Pastor Bill Mummert
Founder and Senior Pastor of GBC Church
Often mistaken as a misplaced Texan, Pastor Bill was actually born and raised right here in Central Pennsylvania. He began a life of ministry as a youth pastor in 1966. He graduated from Lancaster Bible College in 1970 and was ordained the same year.
Coffee houses, streets and concerts served as a platform of ministry in the 70’s when Pastor Bill was a leader of the Jesus People Movement in the area. But God had other plans for Pastor Bill and began to cultivate within him the desire to reach the Gettysburg area. This desire became a reality in 1982 when he started Gettysburg Baptist Church (GBC) as a Bible study in a local restaurant. Abundant growth made them move to the old YWCA building on the Gettysburg square. With the continued growth of the gathering, they purchased and renovated a local garage. In 2001 they purchased land, constructed the present building, and in 2002 moved to the current location at 95 Fairview Road.
Along with serving as the Senior Pastor of GBC for the past 39 years, Pastor Bill has also continued in his passion for teaching younger generations through several college and student teaching ministries.
As a gifted communicator, he is known for presenting difficult biblical truths in a way everyone can understand. His passion for biblical truth leads to an unapologetic teaching style.
After marrying his high school sweetheart in 1965, Bill and his wife Chris enjoyed raising one son and one daughter. They now have four grandchildren and one great grandchild. Bill and Chris currently live on a Pennsylvania Century Farm near Hanover, Pennsylvania. Pastor Bill enjoys raising Texas Longhorn cattle, and watching a good rodeo.
Today Pastor Bill’s enthusiasm about the vision God gave him to reach the present unchurched generation of Gettysburg couldn’t be greater. In an effort to be more relevant to this current generation, Pastor Bill has implemented many changes within GBC in order to continue with our vision to.... “Connect with those who are far from God and help them grow in a loving relationship with Him.”
Meet the Team
Carrie Baez, Director of Children’s Ministry
Carrie Baez is an adventure-loving young woman who has a passion for teaching kids about Jesus through hands-on learning and memorable experiences. Born in Gettysburg, PA, Carrie comes from a Christian family. She attended GBC Church all throughout her childhood and was an active member of the AWANA program and youth group.
At four years old she committed her life to Christ with her dad and then years later she rededicated her life to Christ at River Valley Ranch during a Youth Group Winter Retreat. After graduation in 2010, Carrie attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA and studied Art Education. Her passion for learning about other cultures grew as she completed her student teaching at an international Christian school in Singapore. She graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2014 and moved to the Dominican Republic to teach at Santiago Christian School. There she taught art to Pre-K through 8th grade students, helped to start a middle school leadership program, volunteered in a local orphanage, learned Spanish, and took trips to the beach whenever she could.
In 2016 she met Joan (Jo-on) Baez through Instagram of all places. After ignoring his messages for many weeks, she finally agreed to meet him, and on their very first date to get ice cream, he said that he was going to marry Carrie someday! Well, four years later that became a reality as they became a Covid couple and got married via Zoom and YouTube on April 11, 2020. In May 2020, Carrie graduated from Trinity International with a Masters in Diverse Learning that was completed entirely online.
Because of Covid they moved back to the USA in the summer of 2020. At the time, GBC was searching for a new Children’s Ministry director, and with her experience working with children of many ages from different backgrounds, Carrie was offered the position. She accepted it in October, 2020 and has been working hard to enhance our children’s program and bring back AWANA. Carrie is also currently the K-6 art teacher at Vida Charter School located in Gettysburg, PA where she has written her own curriculum and teaches in English and Spanish. Carrie and Joan are excited to see what the future holds.
If you enjoy board games, going out to eat, traveling, cooking, watching movies, and dogs, then let us know if you ever want to hang out!
Allen Hartman, Director of Youth Ministry
Allen was raised in New Oxford, Pennsylvania, and his family attended a church in Hanover where he accepted Christ when he was 12 years old. After high school graduation, Allen moved to Texas and then to Denver, Colorado where he met his wife, Joanna at a church they were both attending. While in Denver, he started helping with the youth ministry at a church. During a youth retreat in 2015, Allen felt led by the Lord to become a youth pastor. He was not sure how God was going to make this happen, but he began to study and prepare to fulfill this future role. In 2017 Allen and his wife felt God was directing them to the Gettysburg area.
While looking for a church, they found GBC and loved Pastor Bill's preaching. They were not sure how God's leading to be a youth pastor was going to be fulfilled. The opportunity then became available to help with the youth ministry. In 2019, five years after God's leading, the Director of Youth position opened and Allen accepted it.
Since the Director of Youth position is part-time, Allen started his own construction business in 2020. Joanna is currently attending college majoring in early childhood education. She also works part-time with children at the YWCA. They are the parents of three young boys. Allen and Joanna have seen God working in their lives each step of the way.
Dan Urick, Worship Leader
Very early in life, Dan developed a desire and passion to study and play music. He began his musical ministry by using his gifts at local churches, retirement homes, rescue missions, prisons, and wherever there was an open door to perform and minister.
As God continued to bless Dan, he opened yet another door which gave him the opportunity and privilege to lead praise, and worship in churches for the past twenty-eight years.
Dan is very thankful and grateful for all of God’s wonderful blessings in his life. He and his wife, Kathy, have been married for thirty-eight years and reside in Hanover, Pennsylvania. Together they enjoy spending time their son and daughter-in-law, two dogs, extended family, and friends.
