Nashwaaksis Baptist Church was formed in 1957 by a group of interested Christians who lived in the Nashwaaksis area and desired to be aligned with the United Baptist Convention of the Atlantic Provinces.
The neighbouring Union Street Baptist Church was instrumental in supporting this new venture. The first building was dedicated on the present site in May 1957 and by May 1958 the membership had grown to 109 people. By 1961 the church became self-supporting and no longer needed grants provided by the Home Mission Board.
During the early seventies the church expanded it’s facilities to meet Christian Education ministry demands as well as hire their first CE Director. Growth continued and plans were made to expand the facilities again in 1986. Caring ministries were initiated through Stephen Ministries as well as through existing church groups. A new focus on youth ministry was started when the first Youth Pastor was hired in 1990.
Evangelism and discipleship remained the top priorities of NBC ministry as they entered the nineties and dealt with community and personal needs. The church is reaching out to the community and is always sensitive to the needs and the means to share the message of Christ. As the nineties unfolded the NBC Youth Ministries flourished, the worship experience became more contemporary, and administration changes made for a decade of transition into the New Millennium. Small groups are in the development stages and we look forward to the growth they will bring to the church.
NBC is now positioned to enter the future with a new vision for the continued work of the Lord to reach out to the community and serve Him. We want to become known as a family church “where you can belong”. Relationships are given high priority as small groups encourage people to be faithful to God and to each other in their daily walk. Do you see yourself becoming a part of NBC’s present and future history?
Rev. Mark Archibald - Youth and Family Pastor
Mark Archibald joined Nasis Baptist Church as the Youth and Family Pastor in late September of 2002. His first week in New Brunswick, he fell in love with the community and the church in Nashwaaksis.Mark was born in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. He grew up in Bridgewater, living there until he moved to Alberta to attend Prairie Bible College.
Mark graduated from Prairie in 1999 with a Bachelor of Religious Education degree in Youth Work. Upon finishing his studies at Prairie, he attended Tyndale Seminary in Toronto. In 2003, he graduated with his Master of Divinity in Youth and Family studies. It was at Tyndale where Mark met his wife, Valerie. Mark and Val were married on New Year's Eve, 2004.
Mark spent 6 summers working at Teen Ranch, a Christian sports camp in Caledon Ontario. He also spent a few seasons working at Muskoka Woods Sports Resort in Rosseau, Ontario. He loves summer camp and the changes it brings to the lives of children, youth and families. Whenever possible, he brings students from Nasis Baptist Church up to Green Hill Lake Camp, the local camp supported by NBC.
Mark loves coaching basketball and playing basketball (even if he is a little uncoordinated). He enjoys watching sports, the Simpsons, and King of the Hill. But he is most passionate about teaching youth and families the Bible, and giving them opportunities to know God in a very real way.
Rev. Paul Ross - Senior Pastor
Sarah Hoyt - Minister of Music
Sarah Hoyt began her formal Music Ministry at Nasis Baptist Church in September 2009. Sarah moved to Fredericton with her family 13 years ago and began attending NBC at that time. She became involved in a number of ministries over the years and worked as the Christian Education summer student for two consecutive summers.
In 2001, Sarah left Fredericton to attend Providence Bible College in Otterburne, Manitoba where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Ministries and a Certificate in Church Music. While at Providence, she sang in a touring worship team called Aslan's Child where she had the opportunity to record a CD and travel from coast to coast, sang in a professional touring choir and led chapel worship on a weekly basis.
After her studies at Providence Sarah returned home to Fredericton where she married the love of her life, Nathan, in June 2004. Shortly after their marriage, Sarah and Nathan began ministry together at Grace Memorial Baptist Church where Sarah served as the Worship Coordinator for more than four years. While serving at Grace Memorial, Sarah also worked on receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English and then went on to earn her Bachelor of Education from St. Thomas University. She teaches in elementary schools part-time while she ministers at NBC.
Sarah loves spending time with family and friends, reading a great book, and playing the piano. She is very thankful for the incredible opportunities that God has provided for her and can't wait to see what He has in store next!