About Us - Our Pastor
Meriden Hills Baptist Church
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | |  | |  | |  |
| Our Pastor: Dr. Chris Atkinson |
I was raised in a good, moral family in Cape May, New Jersey. We regularly attended a Methodist
Church in my growing up years. In 1972 I joined the Army and served three years in the states and
three years in Korea. Being discharged in 1978 I returned home to New Jersey.
Up to this point I felt that I was living a decent life. I was a good citizen, helped others any way I could,
and was generally an all around "nice guy." I met my wife after I got home and knew immediately that I
had found the woman I'd been waiting for! She was a born again Christian and I assured her that I
was one too. We attended pre-marital counseling sessions at her church and it was through the
Pastor that I realized my lost condition and my need to accept Christ personally as my Lord and
Savior. One night I drove out to the bay, parked my car, and asked the Lord to forgive my sins, come
into my heart, and save me (Romans 10:13). Later I was baptized and dedicated my life to serving
Him.
In 1981 I became Youth Director at Faith Fellowship Chapel as a layman. In the fall of 1989 at the age
of 34 the Lord called me into full-time service for Him. After praying about it and sharing it with my
wife, we decided to sell all in order to make a total commitment to the Lord's call. We moved to
Pensacola, Florida so that I could attend Pensacola Christian College. While attending Pensacola
Christian College I served as the Assistant/Youth Pastor at Smyrna Baptist Church. I was licensed into
the Gospel Ministry, December 27, 1992 and Ordained on February 26, 1992. I served at Smyrna
Baptist Church from 1991 until I left there to Pastor Meriden Hills Baptist Church in March of 2000.
My family is very important to me and to the best of my ability with God's help, I see to it that they also
receive the spiritual guidance, love, and encouragement they need. I have been married to my first
and only wife Nancy for over 25 years now. We have two beautiful children that we adopted from
Korea. They both have made professions of faith. God has truly blessed us as a family and I praise
Him continually for it.
Church in my growing up years. In 1972 I joined the Army and served three years in the states and
three years in Korea. Being discharged in 1978 I returned home to New Jersey.
Up to this point I felt that I was living a decent life. I was a good citizen, helped others any way I could,
and was generally an all around "nice guy." I met my wife after I got home and knew immediately that I
had found the woman I'd been waiting for! She was a born again Christian and I assured her that I
was one too. We attended pre-marital counseling sessions at her church and it was through the
Pastor that I realized my lost condition and my need to accept Christ personally as my Lord and
Savior. One night I drove out to the bay, parked my car, and asked the Lord to forgive my sins, come
into my heart, and save me (Romans 10:13). Later I was baptized and dedicated my life to serving
Him.
In 1981 I became Youth Director at Faith Fellowship Chapel as a layman. In the fall of 1989 at the age
of 34 the Lord called me into full-time service for Him. After praying about it and sharing it with my
wife, we decided to sell all in order to make a total commitment to the Lord's call. We moved to
Pensacola, Florida so that I could attend Pensacola Christian College. While attending Pensacola
Christian College I served as the Assistant/Youth Pastor at Smyrna Baptist Church. I was licensed into
the Gospel Ministry, December 27, 1992 and Ordained on February 26, 1992. I served at Smyrna
Baptist Church from 1991 until I left there to Pastor Meriden Hills Baptist Church in March of 2000.
My family is very important to me and to the best of my ability with God's help, I see to it that they also
receive the spiritual guidance, love, and encouragement they need. I have been married to my first
and only wife Nancy for over 25 years now. We have two beautiful children that we adopted from
Korea. They both have made professions of faith. God has truly blessed us as a family and I praise
Him continually for it.
 |
 |
 |
 |