Senior Pastor

Scott & Pam Kliewer

Scott Kliewer grew up in Topeka, KS, which is about two hours from Newton. He was blessed to have grown up in a Christian home and realized his need of salvation as a young boy. Church was always a very important part of his childhood, with his parents being very involved in local church ministry.

Through a series of events, God provided a door of opportunity for him to attend Silver State Baptist High School in Denver, CO, a school affiliated with South Sheridan Baptist Church, then pastored by Dr. Ed Nelson. He was active in various aspects of the ministry, including a church bus route to reach inner city children and was afforded various opportunities to preach to other teens in the Youth Department. It was there, during his senior year, that God used the influence of the church and school to call him into the ministry.

In the fall of 1975, he enrolled at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC as a Bible major, with a minor in History. God began opening opportunities for ministry, both at college and during the summers.

One of the highlights of his college experience was meeting his future wife, Pam. She had completed her degree in Piano Performance and was working on staff at the university. After completing his undergraduate degree in May 1979, he and Pam traveled as husband and wife, leading a ministry team from BJU for two consecutive summers. During that time, he completed his Master of Arts Degree in Pastoral Studies.

After receiving his Graduate Degree in May 1981, they moved to Charleston, IL to serve in the ministries of Calvary Baptist Church. In September of 1983, God moved them to Newton, KS to assume the Minister of Youth and Music position at Meridian Baptist Church in Newton. After 24 years of ministry with Pastor Jerroll Martens as the pastor, the opportunity opened to become the Senior Pastor. He assumed that position in April 2008.

Pastor Kliewer and Pam have been blessed with three wonderful boys, Jeff, along with his wife and daughter, is in Pennsylvania while Brad and his wife reside in Texas. Ryan is a recent high school graduate and is headed for college in South Carolina.

Pastor's interests include an occasional round of golf and doing yard work. He has also been seen in the area, officiating basketball and volleyball or repairing some eyeglasses.

Assistant Pastor

TJ & Marla Moore          

TJ was born in Waynesville, Missouri. He is the youngest of three siblings. He grew up in a Christian home and attended Christian school from a very young age. His family attended Maranatha Baptist Church, where his mom is currently a teacher at Maranatha Baptist Academy. At the age of 12, TJ realized his need of a salvation and accepted Christ to be his personal Savior. After his salvation, TJ became very active in the ministries of the church through which the Lord gave him a love for church ministry. He graduated from Maranatha Baptist Academy in 2004 and attended Bob Jones University in the fall of 2004. At the start of his sophomore year during Bob Jones opening evangelistic services, the Lord burdened TJ’s heart for the ministry. He responded to this clear call of the Lord and surrendered his life to be in the ministry as a pastor. TJ graduated from Bob Jones University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Bible, with a Business minor. He met Marla Mechling his freshman year through a mutual friend, and they dated for four years. On December 21, 2007, TJ and Marla were married at Marla’s home church in Columbia, South Carolina. TJ is currently a student at Maranatha Baptist Seminary through the online department. He is pursuing a master’s degree in English Bible.

Marla was born in Hurst, Texas to Christian parents. When she was only one year old her family moved to Columbia, South Carolina, where they became members of Grace Baptist Church. Both of Marla’s parents graduated from Maranatha Baptist Bible College and were very active in the church and school ministry at Grace. Marla’s mom taught in the Christian school for 14 years, and her dad was a deacon in the church. At a young age, Marla realized her need of salvation, and accepted Christ as her Savior led by her father. When Marla was in fifth grade, her dad was diagnosed with an advanced stage of liver cancer, and within six months the Lord took him home to Heaven. Marla’s mom then took on the sole responsibility of raising Marla and her older sister Melanie. Marla was greatly blessed to grow up in a thriving youth group, where she was given many opportunities to serve. She greatly enjoyed being a part of the church orchestra and music program at the school. Marla graduated from Grace Christian School in 2003, and attended Bob Jones University in the fall. Through the influence of many wonderful college professors, Marla developed a love for the study of History and Literature. In 2007, Marla graduated from Bob Jones University with a Bachelors of Arts in History, with a minor in English.

Pastor TJ and Marla are blessed with a son, Collin.