First Baptist Church
El Paso, IL
(309)-527-2000
198 N Cherry St. El Paso, IL 61738
Russell Zehr has been serving at First Baptist of El Paso since 2010. He has always been involved in church life and is a life-long American Baptist. He graduated with his Master of Divinity degree from Northern Seminary in June of 2018. He holds a music business degree from Bradley University and is employed as a customer service representative for The Music Shoppe in Normal. Russ is also an accomplished saxophonist and plays in the Illinois Saxophone Quintet. He is a regular performer with the Pontiac Municipal Band and Pekin Park District Concert Band. Russ is passionate about Christian discipleship with particular emphasis in worship. He aims to incorporate diverse forms of worship that come from the historic Baptist tradition in addition to other Christian traditions. He continually uses music and preaching to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ!
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Russell Zehr
Interim Pastor
Lindsay Zhu has been serving at First Baptist Church (FBC) of El Paso since 2017. She graduated from Sioux Falls Seminary (Sioux Falls, SD) with a Master of Divinity degree in June 2017. After graduation, Lindsay started the internship in FBC El Paso and was ordained as a minister by FBC El Paso through American Baptist Churches USA in 2018. In order to have training and experience for pastoral care, she participated the CPE program at Carle BroMenn Medical Center as a Chaplain Intern. Lindsay enjoy serving people and witnessing their transformations after knowing the Lord by His grace and guidance.
Lindsay Zhu
​ Associate Pastor
Lucas Dahmm is a Music Education student in both the piano and trombone studios at Illinois State University. The son of two musicians, he started his musical journey at a young age. In the fourth grade, he joined the Chimes of Glory hand-chime choir at Wesley United Methodist Church in Bloomington, IL, the first of many ensembles through which he has led worship through musical performance. Lucas graduated from Bloomington High School in 2019 after performing in marching band, wind symphony, and several theatrical productions at BHS along with several vocal and bell choirs and youth worship teams at Wesley. He loves to worship God through music and feels His presence best when worshiping.