Staff
Say hello to the leadership at First Baptist Church.
Meet our leadership
Say hello to the leadership team at First Baptist Church. Got questions for them? Contact us by clicking here.
Vernon Risner - Senior Pastor
Vernon Risner is originally from Ohio. Ask him sometime about how God called him into the ministry. At 19 he became involved at a local church in his hometown of Franklin, Ohio. Eleven years later he was the Senior Pastor. That was in 2001. He loves Jesus' church. A graduate of Moody Theological Seminary his greatest desire is to lead a community of believers committed to sharing the power of the love of Jesus Christ. A love that conquers sin, wipes away shame, heals wounds, reconciles enemies, patches broken dreams and ultimately changes the world one life at a time.
He has a wife he loves and 2 daughters who are his most aggravating blessings.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5
Johnathon Miller - Associate Pastor
Johnathon Miller was born and raised in northern Indiana. He graduated from Moody Bible Institute (‘18) with a B.A. Johnathon has a passion for the local church, and his greatest desire is to see the body of Christ sacrificially serve others as Christ did. He loves all things outdoors and is always down to play a round of golf, disc golf, or go fishing.
Johnathon is married to his lovely wife, Hannah, and they have one daughter.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:45
Casey Smith - Worship Director
Casey Smith is a preacher’s kid from southwest Texas. In 2003 while attending Bradley University, he took up guitar and singing to help launch a collegiate church plant, The Second Story, where he would meet his wife, Molly. Upon graduation, he and Molly married and moved to East Tennessee where he used his multimedia degree on staff at a church making videos. They returned to the Pekin area in 2008 and Casey has been serving in local church tech and worship ministries. Growing up in an example led, faith-based household, the local church has always been an important extension of his family. At First Baptist Pekin he works to maintain a healthy balance of traditional and modern worship.
He and Molly have two children as well as foster.
"Faith is the light of things hoped for, the proof of things unseen."
- Hebrews 11:1
Molly Smith - Children’s Ministries Director
Molly Smith is a wife, momma, and hairstylist turned children’s ministry director. She grew up in a home where if the church doors were open, they were there serving. Molly received Jesus as her Savior the summer before 5th grade at a youth conference. When she was 15, she started teaching her own VBS class and leading children’s church. She has a heart for the little ones and wants to help them find their identity in Christ. If there is a baby within 15 feet, she will sense it and have a dire need to hold and love on that baby! Molly has two children and loves welcoming any other children that God brings to their home through foster care. Her and Casey have been married for 16 years with plenty more adventures.
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
- Exodus 14:14
Jeanie Green - Kids Hope Director
Jeanie Green was born and raised in the Pekin area. After growing up in a small church in North Pekin, Jeanie received Christ as her savior at the age of 18.
Children's ministry has always had her heart. Sharing God's love with children and giving them the hope that God has promised is her most favorite thing to do. She has served as a Sunday school teacher, children's ministry director, VBS teacher, and director, and now she serves as Kids Hope Director here at First Baptist Pekin.
Jeanie and her husband of 37 years share three adult children and seven grandchildren.
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."
-Psalm 46:1
Daniel Bean - Student Ministry Director
Daniel Bean grew up with a dad who was Jehovah’s Witness and a mom who was a Roman Catholic. A spiritual turning point occurred when he attended his grandpa’s funeral at a Kingdom Hall and a woman approached him pointing him to the ways of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. This started Daniel on a quest searching for the real Jesus. Through Young Life, Kanakuk Camps, reading his Bible, and a Methodist Church Youth Group, Daniel came to know the Biblical Jesus. Realizing that God desires us to know Him personally through a relationship with Jesus, Daniel enrolled and finished a degreed program at Lincoln Christian University. His desire is to introduce others to Jesus Christ and to show and share the life-transforming power of following Him.
“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did." - 1 John 2:6 NLT