Get To Know Our Pastors.
Their background, their faith, and their journey.
Ben Tellinghuisen
Pastor-Teacher // Husband // FatherBen was born and raised in San Diego, California. He was blessed to have godly parents who sought to raise him up in the fear of the Lord and who were very involved in their local church, Shadow Mountain Community Church. By the grace of God, he placed faith in Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age and has grown in that faith over the years.
Ben went to college at UCLA, in Los Angeles, CA, where he majored in music and was an active member at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA. After finishing his degree at UCLA, he earned his Master of Divinity and Master of Theology at The Master's Seminary. He also earned a Doctor of Ministry in Systematic Theology from The Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY. Ben and Leah came to Farmington in 2012 and are excited to be serving God in this wonderful body of believers.
Ben met his wife Leah while at UCLA and the two were married after college. They have three children.
Ben is the primary preaching pastor and is responsible for a variety of different ministries including: counseling and leading the music. He also helps provide direction for outreach and small group ministries.
Matt Hilbert
Associate Pastor // Husband // FatherMatt was born and raised in Rockford, IL and grew up under the godly shepherding of wonderful parents. It was during his senior year of high school where he first sensed God's calling to pursue pastoral ministry. Following this, he attended Moody Bible Institute where he met his wife Molly and graduated with a B.A. in Biblical Studies. Shortly after this, Matt and Molly got married and moved to Grand Rapids, MI so Matt could pursue a Master of Divinity from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. During this time he also served on staff as Pastoral Resident at Maranatha Bible Church. In June of 2019 Matt began serving as pastor at First Baptist Church of Farmington.
Matt and Molly have been married since August of 2015 and have one child, Evangeline, who was born in November of 2019. He enjoys being outdoors, traveling, playing guitar, and spending time with friends and family.
Matt serves as the Associate Pastor of Family Ministry and Outreach. His responsibilities include overseeing children's ministry as a whole, as well as actively leading FBC's youth and young adults ministries. He also helps to give guidance to the local and foreign outreach ministries of the church and works with the Senior Pastor and Elders of FBC in various tasks.
Tony Nagle
Teacher // Elder // Husband // FatherTony was born in the Pacific Northwest to godly parents. He lost his biological father to cancer at the age of 9 and his mother remarried a widower when he was 10. The combined family moved to Post Falls, Idaho to do home missions with American Missionary Fellowship (now InFaith). During his teen years, Tony watched his stepfather pastor many churches in northern Idaho and administer Cocolalla Bible Camp. Tony learned what godly leadership looked like from both his father and stepfather. By God’s grace, Tony placed his faith in Jesus Christ when he was a young boy but really grew in his faith during his college years.
Tony attended George Fox College in Newburgh, Oregon along with Washington University in St. Louis obtaining dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering. He then attended the University of Tennessee and earned a Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He began working for Jacobs Engineering in Tullahoma, TN right after graduate school. The Lord led Tony to transfer to the Detroit branch of Jacobs in 1997. It was in Michigan he met his wife, Beth, where they both attended the same young adult bible study. Tony and Beth have one daughter. They started attending FBC in 2008 and have faithfully served in various roles.
Tony has taught Sunday School for more than 20 years, loves to study God’s Word, and enjoys developing/writing Bible Study materials.
God called Tony to become a nonvocational elder in 2016. He oversees the Mens Ministry and ministries that train and equip believers in methodologies of Bible Study and other life application skills.
Michael Moore
Teacher // Elder // Husband // FatherMichael was born and raised in the Detroit metro area to parents who loved the Lord and taught him God’s word. He placed trust in Christ at an early age, and God has graciously blessed him in his walk which has grown over the years. During his teenage years, his youth pastor was impactful in his life as he taught and encouraged him in a deeper and more serious walk with the Lord.
After high school, Michael went to William Tyndale College where he earned his Bachelor of Music, using his gift in his local church and various outreaches. While at William Tyndale, Michael met April who would later become his wife. They have three children.
Michael and April came to First Baptist of Farmington in 2010 and have served the church family in various capacities. He has taught Sunday school for over 10 years and is constantly moved by God’s love for his people.
Michael went to University of Detroit Mercy where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and worked in a Neurosurgical Trauma ICU for many years before transitioning to a management level position. Later, he also earned a Master of Business Administration at Louisiana State University Shreveport. In his career, God has given him the opportunity to share the gospel to many that are sick, has been able to pray with the lost, those facing adversity, difficulty, and trials; and encourage people in the Lord.
God called Michael to be a nonvocational elder in 2023. He teaches Sunday school classes, leads a small group ministry, preaches, provides counseling, writes, arranges, and leads music; and works with the pastors and elders to provide direction for outreach and various ministries.