Pastor Mark and Jo Howdeshell

Pastor Mark has served at First Baptist since August 12th, 2007. He was ordained as the Youth Pastor at University Baptist Church (Fairbanks) in 2001 and served until he resigned to deploy with the United States Army in November of 2004.

Jo is the church pianist and works as a Department of the Army Civilian on Fort Wainwright. She can often be found on the volleyball court playing or coaching young girls. Though not flying any longer, Jo served as a UH-1 Huey helicopter pilot in the Army and that's how Mark and Jo met.

Pastor Mark retired from the United States Army in August of 2006 after serving for over 21 years and now works for Alyeska Pipeline Service Company as the Shutdown and Integrated Planning Coordinator.

Pastor Mark and Jo are very active in the community and can often be found on the volleyball court or at a UAF volleyball match. Pastor Mark is the President of the Fairbanks Volleyball Association.

Pastor Mark is also the Secretary/Treasurer/ Parliamentarian of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Fairbanks. He is firmly committed to the Church of believers established by God.

Their son, Ryan, graduated from Daniel Webster College as an Aeronautical/Mechanical Engineer in 2017. He is now a Systems Engineer with Raytheon based out of Massachusetts. Their daughter, Torie, graduated from Western New England University with degree in Neuroscience in 2017. She's currently the Head Volleyball Coach for the men's and women's programs at Elms College in Holyoke, MA.

Come get to know the Howdeshells.