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Lathrop First Christian Church
Bringing Christ to the Community
and the Community to Christ!
Pastor - Scott Archdekin
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Pastor Scott was born and raised in rural Northwest Missouri. After graduating high school he worked in a factory for four years before joining the United States Army where he served for eight years. After leaving active duty, he was called to full-time ministry, earning a B.S. in Biblical Leadership from Manhattan Christian College and a Master of Divinity from Abilene Christian University. He is currently working towards a Doctorate in Ministry (D.Min). He has worked with a poverty outreach center in Ogden, KS and this is his second Lead Pastor position, the first being at the First Christian Church in Colorado City, TX. He is married to his wife Tammy and they have two daughters, Alexa and Aurora.
Pastor Scott does have a statement of faith, in which his preaching and teaching are in agreement with. In brief: He believes in the inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture as they are given to us by God, for us to know him. God is the creator of all things. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus is both fully God in his divinity and fully man in his humanity. Salvation comes only through faith in him, that he lived a perfect life and died as a substitution for those who put their faith in his work on the cross, not their own works. Every believer is indwelled with and being transformed by the Holy Spirit. He believes in both Heaven and Hell and your decisions on this earth has eternal consequences. When it comes to baptism, he preaches and conducts what he sees as the biblical norm, which is Believer's Baptism by immersion. He also sees a very close connection between faith and baptism, that they are nearly inseparable. If you have faith, you will be baptized. Having faith and being baptized is not the end, but the beginning of a journey growing closer to God and allowing the Holy Spirit to shape you more and more like Christ.
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Music Director - Carmen Bennett
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Carmen started as the contemporary service music leader in September 1998. About 9 years later, she took over as the Music director of First Christian Church and has been doing it ever since. Before coming to FCC, Carmen served at the First Baptist Church in Plattsburg. Carmen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Vocal Music education, Vocal Performance and Church Music from William Jewell College in Liberty. Carmen has been employed with the Lathrop School District for the past 12 years as the 6-12 vocal music teacher. Carmen was raised on a farm outside of Lathrop and is a graduate of Lathrop High School. Carmen resides in Lathrop and has three grown children.
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Organist - Mary Hopkins
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Mary is a graduate of both Chillicothe High School and the University of Central Missouri where she earned her degree in Math and Business. She went on to teach middle and high school for 25 years, retiring in 2017. Mary loves music and has played the piano for 53 years, saxophone for 50 years, hand-bells for 6 years, and currently is learning how to play the Dulcimer. She started playing the Organ for the church in January 2019.
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Our Leadership Team
Our Elders are the Spiritual Leaders of the Church. Our Deacons are the servants of the Church. These two groups come together and form the Church Board that handle the "business" side of the church and ensure that we are continuing to carry out our motto, "Taking Christ to the Community; Bringing the Community to Christ."
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