WFBC State Missions Director
Dr. Wayne G. Vawter was born in Bloomington, Illinois into a family of five children. At age 17 through the ministry of Calvary Baptist Church of Normal, IL, he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour.
He graduated from Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown in 1970 and from Central Baptist Theological Seminary at Fourth Baptist Church of Plymouth, Minnesota in 1974. In 1989 he completed the work for the Doctor of Ministries degree and graduated from Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburgh, IN.
His ministries have included assistant pastorates in West Sacramento, California and St. Paul, MN. He has been the senior pastor in four churches; Rock Springs, WY, Plainfield, IL, Portage WI and most recently completing fifteen years in Lake Mills, Wisconsin at Rock Lake Baptist Church.
In September of 2001 he accepted the position as State Missions Director of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Baptist Churches. The WFBC is a statewide fellowship of about 100 independent Baptist churches.
Mrs. (Carole) Vawter is his faithful wife of 30 years and they have five children, all of whom are married, and six grandchildren. Their children are actively serving the Lord in their local churches in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, and New Mexico. Carole is an accomplished musician and provides special music, offertories and musical support. The Vawters reside in Lebanon, Wisconsin.
Director's Itinerary
Director's Message
The Wisconsin Fellowship of Baptist Churches is a fellowship of believers who are committed to key biblical principles. At this time 97 churches are members of the WFBC. In addition we have about 17 pastors who are individual members. Begun in 1950, the WFBC started with five churches at the first annual meeting in September 1950 and has grown to over 100 churches.
In the Bible, fellowship is an important principle based upon a foundation of truth. The Apostle Paul identified the fellowship of the Corinth church as being called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” (I Cor 1:9). John the Apostle had a similar idea in I John 1:3, when he said, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ.” I like to define fellowship as “two fellows in the same ship.” They are together and have a common destination.
The WFBC is holding its 59th Annual Meeting at First Baptist Church of West Bend in a couple of weeks. One of the key ideas of those who started this fellowship was that it should be a gathering of believers. Every year pastors and their wives come to the annual meeting and we always have a great time of fellowship. A few pastors bring some of the people from their church to the meeting as well. Since the meeting is held on a Monday and Tuesday, some people cannot get away from their work to attend. However, even if you can only come one of the days, you will be blessed by the preaching, workshops, good food and some really great fellowship. Any adult from a member church may vote in the business sessions, participating in the ongoing ministry of the WFBC. Remember, the WFBC is a fellowship of believers, and we can only have fellowship with YOU, if you are there with us.
-Dr. Wayne Vawter
WFBC Missions Director