Our Story

Kevin Hutchison

Deacon

Rich Sturgill

Deacon

Rich Sturgill is a lifelong resident of Mascoutah, born and raised right here in our community. He and his wife April have been happily married for 23 years and together raised three amazing sons: Andrew, Josh, and Noah.

Rich has been part of the First Baptist Church Mascoutah family since 2010 and has faithfully served as a deacon, using his gifts to encourage others and point people to Jesus.

In 2012, while battling cancer and recovering from surgery, Rich surrendered his life fully to Christ. In the quiet of recovery he felt an unmistakable call to draw near to God and walk in an intimate, daily relationship with Him. Since that turning point, Rich readily admits he’s stumbled plenty of times, but he’s quick to testify that God’s grace has never failed him and His love continues to lead the way.

One of Rich’s favorite passages (and the one that keeps him grounded) is Romans 3:23–24:“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

These verses remind Rich that none of us is “better” than” anyone else, yet through Jesus we’ve all been offered the unearned, life-changing gift of grace.

What Rich loves most about serving at FBCM is getting to use the abilities God has given him to bless others, build up the body of Christ, and watch lives be transformed by the gospel. He says serving here isn’t just a duty; it’s one of the primary ways he grows closer to the Lord and to his church family.

When he’s not at church or work, you’ll probably find Rich hunting or fishing, tinkering with a new skill, or reading up on off-grid living and self-sustainability. Lately he’s even branching out into the world of specialty coffees and teas (so feel free to swap brew recommendations with him!).

Rich is grateful to call FBCM home and considers it a privilege to serve alongside this church family as together we love Mascoutah and Scott Air Force Base with the love of Jesus.

April Sturgill

Worship Director

April Sturgill is a Mascoutah girl through and through—born and raised here, she left for a few years after marrying her high-school sweetheart Rich, while they served with the Marine Corps in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. They returned home in 2004, planted roots, and have now been happily married for 23 years. Together they’ve raised three incredible sons: Andrew, Josh, and Noah.

April gave her life to Christ and was baptized at age 12, but says her faith grew deeper when she became a wife and mother. The losses of her father in 2016 and her mother in 2022 drew her even closer to Jesus and ignited a fresh passion to use her gifts fully for His kingdom. She has served as Worship Director at First Baptist Church Mascoutah since 2018.

One of April’s greatest joys in ministry is welcoming military families who are new to the area and worshiping alongside them each week. She loves introducing our church to gospel-rich, Scripture-saturated songs—especially ones that are brand-new or “new to us.” Two passages she clings to are Psalm 121 (“My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth”) and 1 Corinthians 10:31 (“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”).

By day you’ll find April teaching middle-school special education, chorus, and drama. At home she and Rich homestead, raising sheep, pigs, chickens, and rabbits. If you stop by their place, expect to leave with a full stomach—cooking and baking for people is April’s love language! Her personal happy place is a fountain Cherry Coke with crushed ice and a side of parmesan cheese bites.

Above everything else, April takes the privilege and responsibility of leading worship seriously. Whether the song is a 200-year-old hymn or was written last year, her heart is that every note and every moment would fix our eyes on Jesus and bring Him all the glory He deserves.

We’re so thankful God brought April (and her whole family) back home to Mascoutah and to FBCM!

HIRING NOW

Administrative Assistant

Who We Are
We’re a growing, gospel-centered Baptist church 10 minutes from Scott AFB with a big heart for military families, young children (Liberty Preschool), and real community. Pastor Ronnie (retired Chief Master Sgt) leads with grace, straight Bible preaching, and a vision to reach every corner of Mascoutah and the base in 2026 and beyond.The Role in One Sentence
You are the calm, capable, behind-the-scenes champion who keeps ministry moving forward so Pastor Ronnie and our teams can focus on people and preaching.You’re the Right Fit If… (the qualities we’re really looking for)

• You love Jesus and His church with your whole heart and live it out Monday–Saturday.

• You’re naturally warm and welcoming — people feel cared for the moment they walk in or call.

• You’re highly organized and actually enjoy creating systems that make life easier for everyone else.

• You’re comfortable with technology (Planning Center, Google Workspace, Canva, Squarespace, Quickbooks) and quick to learn new tools.

• You can keep absolute confidentiality (pastoral counseling, giving records, staff issues).

• You’re flexible and unflappable — a deployment schedule change or last-minute preschool event doesn’t rattle you.

• You have a servant’s heart and zero ego — happy to stuff bulletins, answer the phone, or run to Walmart for VBS supplies.

• Bonus if you’ve ever lived the military life or worked in a fast-paced office — you “get” our people.

Heidi Pierce

Preschool Director

Heidi has had the joy of leading Lighthouse Preschool at First Baptist Mascoutah for the past 13 years. What started as a God-given vision that “hit her like a brick wall” has grown into a thriving ministry where little ones hear about Jesus every single day.

She is a Mascoutah girl through and through, having moved here when she was just 2 years old. She grew up in the pews of FBCM, came to faith as a young child, and was baptized right here. Even when life took a few detours, God kept faithfully drawing her back and showing her His perfect plan, a truth she holds close from her life verse, Psalm 40:1-3.

Heidi and her high-school sweetheart, Chris, have been married 22 years (together nearly 30!) and are the proud parents of Ella (nursing student at WKU), Nate (freshman athlete at Mascoutah High who plays anything with a ball or a finish line), and “bonus son” Connor (Ella’s longtime boyfriend serving in the U.S. Coast Guard). Their household is ruled by a large, lazy cat named Zeus who is convinced the couch belongs to him alone.

When she’s not teaching preschoolers or running the preschool, you’ll find Heidi in the bleachers cheering louder than anyone for Nate, sipping plain coffee with milk (or treating herself to a McDonald’s iced French vanilla), and sneaking microwave popcorn whenever possible. She’s read the entire Harry Potter series five times, can quote every episode of Friends, and every Christmas break hosts a family marathon of all eight Potter movies.

Heidi says the very best part of serving at FBCM is the incredible church family that surrounds Lighthouse Preschool, people who are always ready to jump in and help. And of course, her favorite part of every day? The kids!

Lori Graf

Preschool Assistant

If you’ve ever dropped a child off at Lighthouse Preschool, chances are you’ve been greeted by the warm smile and open arms of Lori Graf who has been loving on our little ones for the past thirteen years. Lori is “Mom” to seven grown children and “Gigi” to eight (soon to be more!) grandchildren who keep her heart full and her phone full of pictures.

Lori and her late husband Sam (the love of her life for 36 years) moved to “our Mayberry” of Mascoutah in 1985 when Sam was hired to teach and coach at the high school. They found their church home at First Baptist in 1991 and never left. Sam graduated to Heaven in 2019, and Lori will tell you that the Lord carried her every step of the way—especially on the days she could only whisper, “I believe; help my unbelief.”

Raised in West Frankfort, Lori first met Jesus at her mother’s bedside as a little girl. But for twenty-five years she wrestled with doubt—“Did I have the right kind of faith?” Finally, in simple, childlike trust, she rested in the finished work of Christ, forgave deep childhood wounds, and watched bitterness turn to joy. Her oldest son still loves to say in his own testimony, “If Jesus can change an angry woman like my mom, He can change anybody!”

That same trust sustained her through widowhood and, more recently, through a season of grief and distraction pulled her off the path. Once again the Good Shepherd came looking, restored her soul, and reminded her that His mercies are new every morning. Lori now knows the depth of Psalm 103:12 like never before: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Her life verse—the one that hung on her mama’s wall and has steadied her through every storm—is Isaiah 26:3:“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”

When she’s not soaking up hugs and hilarious preschool wisdom (“Miss Lori, your hair is partly a mess… every part!”), Lori can be found in her 140-year-old farmhouse she’s called home for 37 years, gardening, writing down memories, reading a good book, or babysitting grandkids (and occasionally a very spoiled cat who answers to both Winston and Tom, depending on which of her kids is claiming him that day).

Lori still mourns change (she once had perfect school attendance for five straight years until a college visit cost her the streak—but that’s where she met Sam and earned her “MRS degree,” so all is forgiven!). What she loves most is loving on the Lighthouse kids, pointing them to Jesus, and reminding the rest of us that His grace is big enough for every doubt, every detour, and every new morning.

We’re so glad Gigi Lori is part of our FBCM family!