Meet the Pastors

 
 

Pastor Greg Shipe

Greg is a Maryland native, but he and his wife Connie love ministering with their family in central PA. The early influence of the Bible and godly parents allowed Greg to see his need of salvation at a young age, and after completing high school, he surrendered to full time ministry. Pastor Shipe and Connie met and graduated from Pensacola Christian College and then he also completed a Masters in Bible Exposition from Pensacola Theological Seminary. They were married in August of 2002.
 
Pastor Shipe and Connie have ministered together at FBC since July of 2011. Now, with 6 kids (yes, 4 girls and 2 boys!), life is full of excitement in their home. Their daughters’ names are Kayla, Camryn, Rylee and Laikyn, and their sons’ names are Brock and Kingston.

Pastor Aaron Hoffman

Aaron grew up in a farming and timbering community in central Pennsylvania and he and his wife Megan (who’s sweet childhood home is Alabama) love the fact that God has called them to serve Him in a place that is very dear to their hearts. Aaron graduated from Northland International University in 2010 with a Bachelors degree in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in Biblical Counseling. Megan graduated from Pensacola Christian College in 2010 with a Bachelors degree in Marketing. Aaron and Megan have both completed part of their Master’s degrees in Bible Exposition and Biblical Counseling respectively.
Aaron and Megan met during the summer of 2009 and were married in December of 2011. They have 4 children, Kasey, Trent, Grant and Whitney.
 
After graduating from college Aaron served for 3 summers as the co-director of a Christian Camp in central PA called Camp Kanesatake before coming to FBC as the Assistant Pastor in September of 2013.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Pastor Patrick Hoffmann

Patrick was born and raised in southeast Georgia. His wife, Jennifer, was born in Lancaster, PA but spent much of her childhood in rural Montana. Both were saved as a result of God using Christian foster parents, who became their adoptive parents, to share His love and grace with them. God brought Patrick and Jennifer together while they were attending Pensacola Christian College. Once Patrick graduated in 2003, they were married and began serving together. God has given them the privilege of serving Him in various churches and ministries for over twenty years. In 2022, they were excited to have God call them to serve Him here at First Baptist Church of Bellefonte. Patrick and Jennifer have been blessed by God with two daughters and three sons – Haley, Micah, Trinity, Isaiah and Gideon.

Pastor Gary Gillette

Gary was born and raised in western New York (the state).  Gary was saved as a result of some Christian friends in his junior year at the State University of  New York, (SUNY), at Geneseo.  He graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a degree in Applied Physics and Mathematics in 1990.  He continued his education at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University and earned a degree in Ceramic Engineering in 1993.  Gary has worked for multiple companies as a Ceramic Engineer
 
His wife Cathy was born and raised in a Christian family in central Indiana. She was saved as a child at a church camp and went on to Indiana Wesleyan University where she graduated with a degree in Elementary Education in 1993. Gary and Cathy met in 1999 in Roanoke, VA and were married the next year. Gary and Cathy are the parents to two adult sons, Alex and Matthew. The Gillettes moved to Bellefonte in 2017 and began attending First Baptist Church. In May 2022, Gary was appointed as a lay elder/pastor.
 

 
 
 

 

Pastor Michael Crouse

Michael was born and raised in State College, PA. The Lord used the influence of his Christian parents to lead Michael to salvation as a young child. Michael earned his Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State University in 2017. His wife, Danielle, was raised in Idaho and also came to know the Lord through her parents’ faithfulness to share the gospel. She has a degree in Elementary Education from Boise State University. After ten years as an engineer, Michael is pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree from the Master’s Seminary, with plans to transition to full-time pastoral ministry upon graduation. He and Danielle are blessed with three young children: Sophia, Theodore, and Weston.