Matt Morrell

Senior Pastor  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Matt was raised in a pastor's home and graduated from Northland International University in 1998. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Central Baptist Theological Seminary in 2002 and his Doctor of Ministry from Northland International University in 2010. During his seminary years, he served as the assistant pastor at Chisago Lakes Baptist Church in Chisago City, MN. In 2002, Matt became interim pastor at Chisago Lakes Baptist, becoming senior pastor after 10 months. He served there until May 2008, when he was called to Fourth Baptist Church. Matt and his wife, Kim, have five young children.

Matt has spoken and taught in multiple venues at home and overseas, including ministry at Central Baptist Seminary's Romanian campus and at Faith Baptist Bible College in Cochin, India.

Sam Horn

Pastor of Mentoring and Ministerial Training  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dr. Sam Horn was raised in Texas and met his wife, Beth, while they were students at Bob Jones University where he earned his BA, MA, and PhD degrees in New Testament Exegesis. Sam also earned a DMin degree from The Master’s Seminary. Sam and Beth have two children, Robert and Ashton. Dr. Horn is especially burdened for and committed to discipleship, mentoring, and developing servant-leaders.

Roger Kilian

Pastor of Music and Administration  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Roger has served at Fourth Baptist Church since 1988. He oversees the music ministry, planning and coordinating of services, as well as administration of church events and programs, including the semi-annual Musicales, Missions Conference, and other special services. Roger is a graduate of Baptist Bible College of Pennsylvania and has been married to Carol for over 40 years. They have three adult children and five grandchildren.

Ken Thompson

Pastor of Student Ministries  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Ken Thompson grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. Ken’s parents were saved later in life and did not regularly attend any church until Ken was a teen. When Ken was 13 years old, his father passed away. Ken was saved a year later. He graduated from Bob Jones University in 2004 with a Bible degree and then began work on his MDiv degree while employed at Bob Jones as a residence hall counselor. After serving as a youth pastor in the Orlando area for two years, Ken joined the program staff at The Wilds Christian Camp and served there for 4 years. Ken and his wife Megan are the parents of two small girls, Olivia and Ella. 

Jim McLeish

Pastor of Golden Agers  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A graduate of Pillsbury Baptist Bible College and Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Jim gained experience working with the Fourth Baptist youth during his seminary years. Following his graduation from Central Seminary, he planted a church in Alexandria, MN and served as pastor there for over 25 years. In addition to his ministry with the Fourth Baptist Golden Agers, Jim also serves as director for the Minnesota chapter of Baptists for Life. Jim and his wife, Terry, have five children and one granddaughter.

Gary Blessman

Business Administrator  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Gary graduated from the University of Southern Colorado with a degree in accounting, and from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Masters in Church Administration. He passed his C.P.A. exam in 1987.  Gary was the bursar at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and the controller at Mount Senario College before joining the staff at Fourth Baptist Church in November of 2000. He also served in various pastoral roles during this time. Gary is married to Susan and they have three grown sons.

Alan Hodak

School Administrator  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Alan has 23 years of experience as a Christian School teacher and administrator in Arizona, Michigan, and Minnesota. He has a Masters Degree as well as certifications and endorsements with the American Association of Christian Schools (AACS) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Alan also has pastoral, teaching, coaching, and business experience. Alan and his wife, Allyson, have five daughters.

Student Pastoral Interns

Central Seminary students, Grant Bird and Aaron Browning, will serve as pastoral interns this year in partial fulfillment of the requirements of their education at Central Seminary. This internship affords them opportunities to observe and serve in various areas of our ministry and be mentored by the pastoral staff, shaping and preparing them for the ministry the Lord has for them. We are privileged as a church to participate in their preparation for ministry by encouraging them as they prepare and serve.