Kyle Stephens – Pastor
Kyle Stephens has been the pastor of BHBC since the church’s start-up in 1987. Pastor Kyle was born in Paris, Texas where his dad farmed, ranched and owned a dairy. Saved at 10 years old and an athlete in high school and college, he received a B.A. from the University of Texas-Arlington in 1984, at which point Pastor Kyle’s life took a turn, as he committed to going to Pensacola Bible Institute for biblical and ministerial training. He received a B.Div. from PBI in 1987 and a M.Th. in 2011. He met his future wife, Marcia, while attending PBI in the 80’s. She was likewise reared on a dairy farm in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. They were married in Pensacola in 1986, and moved to Minnesota in June of 1987 right after graduation to start the ministry. Marcia and Kyle have 4 children, Seth, Daniel, Anna and Joseph and homeschooled all 4 kids. Joseph, the youngest, graduated High School in 2016, and the other three children are married and serving the Lord. Pastor Stephens has been deeply convinced of the virtues and finality of the Authorized Version of 1611, the King James Bible, and so he has been deeply dedicated to the thorough study, preaching and teaching of the words of God as found in the old Book. Because of this, the ministry at BHBC reflects a stalwart commitment to public evangelism, dispensationalism, discipleship, righteous living, coming events in prophesy, and personal dedication to a relationship with God through Christ.
Dave Darling – Associate Pastor
Dave Darling has been the Associate Pastor at Blessed Hope Baptist Church since February 2014, prior to that he served as Treasurer and Deacon since 1998. Dave was born in rural Minnesota in 1961, growing up in the country until 12 years of age where he moved to Brooklyn Park Minnesota and lived there until he married his wife, Judy in 1983. They had their 1st child, Brian in 1986 and in the fall of 1987 the Lord began working in their lives. Dave heard his 1st clear presentation of the gospel on January 17th, 1988 under the preaching of Pastor Kyle Stephens. A couple of nights later he knelt beside his bed and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour. Dave and Judy began attending Church faithfully and in March of 1988 Judy was also saved. In the following years the Lord blessed them with 5 other children: Sarah, Caleb, Rachel, Naomi and Peter. By the grace of God, all their children are serving the Lord and are active in the Ministries of a local Church. Dave and his family have a burden for missions and over the years Dave has gone on over 20 mission trips, mostly in Eastern Europe, to distribute scriptures and assist in evangelistic outreaches. He has also taught and preached in several prisons, juvenile detention centers, nursing homes and on the streets of the Twin Cities. Besides the ministry work he owns a remodeling company which was started in 2002 after being laid off as a Project Manager for IBM.
Jason Sadek – Deacon
Jason Sadek has been a deacon at Blessed Hope Baptist Church since spring of 2018. Prior to becoming a deacon he has been a member of Blessed Hope Baptist Church since its beginning and has served in various ministries during that time. He was born in St Paul, MN in 1980 into a christian home. His parents led him to the Lord at the age of 6 when he accepted Jesus Christ as his Saviour. He has had the privilege of attending church with his parents his entire life. In 1997 Jason met his wife, Jessica, while working at the local grocery store. They were married in 2002 and have served together at Blessed Hope Baptist Church. They have 2 girls, Grace and Hannah and are homeschooling them. They had the privilege of leading both girls to the Lord and they were both baptized by Pastor Stephens; who also baptized Jason when he was younger. They both count it a blessing to be able to serve the Lord with his parents. Jason and Jessica are currently laboring in different ministries at the church including parades, nursing home and street evangelism. He is currently assisting Dave Darling with a new ministry of Blessed Hope Baptist Church, Campaigns for Christ, distributing scriptures throughout Latin America.
Caleb Darling – Youth Leader / Music Director
Caleb Darling has been the youth leader at BHBC since November of 2018. Caleb was born in Fridley, MN in 1992. He was born and raised in a Christian home and accepted the Lord as his personal Saviour at the age of 8. He was able to grow up in the same church he is serving in today. After graduating high school, he attended PBI where he received his B.Div. in 2014. He and his wife Anna (who also grew up at BHBC) were married later that year in October. Since then, the Lord has blessed them with 3 girls.
Besides becoming the youth leader in 2018, Caleb has labored in the music ministry since returning from PBI in 2014. Whether leading singing, playing in the orchestra, or helping with special music, the focus has always been to keep the music pure and honoring to the Lord.
Jeff Peterson – Deacon
Jeff Peterson has been a member at Blessed Hope Baptist Church since April 2009. Born in St Paul in 1969, it wasn’t until February 2004 that Jeff trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour. Five years later he was invited to Blessed Hope Baptist Church. Jeff was baptized in Dec 2009 by Pastor Kyle Stephens. He has been serving at the church in various ministries including nursing homes, door to door visitation, street preaching and keeping the church sign updated weekly with scripture. He met Renee at church and they married in 2015. Both have a burden for missions and have been on several mission trips together. They count it a blessing to serve the Lord at Blessed Hope Baptist Church.