Pastor Abe Cardosa graduated from undergraduate studies at Grand Rapids Baptist College and Seminary. He continued graduate studies at Baptist Seminary, Grand Rapids; he received his Master's of Divinity in 1983.

     Ministry experience began in the pastorate in 1977. He has served as pastor to three churches and is currently in his 14th year at First Baptist of Anoka.

    He personally accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in July of 1973. He and his wife have a 23 year old son, Michael David.
 

         Pastor John Hartzell is a part-time Associate pastor at First Baptist. His ministry is primarily centered around our wonderful seniors. He enjoys visiting people where they need him: apartments, nursing homes, hospitals, etc. He and his wife are responsible for the elderly luncheons which occur the first Thursday of each month.

        Pastor John grew up in the small town of Russell, Minnesota. He became a Christian at a summer Bible Camp when he was 12 years old.  He graduated from Bethel Junior College and from Northwestern College. He was ordained to the ministry  in 1953.  He served as pastor of El Salem Baptist Church in Wisconsin and at Normandale Baptist Church in Bloomington, Minnesota. In between pastorates he ministered with Midwest Challenge and the Rebuilders Ministry.

        John and Mary have been married for 55 years, have 5 children, 22 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. They have been part of the First Baptist ministry and family since 2003. We are grateful for his dedication and servant's heart.

      Pastor Jim Nicholas grew up in Ravenna, Michigan and attended North Chester Baptist with his family.  At the age of 19, Pastor Jim finally surrendered his life to the Lord Jesus Christ and was gloriously saved.  While attending Western Michigan University, he felt God leading him to attend Pillsbury Baptist Bible College of Owatonna, MN where he graduated in 1984 with a B.S. degree.  At Pillsbury Pastor Jim met his wife Michele and they were married the same day they both graduated.

     God then directed him to attend Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Minneapolis where he graduated in 1990 with the Master of Divinity degree.  Pastor Jim came to First Baptist Church in the summer of 1998 where he currently serves as the Associate Pastor of Youth Ministries.  He was ordained at First Baptist in May of 2001.  Pastor Jim and Michele have two wonderful children, Rochelle and Brandon.