The Bridge

March 10, 2026August 18, 2025 by Noah Graves

When: 12:30pm on Sunday April 12th, 2026.

Where: YFMB Great Room Feel free to bring the whole family!

Come and learn more about the mission and ministries of MBC while we enjoy some light refreshments. You will be introduced to some of our MBC Staff and Leadership, and have a chance to fellowship and ask questions. Learn how to become more engaged in our ministry and/or join the MBC family. See you then!

Contact Amy Huber for more information.

We look forward to seeing you then!

Our gathering will take place in Fellowship Hall, lower level of the Main Building (Sanctuary), immediately following the 2nd Service.

The Bridge – April 12th

March 10, 2026April 3, 2025 by Noah Graves

The Bridge: Sunday April 12th

When: 12:30pm on Sunday April 12th, 2026.

Where: Great Room, lower level of the Main Building (Sanctuary). Feel free to bring the whole family!

Click HERE for registration

Contact Amy Huber for more information.

We look forward to seeing you then!

Our gathering will take place in Fellowship Hall, lower level of the Main Building (Sanctuary), immediately following the 2nd Service.

Wednesdays in the Word

September 18, 2025August 21, 2023 by Marc DAgusto

A Series of Topical Devotionals on Surrender

Hosted by Oliver Aridi

This Summer Oliver tackled the subject of Surrender. As we look around our world we see we truly need to learn to surrender to Jesus! Jesus desires we be surrendered to Him

Romans 12:2 states: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Come check out our YouTube channel featuring this and other relevant topics.

MBC Communion / Lords Table

February 13, 2024September 19, 2022 by Marc DAgusto

The next Baptism will be:
August 25

Lord’s Table | We practice two ordinances at MBC: Baptism and the Lord’s Table. By participating in these ordinances, Christians proclaim both their individual faith in Christ and our whole congregation proclaims our unity in the Gospel. MBC believes that the Lord’s Supper (Communion) is a commemoration of the Savior’s death, and, through participating, we “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” MBC Articles of Faith, Article XI – To prepare our hearts for the Lord’s Supper we must understand that we are practicing these four things when we come to His table:

We Worship

This ordinance is part of corporate worship, normally on the first Sunday of each month. This is why the Lord’s Table is for believers only. It is an act of the gathered family, the church. Unbelievers may be present, indeed, we welcome them to be present as there is nothing secretive about the Lord’s Supper, it is done in public, but it is the family meal for those who have already professed their faith in Jesus Christ and have come to worship.

We Remember

Human beings are prone to forgetfulness. This is especially true spiritually. Therefore, the mental action of all the participants of the Lord’s Supper is to focus our minds on Jesus, especially remembering his sacrificial and historical work of dying on the cross for our sins. 1 Corinthians 11:24-25 says “Do this in remembrance of me.” At the table we remember.

We Give Thanks

The word “Eucharist” in 1 Corinthians 11:24 means to “give thanks.” We are filled with gratitude at the table because Jesus paid our sin debt and provided for us in abundance all that we need.

We Practice Self-Examination

The Scripture says a person “ought to examine themselves before he or she eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on themselves. (1 Corinthians 11:28-29) It’s important that we come to the table with a clear conscience before God. We come and confess our sins and renew our covenant commitment before God.

For Further Study

Communion is explained in the following key Scriptures: Matthew 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:14-20, 1 Cor 11:23-32.

Check our our informative Mini-Series on the Lords Table

Check out more of our relevant content on our You Tube Channel

Resources to Learn More:

Why is the Lord’s Table so important? (9 Marks ministries)
Guidance for Parents concerning the ordinances document
Four views on the Lord’s supper (Zondervan Counterpoints series)
The Lord’s Supper: Remembering and Proclaiming Christ Until He Comes (New American Commentary Studies in Bible & Theology)
The Jewish background of the Passover (Link to Chosen People Ministries doing Passover talk at MBC)

Questions?

Pastors Bob Erbig & Dave Hentschel

Lead Pastors

Contact Bob & Dave with any questions

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”

- 1 Cor 11:26, ESV)

Playlist - Psalms - August 13 - September 10

Baby Dedications

September 26, 2025July 5, 2022 by Marc DAgusto

The next Baptism will be:
August 25

Let the little Children Come |
At MBC we believe in the importance of building strong families. A key component of this value is raising children to know and love Jesus Christ. In light of this, we encourage parents to take make a public commitment to raise their children in the Lord—this is called a “baby dedication ceremony.”

A baby dedication is a ceremony in which Christian parents make a commitment before the Lord to raise that child according to God’s Word and God’s ways.

This practice may be new to you depending on your church background. Baby dedication is NOT the same as infant baptism. We believe baptism is an individual decision a person makes when they are older and have made a commitment to follow Jesus Christ. For more information, see the BAPTISM page. By contrast, a baby dedication is a commitment by the parents, and an invitation to the larger church family, to help raise their child to follow Jesus. There are several good reasons for this practice.

“Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.

-Deuteronomy 6:4-7, NLT-

3 reasons to Dedicate your children

First

It models the concern and love Jesus had for little children.

As a church, we are people who love babies! We want to care and invest in the littlest and most vulnerable among us. Jesus said this in Matthew 19: “Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”” (Matthew 19:13-14). Baby dedication reflects the love Jesus had for children.

Second

It reminds the church of its calling to be an extended family.

Scripture teaches that the church is our spiritual family and following Jesus is costly (Ephesians 3:14-19; Mark 10:29-30). Parenting is hard work and God gives us an extended spiritual family who can help carry the Load. The church should love and support families in this good work of raising the next generation.

Third

It is an opportunity to share the Gospel with unbelievers.

During a baby dedication, families will often invite relatives to watch this important ceremony. Baby dedication offers an opportunity to share the Gospel message with those who might not yet believe. When asked—why are we dedicating this child? Because we want them to believe the Gospel—Jesus died for our sins, Jesus rose from the dead, and Jesus is coming back. That is the hope for our children!

How does the process work?

If you are interested in taking this important step as a family, the process will work like this:

First, contact one of the pastors about your interest and fill out the baby dedication WORKSHEET.
Second, you then meet with one of the pastors so they can get to know your family and organize a time to have the ceremony.
Third, you will create a video of your family sharing why you want to dedicate your child. You can see an example video below.
Finally, your video will be played during a service on a Sunday morning and you will take part in a short ceremony when you recite vows before the congregation—this is a public commitment to raise your child to know Jesus!

Questions?

Bob Erbig

Lead Pastor: Preaching,
Family Life & Mission

Contact Pastor Bob with any questions

Questions?

Bob Erbig

Lead Pastor: Preaching,
Family Life & Mission

Contact Bob with any questions

Membership

March 6, 2026July 27, 2021 by Marc DAgusto

Next 2-Week Membership Class Begins April 26th @10:30am

2-Part class will be on Sunday April 26th and May 3rd.

Spring 2026 Membership Class Details

Length: 2-week class
Date: Sunday April 26th and May 3rd
Location: Great Room, YFMB
Time: 10:30am

Why Membership

Unlike a social-club membership, where the organization exists to serve the members, church membership is more akin to being in a family, or sports team. Membership at MBC exists as a united group of believers who are counted on in an attempt to fulfill a common purpose of becoming a provider of God’s love and care to others. We are a church not for ourselves, but for others. Members commit to joining a spiritual family that provides encouragement and support to one another. We are called to a higher degree of responsibility, service and sacrifice. Our elders and leaders pledge to assist our members with care, counsel, prayer and teaching.

Is Church Membership Biblical?

We hope that, as the Lord leads, you make a covenant to be part of our church family.

Four Steps to becoming a Member…

If you are interested in becoming a member please read through our four-step process below.

Step One: Membership Class

We want you to make an informed decision about joining our church. We periodically offer a Membership class that explains our values and beliefs and discusses the next steps to joining MBC. All prospective members are invited to attend our Membership class. This is where you will learn about the history and vision of MBC, acquaint yourself with its ministries and opportunities, and dialogue with elders and other congregants on questions you may have about the church or Christian community. This 3-week class will include the following topics: Articles of Faith & Doctrinal Positions, Church Covenant, Vision & Mission Life.

Upon completion, those who attended are able but not obligated to sign up for a membership interview, the second step of the membership process.

For more information on how to become a member please contact the main office at: 908.647.0594 or reach out to MBC’s email.

Step Two: Baptism

Baptism:

For many, baptism is the first public step of obedience to Christ. If you have not been baptized following salvation, we ask you to take this step before becoming a Member.

Step Three: Signing the Covenant

Signing the Covenant

Sign the statement of faith and church covenant, and the application would go to the elders.

Step Four: Meet with an Elder

Meet with an Elder

The final step is for the prospective member meets with an Elder for approximately 45 mins to provide basic biographical information and recount God’s converting work in his or her life.

Questions?

Dave Hentschel

Lead Pastor: Preaching,
Spiritual Formation & Care

Contact Dave with any questions

The Unveiling, Revelation of Jesus Christ

Updates & Connection Opportunities

March 18, 2026March 12, 2020 by Kelly Abrams

Weekly Pastors Video: Every week Pastor Bob and special guest brings you some encouraging truths from the Scriptures , current events and let you know how you can connect. You don’t want to miss this important weekly video delivered right here!

Latest Pastor's Weekly Podcast

Check out our audio only option.

Stay tuned right here for regular updates from Behind The Pulpit.
Here you will find our Pastor’s weekly videos updates and various MBC community opportunities to connect with each other.

Worship

August 29, 2025June 27, 2018 by Marc DAgusto

Worship | Our weekly Sunday service is the heart of our community. Regular shared time together in worship and fellowship unites us in purpose and encourages our shared vision. Dynamic worship and a rotation of teachers stimulates learning while fostering community. Our desire is to foster a joyful experience! We seek to engage the worshiper in a vibrant, interactive, and Spirit-filled encounter unto our Lord and Savior! Our goal is to make our worship time a life transforming experience that creates fertile soil for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that moves us into resounding praise!

Sunday Services and Special Events:

Sunday Morning Services
Holidays
Special Events

Get to know our Worship Director

Would you like to be a part of our Worship Team community?
Let us know by filling out the form below.

Our worship services are intended to nurture a love for God and each other, to encourage personal Renewal, Growth, Connection & Action within our community.

We believe we were made to worship the Triune God of Scripture. We also believe God deserves our best. Our worship and a/v teams have the opportunity to engage and direct our church family through heartfelt, corporate worship music and excellent service execution. Our goal is to glorify God through well-crafted services, high quality visual and media, and a progressive traditional style of music which incorporates both modernized traditional worship music and theologically rich songs chosen from the best of what is written today.

Questions?

John Bonaventura

Director of Worship

Contact John with any questions

Questions?

John Bonaventura

Director of Worship

Contact John with any questions

MBC 2018 Worship Concert

Staff & Leadership

March 26, 2026May 2, 2018 by Marc DAgusto

Staff & Elders

MBC subscribes to the philosophy of shared leadership.
Ministry Directors | Support Staff | Little Footprints Learning Center | Board of Elders

The Pastoral Leadership Team (PLT): MBC subscribes to the philosophy of plurality of leadership. Together, pastors & directors share in the responsibility for leading the day-to-day operations and ministries. Each pastor has specific areas of responsibility and oversight. Together they form a circle of leadership that ensures the mission and policies established by the MBC Elder Board are employed in a way that meets the needs of these areas and recognizes that the spirit of the church is realized when they operate in harmony. This benefits both the pastors and the community.

The Ministry Directors: These spiritually-mature professionals support the church and its leadership by focusing on specific areas of operation. Each of these individuals is guided by the goals of MBC and provides support to the pastoral staff. The biblically-prescribed standards for pastoral leadership give the local church considerable freedom to develop its own model of leadership in order to most effectively reach its community. Various forms, policies and procedures are employed in well governed churches. A church’s history, size, and the stage of development all influence which of the many forms will be the most effective and appropriate for a given organization at a given time.

Meet the MBC Ministry Directors

Bob Erbig
Lead Pastor:
Preaching, Family Life & Mission

Dave Hentschel
Lead Pastor:
Preaching, Spiritual Formation & Care

John Bonaventura
Director of Worship

Johnny Graves
Director of Youth,
Young Adults & Production Ministries

Bob Erbig Bio

Bob is the Lead Pastor for Preaching, Family Life and Mission at Millington Baptist Church in Basking Ridge, NJ and has 20+ years of experience in youth and family ministry, apologetics and executive leadership. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree (English Lit and Theatre) from Eastern University (St. David’s, PA). He went on to earn a Master of Divinity Degree from Denver Seminary (Littleton, CO), where he studied under Dr. Craig Blomberg and Dr. Doug Groothuis. Additionally, he completed a Fellowship through the Colson Center for Christian Worldview and is a Level 1 Certified Biblical Counselor through the Association of Biblical Counselors. His ministry and research interests include marriage and family, apologetics, worldview, culture, ethics and missions as he provides directional leadership for the Underground Sessions ministry at MBC.

Bob is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree in ethics at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and has co-authored three books: A Beautiful Mess, Proverbs: The Way of Wisdom and We Need a King After God’s Heart.

Bob married his beautiful wife, Amanda, in 2014. They have three children: Jenna, Josiah and Zoe. There is nothing more important to him than serving the Lord by loving his wife and raising his children to love and pursue Jesus.

Dave Hentschel Bio

David Hentschel is blessed to serve as the Lead Pastor of Preaching, Spiritual Formation and Care at Millington Baptist Church in Basking Ridge, NJ. Prior to this ministry assignment, he has enjoyed pastoring in other churches in New Jersey and Texas for over 20 years. His background in public speaking and business helps tremendously with leadership and strategic planning and is thrilled to teach the word of God to the people of God for the glory of God. He oversees our Discipleship programs (Small Groups, Adult education, Women’s Ministries, Men’s ministries), as well as our Care ministries (Care Leadership Team, Stephen Ministries, GriefShare).

David Hentschel holds an A.B.S. and a B.S. in Biblical Studies from Cairn University and a Th.M. in Bible Exposition and Pastoral Ministries from Dallas Theological Seminary. His areas of interest are in Historical and Theological studies.

He and his wife Juli enjoy three daughters and a son-in-law. Some of his favorite activities include reading, spending time with his family and playing basketball.

John Bonaventura Bio

John Bonaventura has been ecstatically married to Callen Bonaventura, a godly & gifted woman, since 2008. Callen is truly John’s best friend. John & Callen have a blessedly full quiver of 5 wonderful children: Aslan, Luna , Jude, Samuel, and Skylar. The Bonaventura family has been attending MBC since 2019 and became members in 2020. They are so thankful to have joined a church that prioritizes believing, preaching, and applying God’s Word. While John has a full-time career in sales, it has been an honor for him to also serve as part-time Director of Worship Music at MBC since 2021.
John was raised in a Bible believing home and has a long history with church music. As a child, he developed an affinity for sacred, traditional harmony and an appreciation for music composition, nurtured by piano lessons. At the age of 14, John began to teach himself electric guitar.
Although John was saved and baptized at a young age, he fell in love with the Lord at around age 27. This was when John learned to be a worshipper first and a musician second. Since then, John has had a hunger for God’s Word, a deep longing to know God, and a desire to see others experience the same grace that he has received.
John embraces a broad spectrum of contemporary musical styles and sounds, using them reverently in a progressive-traditional worship style. The Lord has used all these experiences in John’s life to produce a true heart for worshipping God, and it is his joy to worship The Lord Jesus Christ together with MBC.

Johnny Graves Bio

Johnny Graves is the Director of Youth, Young Adults and Production Ministries here at Millington Baptist Church since 2016. He was raised here at MBC by his parents where his loved for the Lord began and his life of following Jesus. He grew up in the area before he went off to college at Liberty University to study Biblical Studies (BA). Johnny is also a local high school coach/teacher at Watchung Hills Regional High School where he coaches Soccer and Volleyball. Johnny is blessed to be married to his wife Shannon, whom he is raising with his 4 children Bennett, Macie, Judah and Caiden.

Rachel Rickershauser
Co-Director of Children’s Ministries

Lenore Tosi
Co-Director of Children’s Ministries

Amy Huber
Director of Discipleship and Connections

Noah Graves
Director of Operations & Ministry Communications

Rachel Rickershauser Bio

Rachel Rickershauser serves as the Co-Director of Children’s Ministry at Millington Baptist Church, overseeing the elementary classes for 1st through 6th graders. She stepped into this role in 2024 after nearly eight years as the Director of Children’s Ministries, continuing her long-standing commitment to helping kids know and love Jesus.

Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Pre-Counseling from Moody Bible Institute. During her time at Moody, she served in an after-school program for children in inner-city Chicago and continued on to work at a Christian school with preschoolers. Both were formative experiences that deepened her passion for teaching kids about Jesus at a young age.

Above all, Rachel’s greatest desire is to see children grow closer to Jesus. To support that goal, she is passionate about equipping both parents and teachers to disciple kids in their faith—parents at home, and teachers at church. She also loves planning meaningful events for families and kids (such as our Hare-Raising Egg Party and VBS), supporting parents, and partnering with teachers to create a Sunday experience where kids feel welcomed, engaged, and excited to learn and grow in their faith.

Lenore Tosi Bio

Lenore Tosi serves as Co-Director of Children’s Ministry at Millington Baptist Church, focusing on nursery and preschool-aged children. With a BA in Business Administration from Lycoming College and a background in music, Lenore combines creativity and organization to create a loving, Christ-centered environment for young children.

Before stepping into full-time ministry, Lenore worked in the corporate world and later brought her leadership skills into the church setting. She has over 18 years of experience serving children and families—as a longtime Music Camp Director, Children’s Ministry Assistant, and Interim Children’s Director. She has also volunteered in VBS, Brio, HisKids, Women’s Ministry, and the Worship Team. She has been in her current role since 2024.

As a mother of three adult children, Lenore has walked through every stage of parenting, which has greatly deepened her understanding of early childhood development and the unique needs of young families. She has a heart for encouraging young moms and supporting parents during the early years.

Lenore brings strong organizational and leadership skills to her role, coordinating volunteers, planning curriculum, and managing resources to keep ministry programs running smoothly. Her mission is to help every child feel loved, valued, and excited to learn about Jesus and to partner with parents in laying a strong foundation of faith.

Amy Huber Bio

Amy Huber currently serves as the Director of Discipleship and Connections at Millington Baptist Church in Basking Ridge, NJ. Prior to this ministry assignment, Amy has enjoyed serving in biblical higher education at Pillar College for the past 20 years, most recently in the role of Vice President of Academic Affairs. Amy also currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the Association for Biblical Higher Education. Her experiences in higher education leadership, student engagement, and program development coupled with her passion for spiritual formation and cultivating a sense of community align with her new role and she is thrilled to join the MBC team this January. Amy holds a B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Tech, a Master of Education from Liberty University, and is a Doctor of Education (Candidate) at Bethel University. Amy and her husband, Warren, have been married for 23 years. Amy loves spending time outdoors at the shore, hiking, gardening, playing pickleball, and creating wire tree sculptures.

Noah Graves Bio

Noah Graves serves as the Director of Operations & Ministry Communications at Millington Baptist Church. Noah has gone to Millington his whole life and has always been apart of the church. He graduated from Ridge High School and completed his undergraduate residentially at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia with a degree in Business Administration. Noah recently completed his Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies degree through Liberty University Online. When Noah isn’t working at MBC you’ll find him on the Pickleball courts or spending time with his nieces and nephews!

Support Staff

Kristie Gall
Administrative and Financial Manager

Tim Youtkus
Production & Outreach Manager

Laura Garcell
Office Assistant

Deb Graisser
Office Assistant

Kristie Gall Bio

Currently serving as the Administrative and Financial Manager at MBC, I’ve worn many hats over the past two years—ranging from Office Manager to Facilities Manager, and acting as an all-around right hand to the team wherever I’m needed. An ongoing project I’m working on includes creating an interactive administrative calendar of events and campus activities, which also encompasses coordinating property maintenance across all three campus buildings and five private homes. Before joining MBC, I spent 18 years working in our family-owned automotive business, where I managed everything from payroll and parts ordering to service writing and the occasional diagnostic call. My background is rooted in hands-on experience rather than formal education, providing me with a practical, real-world understanding of business operations. I’m especially strong in time management, with a talent for prioritizing and organizing multiple projects simultaneously. When I’m not working, my favorite way to recharge is spending time with my family—usually gathered around a big meal and a card game. And if we’re extra blessed, you’ll find us soaking in the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Tim Youtkus Bio

Tim is the Production Manager at Millington Baptist Church in Basking Ridge, NJ.
He is a graduate of Ridge High School in Basking Ridge and also spent time at Manhattan College in the Bronx, where he studied Elementary Education, Sports Media, and Psychology.
Tim has a passion for production, outreach, and youth ministry. He is the co-founder of the current Band of Brothers ministry at MBC and also serves as a youth leader. He oversees live services, creates content, and produces the MBC Unhindered podcast network—which includes three distinct shows designed to equip listeners at the intersection of faith, culture, and real-life discipleship.
Tim is currently pursuing the Colson Fellows Program, a rigorous Christian worldview training course designed to help leaders live and lead faithfully in today’s culture.
He is married to his beautiful wife, Nicole. They were married in May of 2024, and Tim would tell you his favorite moments are the ones spent with her.

Laura Garcell Bio

Laura has been a valued member of Millington Baptist Church for over 40 years. Throughout that time, she has served in numerous roles, including helping to launch the Shared Interest Groups, supporting the office staff as needed, and embracing her role as the church’s unofficial organizer. She is excited to join the MBC team in an official office capacity and looks forward to continuing her service alongside the staff.

Deb Graisser Bio

Deb first visited MBC in 2022 and quickly dived in becoming a member in the beginning of 2023. She enjoys being with children which led her to serve in various roles with Children’s Ministry. Outside of MBC you can find her volunteering with other organizations such as Feeding Hands and Lord Stirling Stables. Her previous background is in office administration working for Bell Laboratories and Summit YMCA. She has two adult children, 2 daughters, one living in Seattle, WA and one here in Basking Ridge. She looks forward to becoming an asset to the staff and serving our members.

John Bonaventura
Director of Worship

Kamilla Dening
Coordinator of Middle
School Ministries

Noah Graves
Executive Assistant to the Pastoral Leadership Team

Ron Niessen
Audio/Video Support

Dave Rzewnicki
Facilities Manager

Lenore Tosi
MBC Kids Ministry Assistant

Sue Turner
Financial & Donor Relations Manager

Heather Wenzel
Communications & Information Manager

Little Footprints
Learning Center

Please visit www.littlefootprintsnj.com for information
about programming and enrollment.

Elder Board – Email us at elders@millingtonbaptist.org.

Tom DiProspero

Chris Dowden

*Pastor Bob Erbig

Hector Garcell

(Secretary)

*Pastor Dave Hentschel

Darren Hernandez (Chair)

Ken Huber (Vice Chair)

John McCarthy (Treasurer)

Ricardo Mendes

Harish Radha

Rick Splinter

Andrew Strain

Paul Wilford

* Pastoral Leadership Team members are ex-officio, non-voting members of the MBC Elder board.

Questions?

Dave Hentschel

Lead Pastor: Preaching,
Spiritual Formation & Care

Contact Dave with any questions

Questions?

Dave Hentschel

Lead Pastor: Preaching,
Spiritual Formation & Care

Contact Dave with any questions

Sunday service preaching rotation:

Our weekly Sunday service is the heart of our community. Regular shared time together in worship and fellowship unites us in purpose and encourages our shared vision. Dynamic worship and a rotation of teachers stimulates learning while fostering community.

Pastor Bob Erbig
Pastor Dave Hentschel

about us

October 7, 2025March 21, 2018 by Marc DAgusto

Firmly Planted, Growing Together, Made to Multiply

Welcome to MBC!
If you consider yourself new here, we would love to get to know you and help you get acquainted with our community. Just click the link below and fill out a Connection Form.

Our History

Millington Baptist Church was formed in 1851 by members of the Mt. Bethel Baptist Church in Warren, NJ who were released for this purpose.

During the fall of 1850 and the spring of 1851 the church at Mt. Bethel, under the pastoral care of the Rev. E. C. Ambler, was blessed with the most extensive revival ever known in this area. A general spiritual reawakening swept the entire countryside. Whole families were brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and it was to accommodate these people in the Liberty Corner-Millington area that the desire to start an independent church was born. Some of the members of the Mt. Bethel Church met at the Pleasant Valley School (located near the present Veterans Administration property) on May 2, 1851. At that time it was decided to organize a new Baptist Church. On May 4th, the Mt. Bethel Church gave a letter of dismissal to 80 of its members to form a new church. On May 20th, the new church was organized and adopted Articles of Faith (New Hampshire Confession) and a Church Covenant. On May 21st, the Council of Recognition met with representatives of Baptist Churches from the area of New Brunswick to Morristown. On May 24th, the members adopted “Rules of Order” and “Articles of Discipline”.

After consideration of several sites, it was decided to erect a House of Worship “at the Junction of the new road”. Until the completion of the new church edifice on September 29, 1852, meetings were held in the Pleasant Valley School House.

After several expansion programs over the years it was decided that a new sanctuary must be built. On March 3, 1974, a new building was dedicated to the glory of God.

In the late 1990s, a strategic focus was placed on the ministry to reach the next generation, eventually this was called “Liquid.” By the year 2007, the ministry had grown so exponentially, that MBC sent out many of its members and one of its pastors to officially plant Liquid Church, still a thriving ministry throughout many parts of NJ today.

During this same time the MBC missions program expanded and began a strategic partnership in Senegal. In 2011, another exciting construction project, the Youth and Family ministries building was completed and in 2015-16, the education building and the sanctuary underwent renovations.

Since its original eighty members in 1851, Millington Baptist Church has remained faithful to the call to preach the gospel and to make disciples. We have remained a constant presence in our community; and we have enjoyed God work through strategic missionary partnerships across the globe.

The focus of our history is not about the successes of any particular church or individual. Rather, it is about the triumph of the one true God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who is building His church. On the great, wide stage of the drama of human redemption, MBC has been privileged to play a small role.

May the Lord of all history continue to find us faithful to His call and use us for His purposes in the future. Millington Baptist Church was founded by God fearing people, and through the years the proclamation of the Gospel has been carried on by their successors. “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life.” I John 5:11-12 (NIV).

Our Affiliations

We are affiliated with the Venture Church Network. Formerly known as the Conservative Baptist Association of America (CBA), we continue to embrace our historical heritage that took risks to move away from endangering the good news of Jesus Christ! And like a ship that is built for dangers of the ocean and not the safety of the harbor, so that gospel message, while needing a safe harbor of biblical truth, is intended to be propagated throughout the world, no matter the risks. Today, we continue to embrace our ethos of taking risks for the sake of the gospel by helping every church take bold next steps to advance Gospel-centered transformational churches in every community we touch.

Our values and beliefs

About us

Pull up a chair and take a seat at our MBC family table as we collectively aspire to be firmly planted in the word of God, growing together to create a vibrant caring community and always seeking to multiply the Kingdom of God. MBC is a multi-generational, family-friendly community, focused on an authentic, unwavering commitment to God’s word, each other, and the neighborhood around us. We are committed to making a difference by empowering people to embrace God’s missional mandate to love and serve our neighbors around the corner and throughout the world.

With the Lord’s leading, MBC is steadfast in our pursuit for growth and renewal. We continue to journey together to fulfill the vision of hope that has been revealed to us. This is a great time to be part of this church. If we, as a community, truly embrace the idea that we are the called out people of God (1 Pet 2:9) then we must accept that we are called to live in greatness. If we are living this out then it will be evident both inside and outside of the MBC walls.

As a community living in hope, our mission is to be more inclusive – openly welcoming people from any place or walk of life – and united in the campaign to pursue a multi-generational, family-centered body. There is much to look forward to. Journey with us.

Our Mission & Vision

OUR MISSION | Our church exists to bring glory to God through lives transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

OUR VISION | We envision a church full of Jesus-followers who are Firmly Planted, Growing Together, and Made to Multiply.

Priorities: Planted, Growing, Multiplying

Firmly Planted | Together we seek to dig deep into the word of God, to come alive and rekindle the wonder of life we are promised. We desire to see 100% of members and regular attenders ENGAGED in one or more of our varied and vibrant spiritual growth or service ministries.

Growing Together | To be the people we are called to be we cultivate a welcoming and compelling environment where new guests will be EMBRACED as family by communicating and leading them through a pathway of deeper connection.

Made to Multiply | Young families will be the fastest-growing segment of our church body with a special focus on OUTREACH to the local community.

MBC Values

1. Gospel Centered | We believe the Gospel is the core of everything. God has given everything for us so we are called to give everything for Him. Therefore, we respond to His great love by extending grace to everyone and giving Him first place in our lives. (Rom 5:1, 12:1-2; Gal 2:20, 3:1-4, 5:1-15; Eph 2:1-10)

2. Biblically Grounded & Culturally Relevant | We engage the culture AND remain doctrinally pure. This is our calling: to contextualize the timeless message of the Gospel for our generation. (1 Corinthians 9:19–23; Act 17:16-34; 2 Tim 3:16-17).

3. Passion for the Mission of God Locally & Globally | We desire to reach our world and love our neighbor. (Matt 28:18-20; Luke 10:25-37; Gen 12:1-3). We also believe the church should reflect the diversity of its community, ethnically and
demographically. (Eph 2:11-22)

4. Intentional Spiritual Formation | We pursue deliberate discipleship while being dependent upon God for true spiritual formation. Growth is slow and non-linear where the Spirit of God shapes us into the image of Jesus. (1 Thes 5:23-24; 2 Pt 3:18)

5. Authentic Community | We strive to be
merciful and accepting. We also don’t shy away from hard conversations that may hold each other accountable. We believe it’s OK not to be OK, it’s just not OK to stay there. (Heb 10:19-25; Eph 3:14-21)

6. Servant-Leaders | We believe a fully engaged follower of Christ is a servant-leader (Mark 10:35-45). Every member is a minister. Every Christian has been given spiritual gifts to be discovered, developed, and deployed. (Eph 4:1-16)

7. Strong Families | We want to build strong families and be a place of restoration, care and support for those without a family. In a world where we have seen the breakdown of the family impact our society in negative ways, we believe in the importance of resourcing and building strong families with intentional support for both healthy marriages and godly parenting. (Eph 5:21-6:3; Prov 22:6)

Articles of Faith

1. We believe that the Bible, composed of the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God, is inerrant in the original manuscripts, and is the supreme and final authority in life and faith.

2. We believe in one eternal God existing equally in three eternal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

3. We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, that He is true God and true Man, and that He is the only and sufficient Mediator between God and man.

4. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the divine person given by God to indwell and equip every believer to glorify Christ.

5. We believe that Satan is a created, fallen spiritual being, the unholy god of this age, the author of sin, and destined to judgment in the lake of fire.

6. We believe that man was created in the image of God but sinned and thereby incurred spiritual death, which is separation from God. Therefore, all mankind is born with a sinful nature in need of regeneration.

7. We believe that Jesus died in our place for our sins, that He arose from the grave and ascended into heaven, and that he will return personally and visibly to earth.

8. We believe that the gift of salvation is offered by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, not by man’s works, and that this salvation gives the believer direct access to God.

9. We believe that all who have trusted in Christ as Savior and Lord are guaranteed their salvation by God from the moment they trust in Him.

10. We believe that those who trust in Christ should be baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe that baptism depicts the essential facts of redemption: the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. We believe that baptism also symbolizes what is true in the lives of those who have trusted in Christ: they are dead to sin and alive to Christ.

11. We believe that the Lord’s Supper (Communion) is a commemoration of the Savior’s death, and, through participating, we “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

12. We believe that the church (local) is comprised of believers in Christ who are joined together for the glory of God through worship, instruction, evangelism, service, and fellowship. Christ’s charge to the church is to make disciples around the world

About us

Our Mission & Vision

OUR MISSION | Our church exists to bring glory to God through lives transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

OUR VISION | God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, as an act of profound love. Building from this, we envision a Christ-centered caring community devoted to cultivating a life rooted in Christ, one that is always growing in faith, and bears the fruit in the Spirit. With inter-generational relationships, nurturing intentional spiritual formation, and sowing unprecedented compassion on our community and world. We envision a church full of Jesus-followers who are Firmly Planted, Growing Together, and Made to Multiply.

Priorities: Planted, Growing, Multiplying

Made to Multiply | Young families will be the fastest-growing segment of our church body with a special focus on OUTREACH to the local community.

MBC Values

Articles of Faith

2. We believe in one eternal God existing equally in three eternal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

3. We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, that He is true God and true Man, and that He is the only and sufficient Mediator between God and man.

4. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the divine person given by God to indwell and equip every believer to glorify Christ.

5. We believe that Satan is a created, fallen spiritual being, the unholy god of this age, the author of sin, and destined to judgment in the lake of fire.

7. We believe that Jesus died in our place for our sins, that He arose from the grave and ascended into heaven, and that he will return personally and visibly to earth.

9. We believe that all who have trusted in Christ as Savior and Lord are guaranteed their salvation by God from the moment they trust in Him.

11. We believe that the Lord’s Supper (Communion) is a commemoration of the Savior’s death, and, through participating, we “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

About us

Pull up a chair and take a seat at our MBC family table as we collectively aspire to glorify God and explore what it truly means to share a seat at His table. MBC is a multi-generational, family-friendly community, focused on an authentic, unwavering commitment to God’s word, each other, and the neighborhood around us. We are committed to making a difference by empowering people to embrace God’s missional mandate to love and serve our neighbors around the corner and throughout the world.

Our Mission & Vision

OUR MISSION | Our church exists to bring glory to God through lives transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

OUR VISION | God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, as an act of profound love to secure us a seat at His table. We embrace others by passionately proclaiming and sacrificially demonstrating the gospel. We envision a Christ-centered community filled with inter-generational relationships, exemplifying intentional spiritual formation, and unleashing unprecedented compassion on our community and world.

Vision: Priorities: Renew, Grow, Connect, Act

RENEW | Together we seek to renew, to come alive and rekindle the wonder of life and God, and to be the people we are called to be. more…

GROW | We desire to see 100% of members and regular attenders ENGAGED in one or more of our varied and vibrant spiritual growth or service ministries. more…

CONNECT | We cultivate a welcoming and compelling environment where new guests will be EMBRACED as family by communicating and leading them through a pathway of deeper connection. more…

ACT | Young families will be the fastest growing segment of our church body with a special focus on OUTREACH to the local community. more…

Vision: Values

Articles of Faith

2. We believe in one eternal God existing equally in three eternal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

3. We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, that He is true God and true Man, and that He is the only and sufficient Mediator between God and man.

4. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the divine person given by God to indwell and equip every believer to glorify Christ.

5. We believe that Satan is a created, fallen spiritual being, the unholy god of this age, the author of sin, and destined to judgment in the lake of fire.

7. We believe that Jesus died in our place for our sins, that He arose from the grave and ascended into heaven, and that he will return personally and visibly to earth.

9. We believe that all who have trusted in Christ as Savior and Lord are guaranteed their salvation by God from the moment they trust in Him.

11. We believe that the Lord’s Supper (Communion) is a commemoration of the Savior’s death, and, through participating, we “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

REMEMBER

“We must, with God’s help, learn to cling to that rare
and wonderful thing called hope. Otherwise, we are destined for despair…”
– Lee Strobel

King Solomon wrote:
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” (Prov 13:12)

A Call to Live in Hope

Let Hope In | The writer of Hebrews tells us faith is the “assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (11:1). At times, biblically speaking, faith and hope are used interchangeably – if we have faith then our hope, both in this life and the next, is assured. Faith provides substance to our ultimate hope – even if we can’t see it yet. Our longing for meaning, acceptance, purpose, connection, passion, and salvation is grounded in love; and when we put our faith in God’s great act of love – it breeds hope. This love was initiated by the birth of a baby in a stable, achieved through a bloody sacrifice on a cross, and ultimately realized when something supernatural happened in history…someone came back from the dead. This gives flesh to our hope.

Hope grows faith, builds community, and nurtures restoration. Just as the brokenness of Saul was transformed by the assurance of Christ, all of our brokenness can be healed by the same promise (Acts 9). Sharing this will unite us as family and make the richness of our lives expansive and contagious. This cannot be completed in isolation.

MBC believes that the hope of the Gospel compels us to reach beyond ourselves and guides us on our journey of life and faith together in harmony and charity. This odyssey broadens our understanding and unifies us as a Christ centered family.

Our enduring growth as a body is dependent upon each of us embracing our assured future and sharing it with those around us.

Will you join together with us to let hope in?

“Hope is the
inextinguishable
flicker God ignites in our souls to keep us believing in the
prevailing power of
his light even when we are surrounded by utter darkness.”
– Lee Strobel

WHERE WE FIND & PLACE OUR HOPE |

In our God: Our hope has impact only when we anchor it in the One who has real power, the One who has a genuine desire to help and the ability to fulfill the promises made. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet1:3)

For ourselves: From the beginning God said it is not good for the man to be alone (Gen 2:18). We, in turn should follow and join together in order to grow.

For our neighbors: We desire to foster sincere life-changing relationships: to reach out and walk alongside others, welcoming them into our homes and embracing them as part of our inner family lives.

Guided

BY HOPE

RENEW	We are called to revitalize our community and make it come alive, rekindle the wonder of life and god, and to empathize with each other.

GROW	Together we will cultivate the fertile soil for inward, outward, and upward growth. We will broaden and deepen our understanding of God and each other.

CONNECT	We will broaden and deepen our understanding of God and each other. We will share and become a part of each other’s stories.

ACT	We will see the advent of family and fellowship on mission at MBC. We will collectively and intentionally move to care for windows, the poor, outsiders, and those hurting in the community to help bring them to wholeness. To help “give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.” (Isaiah 61:3)