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Rick Oliver- Senior Pastor Rick began attending and serving at Portage Avenue Baptist Church in 1980. He has served as youth leader, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, trustee, school administrator, biblical counselor, assistant pastor, and senior pastor. He has been married to his wife Donna since February 1981. They have three children, Jeremy, Jonathan, and Amy.
Rick was born and raised in Northwest Indiana and came to know Christ at the age of 11. Rick greatly grew under the leadership and training of Pastor Joe Gerard, which eventually led him to full-time ministry.
Rick retired from U.S. Steel with 31 years in 2002. During the time he worked there, Rick received his academic and ministry training from many sources. He was taught by Joe Gerard in many areas of ministry, took night classes at Moody Bible Institute, and received Biblical counseling training from Faith Counseling Ministries in Lafayette, IN. Rick is continuing training in ministry and theology through online classes. | |
|  Bob Blair- Associate Pastor Bob has served Portage Avenue Baptist Church since October 1988. He has served as the youth and assistant pastor. He has been married to his wife Lisa since February 1989.
Bob was born and raised in Orland Park, Illinois, and came to know Christ at the age of 19. It was at his first church, Oak Forest Baptist Temple, where he gave his life to Christ, and was eventually ordained in August of 1987.
Bob graduated from bible college in 1984 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Pastoral Theology, and in 1987 a Master of Theology. Bob also received biblical counseling training through Faith Counseling Ministries in Lafayette, IN.
Visit him online by way of his blog.
| | Jeremy Oliver- Intern Pastor
Jeremy grew up at Portage Avenue Baptist Church. He has served as a deacon, worked in the Word of Life teen club, and currently is a pastoral intern. He has been married to his wife Jen since November 2006.
Jeremy was born and raised in Portage, IN and came to know Christ at the age of 4. Jeremy grew up in a Christian home and has attended Portage Avenue Baptist Church nearly all his life.
Jeremy graduated from Indiana University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in history. He then graduated from Valparaiso University in 2005 with a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies concentrated in history. Jeremy currently pursuing a Master of Divinity from Faith Bible Seminary and completing certification in biblical counseling from the National Association of Biblical Counselors.
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