First Missionary Baptist Church

Brother Clay Swanson was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma in 1968. He was taught the importance of serving the Lord from a very young age and though he has failed many times in his service to the Lord, he has always found the Lord faithful. At the age of nine years old, he turned to God and put his faith in Jesus Christ for the salvation of his soul. He followed the Lord in scriptural baptism when he was eleven years old and united with the Missionary Baptist Church of Bend Oregon. At nineteen the Lord called Bro. Clay into ministry and then about a year later he was licensed as a preacher by Pauls Valley Missionary Baptist Church. Bro. Clay has been preaching the glorious gospel for over thirty years now.

At the age of twenty-three, God gave Bro. Clay a job with the Department of Rehabilitation Services which caused him to move to Ada Oklahoma, where he lived for a little over a year. During that time he met Sis. Jennifer Crawford, now Swanson, at Unity Missionary Baptist Church and took her to be his wife. God provided Bro. Clay a wonderful wife and a true helpmeet in his ministry.

The Lord accomplished what He had Bro. Clay move to Ada for in meeting his future wife Jennifer. Bro. Clay’s position with the Department of Rehabilitation Services was transferred to Oklahoma City where he and Jennifer united with Southside Missionary Baptist Church. Southside Missionary Baptist Church ordained Bro. Clay and he became the Associate Pastor and Youth Director for about five years. The Lord opened a door for Bro. Clay to plant a church in Tuttle, Oklahoma under the authority of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church of Corvallis, Oregon. He was the pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church of Tuttle, Oklahoma for about seventeen years. Bro. Clay then believed the Lord to be leading him to Arkansas. While in Arkansas he served as associate pastor and evangelist in the Lord’s churches. Now after much prayer and continuing to seek the Lord’s will he accepted the call to be the pastor at First Missionary Baptist Church in Seminole, Oklahoma.

Bro. Clay graduated from Faith Bible Institute with a two-year certificate. He has an Associate’s Degree in Instrumentation from Oklahoma State University, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Mid America Christian University, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma, and a Doctorate in Ministry from the Baptist College of America in Kokomo, Indiana.

Brother Clay and Sister Jennifer have three adult children all actively involved in Baptist Churches. Bro. Clay enjoys several activities such as spending time with his grandchildren, fishing, golfing, and playing games, but finds nothing as exciting as fellowshipping over God’s word. He says that often his favorite passage in the Bible is the last one that he has been studying, however, if you were to ask him for one in particular he would tell you that Isaiah 48:17 “Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, Which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.” has always been one of encouragement for him.

Brother John Gosa has been attending First Missionary Baptist Church in Seminole since he was one week old.  He was saved in June 1981 and has been a member since.  He was ordained as a Deacon in February 2005.

John married Susan on June 27, 1997.  They have two daughters, Abigail and Rachel.   Brother John and his family live in Seminole.

Brother John's favorite Bible verse is Revelation 1:8.

Brother Thaddaeus Starbuck was born in Blue Springs, Missouri, he spent most of his childhood growing up in Kansas.

Thaddaeus went to Bible college in Benton, AR. and spent two years there learning about the Bible and church. While I was there, I met my beautiful wife, Rachel.  We have been happily married for two years.  Rachel and I have a sweet baby boy, Uriah, and are expecting our second child.  

I am excited to meet many people here and to cultivate many lifelong relationships.