Brenda Cohen’s story at FBC is one of the most beautiful things about a church that pays attention to how God works. She didn’t arrive as an outside hire with a polished ministry plan — she was planted right here. When Brenda and her husband Dick became “sacred partners” with FBC by joining the membership around 2019, she came with a heart that had already been beating for missions for years. She had volunteered in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and other countries, pouring herself into the work of God’s kingdom wherever the need was greatest. The congregation saw what God was growing in her, and on January 1, 2020, Brenda began serving as our Missions Pastor.
Today, Brenda is continuing to sharpen her gifts as she works toward a Master of Art in Christian Ministry from McAfee School of Theology. She leads our missions and discipleship efforts with the conviction that God’s call on this church is still unfolding. As she puts it, “the picture is just developing.” That kind of holy patience — the willingness to listen before acting, to pray before planning — is exactly the spirit our mission work needs. Under her leadership, FBC’s outreach continues to deepen both locally and globally, rooted not in programs but in relationships.
Brenda and Dick were married in May 1999 and together have five children and eight grandchildren — a full house and a full heart. Her journey is a testimony to what happens when a church makes room for the callings that emerge from within its own family. God didn’t bring Brenda to FBC to fill a role. God grew her into one.