About Us
Our Story:
On April 1, 2012, one week before Easter, Two small groups of Christians who had been meeting for Bible study in their homes—one in Dublin and one in Stephenville—merged together with a shared vision that God desired to start a new church. A new church with a commitment to study God’s Word deeply, support world missions eagerly and build relationships intentionally with people longing to expand God’s Kingdom. Their respective group leaders served as co-pastors of Elk Ridge Baptist Church from its inception, taking the name for the church from Elk Ridge Estates on Alexander Road in Stephenville where they hoped to build a permanent facility on donated property. For a short time the church met in a member’s home in Stephenville before moving into a meeting room at Motel 6 where it worshipped together for almost a year. On August 11, 2013 the church moved into a small home at 634 East Road in Stephenville. After seasons of God’s favor and growth, and greatly expanding and renovating the East Road facilities to its capacity; the church built a new facility and began worshipping there on that donated land near Elk Ridge Estates In November 2020. Elk Ridge has a passion for God and His glory and a longing for our neighbors near and far to know the hope of the gospel. We look forward to living out the mission of the Gospel in our new community and in communities around the world.
Come. Join us as we lay hold of the plow, not the glory. The fields are ripe, and the workers are few…
“35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” - Matthew 9:35-38
Who we are:
Elk Ridge Baptist Church is a body of believers in Jesus. We are passionate about making disciples of Jesus, equipping believers for the work of ministry, and supporting and sending out workers to share the good news of Jesus around the world.
Leadership
Andy Hansen
Elder
andyhansen11@outlook.com
Andy and his family joined with the Bishops and the Sherwins to plant Elk Ridge Baptist Church in 2012. He is a local businessman and investor. Prior to Elk Ridge BC he served as Deacon, Pastoral Staff, Elder, and Interim-Pastor. He holds a Masters & PhD in Theology. He loves the Lord and prays for grace as he "runs with endurance the race that is set before us." Andy is passionate about Missions and teaching Church Planting. Andy has three grown children and two children still at home with his wife, Gidget.
Wes Bishop
Elder / Pastoral Staff
wdbishop67@gmail.com
Wes and his family joined with the Hansens and the Sherwins to plant Elk Ridge Baptist Church in 2012. He has served in leadership in the business world and ministry since graduating from Tarleton in 1989. He loves helping people discover hope and life in Jesus, then to live out the passions the Lord has placed within them. Confident that whom the Son sets free is free indeed, Wes often shares that the Lord sets people free from their old sin nature and free to the calling He has for them. This propels him to walk through life with people sharing this truth and serving with them in a church where talent is turned into experience. Wes is married to his high school sweetheart, Sheila. They have 2 daughters, 2 sons, 1 daughter-in-law, 1 son-in-law, 2 beautiful granddaughters, 2 handsome grandsons, 2 dogs, often a home full of church family and missionaries; and more than a little gray hair. Wes oversees our church’s operations and shepherds our pastoral staff and leadership team. He probably doesn’t know the answer to your question, but he knows who does; so feel free to connect with him about anything…
Tom Heath
Elder / Teaching Pastor
Tom is a retired pastor with 40+ years of service, predominantly at 2 churches. He holds a Masters and PhD in Theology from Landmark Theological Seminary. He has been serving for 30 years as Project Director for Landmark Mission Projects (L.A.M.P.). Even though his wife of 45 years is now at home with the Lord, Tom still rejoices over time spent with family, pastoring and continuing in the Lord’s will through teaching and preaching the Word of God.
Don Popkess
Elder
dpopkess@gmail.com
Don joined the ERBC elder board in April 2022. Married to his wife Jo Ann since 1988, he loves to testify about how Jesus Christ saved his soul & his marriage in 1998, when he was 39. Don & Jo Ann have enjoyed living in Stephenville since July 2019 & have 3 married sons. Some of their shared passions include leading marriage/pre-marital ministries, intercessory prayer, mentoring young adults & Bible studies. Don has enjoyed being a Petroleum Geologist since 1982 & is still working full-time. During his time at Elk Ridge, God has been increasing his desire for missions & for intentional evangelism.
Ministry Team:
Morgan Bishop
Music, Missions & Ministry Assistant
morgan.erbc@gmail.com
Morgan received her Bachelor’s in Music from Tarleton State University and her Master's in Global Leadership with an emphasis in Missions from Dallas Baptist University. Morgan was an MK in China. She studied abroad in Jordan and Israel and has served on short-term trips in Bulgaria, Nepal, Peru, and Thailand. She hopes to one day serve the Lord on a foreign mission field. Morgan joined our staff in 2017 and has been a member of Elk Ridge since it first began.
Austin Myers
College ministry
phoscollegeministry@gmail.com
Austin is our current director of PHŌS. As a Tarleton Alumni, he has been engaged in college ministry for almost a decade. Austin is passionate about pouring into college students' lives and leading them in their faith journeys. He is also a part of ERBC's intern program, where he is studying to become a full-time pastor.
Jacob Campbell
Intern
intern.erbc@gmail.com
Jacob joined ERBC in April 2021 & is currently pursuing a degree in Music Education at Tarleton. As an ERBC intern, he faithfully serves the church in many capacities. Jacob also passionately serves on the worship team & loves to encourage fellow artists in their craft & in their faith. As God continues to clarify Jacob's calling, he says he hopes to one day become a Dean of Fine Arts at a Christ-centered college.
Kim Bishop
Children's ministry
Eric & Erin Compton
Youth ministry
Eric Compton & Don Popkess
Men's ministry
men.erbc@gmail.com
Jo Ann Popkess & Sheila Bishop
Women's ministry
women.erbc@gmail.com