Snr. Pastor David Lovell.

Pastor Dave was rasied on a wheat / sheep farm in North Central Victoria, half-way between the towns of Boort and Wycheproof. After finishing Year 12, he completed an Associate Diploma of Applied Science before returning to work on the family farm. In 1992, he packed his bags and moved to Chicago (USA) to study at Moody Bible Institute. He completed a Bacheolor of Arts - Bible  in 1997. During this time he met and married Julie and alongside of his studies worked full-time as Pastor of Student Ministries at the Camarillo Evangelical Free Church in Southern California. He was a part of this ministry team for four years.

In 1999, Dave accepted a call from Bendigo Baptist Church to join their ministry team as an Associate Pastor: Youth.  Dave, Julie and their children arrived at Bendigo Baptist in December 1999.  Dave has performed various roles within this ministry team during this period of time.  In May 1996, Dave was appointed as Senior Pastor at Bendigo Baptist Church.

Dave is married to Julie, and they have 4 school-age children, Jesse, Zak, Chloe and Jacob. In his spare time he loves to play golf, read, spend time with his family and avidly follow the Essendon Football Club. He is currently finishing his Master's degree in Christian Ministry.

Pastor Stephen Emonson

While born and bred in Victoria, Steve spent nearly six years over west in Perth, during which time he completed a four-year Bachelor of Ministry degree at Perth Bible College and began work in church-based youth ministry.  In 1999 Steve married his lovely Sheriden.  After returning to Victoria in 2003, Steve continued serving in youth ministry at churches in Castlemaine and Maldon.  In 2005, Steve accepted the call to come onto the ministry team here at BBC, serving as Associate Pastor for Youth & Young Adults. 

Steve enjoys family time with Sheriden and his girls, Kezia and Adah.  He also enjoys walking, swimming, gardening and painting. 

Pastor Gwyn Milne

Gwyn is pastor responsible for pastoral care, life groups, women’s and senior’s ministries. With a background in teaching and some theological studies at Whitley College, Bendigo is her fourth pastoral appointment. She has broad experience in pastoral ministry in the local church and at state and national levels.

She is married to Gary, a retired school teacher, and they have three adult children and two grandchildren. They moved to Bendigo from Melbourne to take up this part-time position in 2007.

Matt Parkinson - Community Care Director

Matt's position as Community Care Director is a newly created role in direct response to the Church's desire to reach out to the people of Bendigo.

Matt was born in Melbourne and moved to Bendigo in 1981. He is married to Sue and has a daughter at university and twin boys in secondary college. With 8 years in small business and many years involved in community service and pastoral care, Matt has a heart to reach out to all people of Bendigo, especially the vulnerable within the community.

Joy Watters - Administrator

Joy is the eldest of four children from a farming family near Wycheproof, and began working life in the local Shire Office. At the age of 20 she moved to Melbourne and completed a Diploma of Theology at the Melbourne Bible Institute (now Bible College of Victoria).  This was followed by marriage to Geoff, employment with the Australian Religious Film Society, and the birth of three sons

Over the next 25 years Joy owned and operated a retail soft furnishing business in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and was actively involved at the Blackburn South Baptist Church (now Crossway Baptist).

In 1992, looking for a "tree change" Geoff and Joy moved to Bendigo, commenced a wholesale curtain hardware business,which was sold after eight years and a retail prospecting supplies outlet (now operated by a family member).  She has held her current position as Administrator at BBC for the last 4 years.

 Louise Nott - Playgroup Co-ordinator

Louise has a degree in Education – Early Childhood. She moved from Kindergarten teaching to her new role as playgroup ministry worker in 2006. She is married to Peter and has two children of school age. Louise has a passion for seeing Mum’s of preschoolers come into God’s family and see them supported in these years when their children are young.

Core Values of Bendigo Baptist Church.

These values are the intrinsic convictions of the people of the Bendigo Baptist Church. They define our beliefs and determine the goals needed to accomplish God's vision for this church.

1: Biblical Teaching

• We believe Gods word is the essential catalyst for bringing about change and growth in the life of an individual. We value the teaching of the Word of God that is empowered by the Holy Spirit. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

2: Prayer Dependence

• We believe that God requires His people to pray and that He hears and answers prayer. We believe that reliance on God through prayer must be central to everything we do. (Colossians 4:2) (Ephesians 6:18-19)

3: Servant Leadership

• We believe in the importance of godly leadership in the life and ministry of our church, and that leaders empower others. We expect our leaders, within a team structure, to model integrity, courage, loyalty and a servant attitude. (Philippians 2:5-7) (Matthew 20:26-28)

4: Personal Development

• We are committed to the development of God's people. We believe it is our responsibility to equip, support, motivate and mentor individuals, enabling them to become all that God wants them to be. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

5: Outreach

• We believe that lost people matter to God and, therefore, should matter to the church. Our mission is to reach people for Jesus at the local, national and global level. (Matt 28:18-20)

6: Healthy Relationships

• We are committed to providing an environment where people can experience God's love in action. We promote the development of friendships, acceptance of others and a sense of belonging. (John 13:34-35)

7: Authentic Worship

• We believe we are created to worship and serve God. We are committed to worship being creative, relevant, reverent and pleasing to God. (Romans 12:1) (Psalm 95:1-2)

8: Cultural Relevance

• We believe that God's Word never changes but our culture is constantly changing. We recognise the diversity of people and are committed to communicating the truth of God in the most relevant way. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

Doctrinal Statement

(A) The divine inspiration and supreme authority of the Old and New Testaments. (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:19-21)

(B) The existence of one God in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who by the act of creation called all things, both material and spiritual, into existence out of non-existence. (Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 28:19, Romans 8:9-10)

(C) The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ -

• His incarnation as the Son of God. (John 1:14)
• His atoning death, (1 Peter 3:18)
• His resurrection from the dead, (1 Corinthians 15:20)
• His exaltation to the right hand of God where He ever lives to make intersession for His people, (Acts 2:32-33)
• His coming again to receive His people to Himself. (John 14:3 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

(D) The ministry of the Holy Spirit in the regeneration of men and women and their sanctification. (John 3:3-8 Romans 15:15-16)

(E) The sinfulness of man - his fallen and lost estate by nature. (Romans 5:12)

(F) The necessity, for salvation, of repentance towards God, and of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Mark 1;15 Acts 2:38, Acts 20:21)

(G) The immortality of the soul, the ressurection of the saints to eternal righteousness, the judgement of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, and His final judgement upon all believers. (John 3:26 & 11:26 1 Thessalonians 4:14 John 5:22 & 27:2 Thessolonians 1:7-9)

(H) The two ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ, namely Baptism and the Lord's Supper, which are of perpetual obligation, baptism being the immersion of believers upon the profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a symbol of the fellowship of the regenerate in His death, burial and resurrection: the Lord's Supper being a memorial, until He comes, of the sacrifice of the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Romans 6;4-5 Mark 1:10 Acts 2:38-41 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)

Brief History of the Church

The discovery of gold at "the Rocks" (Now Golden Square) in October, 1851, changed the appearance of what had been a peaceful sheep run from 1841. By 1861 all principle denominations were ministering to a population of 13,020 within the boundaries of Sandhurst. (Later to become Bendigo) Baptists on the Goldfields were not numerous, but in 1853 the first meeting was held at White Hills. Mr. & Mrs. John Taylor, Mr. & Mrs. Jones and Miss Jones met for worship in a tent.

In 1854, a slab hut was erected in White Hills. Shortly afterwards a weatherboard building was erected in Epsom for 400 pounds. Meanwhile Baptists in the south end of town began to assemble themselves together. It is recorded that they walked to the services at Epsom, a distance of up to 20 miles a Sunday, to attend both services.

Very soon, the establishment of a church began within Sandhurst & by 1857 a property leased to re-erect the relocated White Hills building. (Opened Feb 1859)

This building (Left) was first erected between White Hills and Epsom. In 1859 it was removed & re-erected in Hargreaves St. It was disposed of by the church in 1863, & was used as a hay & corn store from that time until around 1982 when it was pulled down.

In 1959, a century on, thoughts were directed towards a new church project. The chance to buy a new property in Edwards Street for a manse was seized as it was diagonally opposite the site which would be the future home of the church.

Land for the Manse was purchased 7 years earlier (1952) than the land for the Edward Street church building (right) which was opened on 3rd August 1963. God had faithfully provided for his growing Bendigo Baptist family yet again.

Around 1990, God gave the church the vision to relocate because of growing numbers and the desire to increase & enhance our ministries.

We are now well in to the 21st century & this new phase in the life of the Bendigo Baptist Church has come about. We have relocated to a new property in Junourton - (14 acres, with larger facilities & room to expand.)

Duty of Care

The Bendigo Baptist church has adopted a modified policy (as submitted by the Baptist Union of Victoria) in respect to its duty of care towards our own people as well as those whom we deal with. A full copy of this document, as well as other associated checklists and forms for ministry leaders and groups can be viewed by clicking on the link below.

View document: "Our Church, a safe place..."

*Note: If you haven't got it already, you'll need Adobe Reader