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Welcome to Rathcoole Baptist Church
Michael J. Fleming (Pastor)
Michael was born in Carrickfergus but spent most of his childhood and teenage years living on the Rathcoole Estate. He attended Rathcoole Baptist Sunday school for seven of those years. He was saved on June 26, 1988 when he was thirty years old, under the ministry of the late Ivan Thompson. He was baptized in November of the same year. Michael is married to Sharon and they have two sons, Michael Jr. and Thomas, three granddaughters, Courtney, Antonia, and Summer.
Michael had been a lay preacher for several years before God called him from secular employment to full time ministry. He and Sharon left Northern Ireland in August 2000 to attend The Master's Seminary, where he studied full time, for two years. He then continued his studies with Trinity Seminary, Indiana, for a further five years. He also served in the USA as an Associate Pastor in First Baptist Church Granada Hills, California. He held positions as an Intentional Interim Pastor and Church Planter. In 2007 he and Sharon returned to N. Ireland from America. He has obtained degrees in Pastoral Ministries and Theology and is currently engaged in a PhD program, focusing on Apologetics, and Theology.
Pastor Tom Orr (Pastor of Missions)
Pastor Tom Orr was previous full time Pastor at Rathcoole Baptist Church from 1987 to 1994, He is currently our Pastor of Missions and Director of the United Grace Mission to India.
(See our International Missions page here)
George Brown (Church Secretary/Deacon)
George has been a member of Rathcoole Baptist Church for 39 years. He has served as a Sunday school teacher for over twenty years, and has been a deacon for fifteen years. He is presently the Sunday school superintendent, a post he has held for the last six years. He is married to Sylvia; they have two grown children, Catherine and Gareth.
William McKinnell (Deacon)
William (Billy) sought God in many ways, mostly through Eastern religions. None of these means was able to satisfy his quest for life. But when God sought him through witnessing Christians, gospel tracts, and through his attendance at a local evangelical church he realized his need, and was saved in 1980. He was baptized in Rathcoole Baptist Church soon after. He began to attend Rathcoole Baptist Church in 1985 and a few years later became a member.
He is one of the evangelism team and is very involved in outreach. Billy states, "I believe it is our solemn duty to preach the gospel and I have sought by the grace of God to do this in various ways but mostly by going door to door in the area."
Fred Brooks (Deacon/Treasurer)
Fred was born into a Christian home and brought up in an Evangelical environment. He was saved at an early age and he confessed Christ after a Youth for Christ Rally in Windsor Park in 1952. He has been kept by the power of God ever since, he was baptized while he was a student in England.
Fred became a member of Rathcoole Baptist in 1963 when he came to live in the area. He was elected to the diaconate shortly after. He has served as a Sunday school teacher, and Church Treasurer for many years, He is married to Yvonne and has three grown children and three grandchildren.
William DeCourcy (Deacon)
William (Billy) was saved in 1955 and has lived in Rathcoole for over fifty years. He has been a m?ember of Rathcoole Baptist Church since 1960. In those early days the church met in Ardeen Hall Rathcoole. Soon after, in May 1960, he offered his services as an active member of the building team that erected the present building.
He was elected to Deacon Ministry in the early nineteen-sixties, served in outreach ministries, and was a Sunday school teacher for many years. Billy represents his local community as an Alderman and has also served as Deputy Mayor and Mayor of Newtownabbey. He is married to Elizabeth and has two sons and a daughter, and five grandchildren.
Jim Creighton (Child Protection Officer)
Jim became a member of Rathcoole Baptist Church shortly after he came to the Lord in 2002. He is the Child Protection Officer, teaches 6 to 8 year olds in the Sunday School, helps with the Thursday night children's meeting. He is interested in motorcycles, guitars and photography. He is married to Olive, also a member of Rathcoole Baptist Church, has two children and two grandsons
Timothy Robson (Usher)
Tim was born in Rathcoole in 1964 and attended the Church Sunday School as a boy. He has always had a close connection with the Church, his uncle being one of the founder members and Deacon.
After many years living his life his way and not God's way, Tim realised his need of The Saviour and by God's Grace he was saved on 18th December 2005 at the age of 41. He was baptised in April 2006 and became a member of the Church in June 2008. Tim is part of the local evangelism team and also a leader at the children's meeting. He is married to Yvonne and they have four children.