New Pastor at First Baptist Church: Rev. Dr. Scott Arnold

Rev. Dr. Scott Arnold, the newly-settled minister of Bedford's First Baptist Church, with his wife Marilyn. Courtesy photo — *Rev. Dr. Scott Arnold, the newly-settled minister of Bedford’s First Baptist Church, with his wife Marilyn. Courtesy photo*

Submitted by the First Baptist Church of Bedford

The First Baptist Church of Bedford gladly announces the calling of the Rev. Dr. Scott Arnold as its settled pastor. Rev. Arnold comes to us from the Union Church of Quincy, MI, and has served other American Baptist churches in Grand Blanc and Battle Creek, MI. No stranger to New England, Rev. Arnold has pastored churches in Providence, RI, and Needham, MA. One of his biggest influences is that of his grandfather, Rev. Forrest R. Gilmore, an American Baptist minister for over 50 years in New England.

Rev. Arnold grew up in Michigan. He earned an Associate’s degree in Art from Delta College in Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region, a Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning from Michigan State University in East Lansing, a Master of Divinity in Urban Ministry from Northern Baptist Seminary in Chicago, IL, and a Doctor of Ministry in Discipleship from Luther Rice University in Lithonia, GA. During the last two years, Rev. Arnold has helped American Baptist Churches of Michigan and American Baptist Churches USA in developing a missional focus in evangelism and discipleship. He has worked in children’s and youth ministry, helped pioneer a summer Bible camp, served as a hospital chaplain, taught seminary classes, and authored four books on faith and theology. One of Rev. Arnold’s books, Soul Fruit: Bearing Blessings through Cancer, recounts the cancer survival stories of both him and his son Thom.

Married 30 years, Rev. Arnold and his wife Marilyn have three adult sons, Mark, Thom and John. Marilyn is Filipino, was baptized by an American Baptist missionary, and immigrated to the United States in 1978. She is a critical care nurse at Emerson Hospital.

Rev. Arnold, who began serving First Baptist on the last Sunday in September, believes that God’s Word is divinely inspired and authoritative, that the Holy Spirit operates under Christ’s Lordship to bring about personal transformation, renewal for the Church and growth in outreach, evangelism, worship and missional witness. He has a big heart for the lost, for those who are alienated from God and from one another. He enjoys painting, photography, fishing, playing guitar, model railroading and slot cars, ethnic dining, theatre, poetry, art galleries, Baptist History in New England, and antiquing.

Located at 155 Concord Road, First Baptist Church warmly welcomes all. Sunday worship service is at 10:30 am with Church School for the children during the last part of the service. Adult Class is held at 9:15-10:15 am. For further information, call 781-275-8151, email [email protected], or see the website at www.fbcbedford.net.