Dennis Million

Music & Education Minister

  My name is Dennis Million. I moved to Higginsville in January 2005 from a small town in rural northeast Missouri. Shelbina has about half the population of Higginsville and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to move to this community and serve at First Baptist Church.

  My parents were blessed with two daughters and five sons. I am the third child and the second son. I was raised by loving Christian parents who loved each of us with an undying love. They demonstrated their love by remaining true to each other despite the demands and challenges of seven kids hanging around 24/7. Because of their faith and commitment to God and each other, I came to realize that even though I was raised to be a "good kid", I still had need of a Savior. When I was fourteen, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. I was baptized in May of 1972. Since that time, I have seen the Lord's hand in so many aspects of life.

  In January of my senior year in High School, I found myself laid off from the job that I thought was going to be my life career. With lots of spare time on my hands, I accepted an invitation to attend a weekend getaway at Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar. I returned home that weekend having registered to attend that fall. Quite the surprise not only to my parents, who were very supportive of the decision, but to me! During my entire life, I had only been away from home the total of one whole week. I attended a band camp my sophomore year. Not a great experience, but I survived to report back to the ladies organization that had sponsored me.

  I truly felt God giving me this opportunity to experience growth in my spiritual life. I received a degree in Religious Education and a minor in Church Music. Upon graduation, He again opened doors for me to return to my hometown to serve as a part time Youth Minister and work full time in a local banking institution. I served in this part time position for five years. I then continued to serve in various volunteer positions in the church. Wherever God would open a door. I continued to be employed by the bank for twenty four years. It was a great experience.

  Then in the fall of 2004, God provided an opportunity to visit First Baptist Church of Higginsville in view of a call to serve as Minister of Music and Education. It was a big step, but as He promises, "I will never leave you or forsake you." And He hasn't!

  It has been a wonderful experience to be a member of this church. Knowing that God is always at work. Accomplishing His purposes through those who are willing to obediently follow Him. It is exciting to see God at work in so many individuals here at First Baptist Church. I am grateful He has brought me to this place.