his father's service in churches over 60 years. "I knew there would be great celebrations, but times of great grief." 

In January, Deatrick officially joined First Baptist after a career with stops in Missouri, Texas, Arkansas and Des Moines, among others.

Just a month into the post in February, Deatrick already felt at home.

"The people here are just incredible," he said. "We've found people welcoming, accepting, gracious and hospitable."

Deatrick, his wife, Lisa, and children Ryan, 21, a senior at Simpson College, and daughters, Lauren, a freshman at the University of South Dakota and Shannon, a student at Waukee High School, will continue to call Waukee home, but have already joined the Johnston family.

The road to First Baptist started in 2009 for Deatrick.

"The search committee first contacted me and we had a few conversations," he said. "Then things grew stagnant last March. Then in August they contacted for a second time. We picked up the conversation and it led to here."

Historic Church Relocates to Johnston

Joining a church with a rich history was appealing to Deatrick.

"This church is 100 years old, there's a lot of great history and tradition here," he said of the church's roots in downtown Des Moines. "It was kind of the perfect storm of limitations (in parking downtown) and the opportunity to build in Johnston."

The transition to Johnston has been easy for Deatrick.

"Only a month here and we already have relationships we feel that we've had for a long, long time. That's a big part of our culture here at First Baptist, how wonderful and gracious people are."

Deatrick has already witnessed the kindheartedness of his congregation.

"They are very good about running to the rescue, to those that have a need," he said. "Whether it's a member of the church family or people in the community, they want to run to the rescue and make a difference."

Pastor Using Social Media Outreach

When he's not at the church, Deatrick can be found enjoying one of many hobbies including reading, exercising or exploring technology and social media.

"I blog," he said. "I post reflections and cultural things, some book reviews. It's modest, but still a release for me."

First Baptist also has a growing following on Facebook and Twitter.

"I think that's here to stay, so we'll utilize it," he said of the social media sites.

For now Deatrick will continue to embrace his new community by meeting with city officials and community leaders.

"We have great schools, leaders here," he said of the Johnston community. "We'll look at where partnerships are available. We're working for a common good."