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Leadership

Meet the Pastors

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Pastor Rolo Bernales

Pastor Rolo Bernales grew up in a Christian, Filipino family. However, he realized he was a false convert when he heard the ‘Biblical’ Gospel and was born again by God’s grace in the Fall of 2000. He has been married to Cara since June 2004 and they have five children together. He received a BS from Grand Canyon University & his Masters of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  He enjoys traveling with his family, local church fellowship, sharing & preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

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Pastor Corey Williams

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Pastor Ed Romero

Pastor Ed Romero grew up in a Christian home but says the gospel didn’t penetrate his heart until he was in high school or college.  Since then, he has been passionate about teaching the word of God to others.  He was blessed with marriage to Megan in 2017 and received his master's degree in Christian Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary a few months later. 

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Pastor Vladimir Rios 

Pastor Vladimir Rios was born and raised in Cuba, where he met the Lord at the age of 16. He was studying plastic arts when the Lord saved him. His early years as a believer were spent in the Pentecostal church under a legalistic system that did not allow him to enjoy the freedom of the Gospel. During this time in 2005, he married his wife Ariadna and they currently have two sons. In 2013 he emigrated as a political refugee to the United States at the age of 25. Three years earlier, the Lord gave him an understanding of Reformed doctrines and ever since he has dedicated himself to discipling those the Lord has enabled him into the truth of the Scriptures. Since his conversion, he felt the responsibility to be involved in the spiritual growth of others. He formally studied theology at the Argentine William Carey Online Seminary. He has a Reformed Baptist theological background.

Pastor Corey Williams was born in Arkansas and has had the opportunity to live in several places such as Little Rock, Arkansas, Saint Martin, French West Indies, and Kelowna, British Columbia. By God’s grace, he was converted to Christ in 2006. He has been married to Lory for the last 25 years and has five children ranging from 3 to 25 years old. He received a DTS from Reformed Baptist Seminary and has been serving at First Baptist Church of the Lakes since the summer of 2010. 

Meet the Deacons

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Marty Gillespie

Marty grew up in Bullhead City, AZ. He married Sheila in 1982. They have three sons and 11 grandchildren. Though raised with very little Christian influences, in the early 90s, God redeemed them both. Later he was called as a deacon in AZ and served for 9 years. From conversion, Marty had a desire to share the gospel. In 2005 he heard the message Hell’s Best Kept Secret, which renewed a fire in him to share the gospel. He has shared the gospel on the streets in Hollywood, Venice Beach, Huntington Beach, Las Vegas, Dallas, NYC, and New Orleans. In 2007 God led them to Las Vegas and to First Baptist Church of the Lakes. He has served as a deacon at FBC for several years, along with serving in various areas as called on.

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Doug Koch

Doug grew up in Illinois and started attending church with his mother at the age of five. When Doug was seven, he said a “sinner’s prayer” and thought he was a believer for the next twenty-two years. When he was 29 years old, the Lord saved him, and Doug repented of sins and placed his trust in Jesus Christ alone. Doug is a licensed social worker and focuses on helping people through the medical field. Doug is married and has five children, two boys, and three girls. Doug enjoys traveling with his wife and children, the outdoors, and cooking, especially cheesecake. 

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Jose Jimenez

Vernon Victoria

Jose was born and raised in Las Vegas. His family is originally from Oaxaca, Mexico. He is a graduate of UNLV and is currently pursuing an MTS degree from Reformed Baptist Seminary. By God’s grace, he was converted in 2010. Growing up in a Hispanic church has prompted Jose to have a passion for serving the Spanish-speaking members of the church.  

Vernon was born & raised in the Philippines. He migrated to the US when he married Cecille in 2001. They were living in New Jersey until they moved to Las Vegas in 2006. Verns supposedly grew up in a Christian family but he knew he was not saved until Christ changed his heart 10 years ago. He has 3 children ages 21, 16, & 7 years old. He loves to fellowship when he’s not home with his family.

Cortland Williams

Cortland Williams was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV. He grew up in a Christian family. His father and mother have always pointed him to the Lord. He has been attending FBCL with his parents and siblings since 2010 and the Lord saved him a few years later. Cortland has been married to his wife, Ariel, since 2018 and they have 3 children. When he is not working he likes going to the park with his family, fellowshipping with the church, and various other hobbies. 

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