Believers Calls a Pastor

News: HOKSBA
Friday, July 22, 2005

The Reverend Timothy Ohls, 44, has accepted a call from Believers Southern Baptist Church in Wichita to become its first full-time pastor. He assumes the leadership of the five-year-old church on August 1. Ohls is currently pastoring the First Baptist Church of Kellyville, Oklahoma.

Following an eleven month search by a panel of seven church members, Ohls and family were introduced to the membership June 10-12 during three days of meetings, fellowships and hearing Ohls preach.

"God blessed us with a man who possesses the spiritual and personal qualities our church was seeking," said Sam Rothe, committee chairman. "Tim Ohls is conservative, steadfast, dedicated to the ministry, and loves people. He works tirelessly in the work of the Lord and expects the same from the church membership."

Reared in a Christian home in Enid, Oklahoma, Ohls felt the Lord calling him to surrender his life while attending children's camp. Ohls felt the call at age nine, but could not really grasp its meaning. Yet from that time forward, Ohls knew his life belonged to the Lord Jesus Christ.

"I heard the calling, felt the calling, and acknowledged it was happening in my life. I struggled with the call for several years before I finally surrendered to it completely." Ohls began preaching at age fourteen and was ordained May 26, 1980 at Calvary Baptist Church, Enid. Upon graduating high school, he earned a theology degree in 1982 from Oklahoma Baptist University and a Masters of Divinity in 1988 from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Since then he has pastored churches in Oklahoma and Missouri.

Ohls is married to Kim Reed, an administrative assistant at Jenks Public Schools and a coordinator of preschool school workshops. They have three children: Christopher 22, a senior education major at Northeastern Oklahoma State University; Joshua, 21, a junior education major at The University of Arkansas; and Katie, the 2005 Valedictorian of Kellyville High School and a freshman nursing major at Oklahoma Baptist University.

Located in northwest Wichita, Believers Southern Baptist Church was formed by a group of forty in 2000. Since then, the church has undergone two building programs and increased membership to over 250. The Rev. N.N. (Andy) Antonson came out of retirement to lead the church through both building programs and to serve as its part-time pastor. In May, he submitted his resignation effective July 31 citing family health issues and the desire to officially retire.