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In the Spring of 2004, Pastor Jason Stoeber and his wife moved to Maine. He and Sally have grown to love the thriving Greater Portland area. Two years previous, the Lord had begun burdening their hearts to see an Independent Baptist Church planted in this community.
Pastor Stoeber was reared in a mountain valley in the south central part of Colorado. Through the Biblical teaching and influence of his Godly parents, he was saved at the age of seven. In his later high school years, God called him to preach and later burdened his heart specifically for church planting in the United States. After receiving his training from Pensacola Christian College he married the wife that God had prepared for him. His wife, Sally, would be instrumental in serving along side her husband ministering in areas such as: the church nursery, ladies discipleship, music ministry, and many others. After college the Lord led the Stoebers to serve on staff at Trinity Baptist Church in Warrenton, Virginia, where he gained a deeper, hands-on understanding of the inner-workings of a local New Testament Church.
During the time he and his wife spent in Virginia, the Lord was preparing them to be involved in planting a church in Westbrook, Maine. The Lord impressed on Pastor Stoeber’s heart the need to be used to plant an Independent Baptist Church in a city that does not already have one. This church would be one that would strive to obey the Great Commission—a church that is leading souls to Christ, baptizing them, discipling them in the Word of God, and starting other churches. In September of 2004, this church was birthed! Westbrook Baptist Church “hit the ground running”, seeing 24 people attend the first Sunday morning service! Since that time, WBC has seen decisions made in the areas of salvation, baptism, and commitment to the Lord. Several people have become involved in a one-on-one discipleship ministry where they open their Bibles and learn what is taught in God’s Word. Each week that passes by, the church is having a more wide-spread affect on the community.
Jesus says in Matthew 16:18, “I will build MY church”. Praise God, HE IS doing exactly that!
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