Brian Coffey

Senior Pastor

Responsibilities

Preaching, leadership, pastoral care

Background

I grew up as the oldest of three sons in a pastor's home. My father served (and still serves) as a pastor in the Christian and Missionary Alliance. We lived in Louisville, Ky.; Akron, Ohio; and, for most of my boyhood, in Armonk, N.Y.

I attended Davidson College in North Carolina on a basketball scholarship where I graduated with a degree in Psychology in 1978. After playing basketball semi-professionally in Europe (where I received a call into full-time ministry) I returned to the States and enrolled at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. After completing a degree in Biblical Literature, I also earned an M.A. in Counseling Psychology at nearby Ball State University in 1981.

The next step was studying for my M.Div. at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, IL, while I served as part time Youth Pastor at Glen Elyn Bible Church. Lorene and I were married in 1985 and immediately left to serve a six-month term as teaching missionaries in Bolivia, South America.

Upon returning, I was called to the position of Youth Pastor at FBCG in 1986. I served in that capacity for 7 1/2 years (which included earning my D.Min. degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in 1991), then was called as Senior Pastor in the spring of 1994.

I am the author of Splendor in the Ordinary (1993) and three books in the "Quick & Easy Guide" series: Guide to Bible Prophecy (1999), Guide to the Life of Jesus and Guide to the Bible  - all published by Tyndale House Publishers. I was also a contributing writer on two study Bible projects - the TouchPoint Bible and the Rock Study Bible for teens. 

Family

My wife, Lorene, and I have four sons: Jordan (born 1990), Jesse (1992), Micah (1995) and Canaan (1997).

Ministry Vision

With God's help, I want to lead a church that is a beacon of hope to our region; a church willing to do whatever it takes to join God in His redemptive work in the Fox Valley and the world.

Ministry Philosophy

I believe the church of Jesus Christ is to be a place to believe, belong and become; where all people matter to God; where all people are welcomed and loved, where all are invited to share in the good news of salvation and to grow into fully devoted disciples for Jesus Christ.

Greatest Satisfactions

My greatest satisfactions come in the experience of God in worship; leading someone into a relationship with Christ; hearing stories of people who have received Christ as Savior and Lord through FBCG ministries; seeing people grow in the joy of serving Christ through their spiritual gifts.

Greatest Challenges

Working with our leadership in envisioning the future facility needs that will serve the vision of FBCG.

Contact: Brian Coffey, 630.232.7068

Books by Pastor Brian