Meet Pastor Mike Wheeler

Hi! I am Pastor Mike Wheeler of the Community Baptist Church. I just wanted to give you a brief history of how our family came to Watertown, South Dakota. I was born in Great Lakes, Illinois to a U.S. Navy family, and we moved all over the states as I was growing up. When I was in 6th grade, I went to a church camp, where I heard the simple gospel plan of salvation. I was convicted, but I didn’t make a decision until I was home. I was saved, and then baptized. A few years later, I surrendered to do whatever God wanted me to do, and I felt him calling me to preach. Even though I had told God that I would serve him, I kept putting off doing anything about it.

As soon as I graduated from high school, I joined the Navy and a year later I married my high school sweetheart, Kristin Cook. We, too, moved around as I stayed in the military for 8 ½ years. While I was still in the Navy, we had our first two children, Alyssa and Sean. I kept feeling God urging me to do his will and get right, but it wasn’t until 2002 that I finally listened.

I began going to Heritage Baptist Institute in Cleveland, Ohio. I found a website that listed different towns in America that did not have any Independent Baptist church. I had never been west of the Mississippi and had never heard of Watertown, but for some reason, Watertown, South Dakota, stuck out to me. I began praying that God would send someone to start a church here in Watertown.

During my schooling I got out of the Navy, and we had our third child, Caralynn. I preached and taught a Sunday School class of 150 inner-city teens with my wife. I also preached at the city mission to local homeless men. I jumped at the opportunity to preach any time it was offered to me.

As I finished my schooling in 2006, we were earnestly praying for God to show us where to go. Imagine my surprise when I opened a Christian newspaper and found a notice that said, “Is God calling you to be a missionary pastor to Watertown, South Dakota?” I was shocked that the little town that my wife and I had been talking and praying about for four years had an Independent Baptist church that needed a pastor.

From there, things moved quickly, and after the church voted for me to be their pastor, we packed up our possessions and moved across the country in November of 2006. We praise the Lord for working through the years to prepare us for this ministry and prepare this church for us.

We are hoping to reach every house in Watertown with the gospel in the next year, so we may meet that way. We would love if you would come to a service. You are always welcome at our church. If we can be of any help to you, please do not hesitate to call anytime.

In Christ,

Pastor Mike Wheeler