jasonwhalen

Pastor Jason will preach for the first time as our Senior Pastor this Sunday, May 5. Pray for Jason, Andrea, their family, and our church family in this time of transition.

Jason Whalen
Age: 41
Wife:  Andrea
Children:  Caleb (12), Carmen (9), Michael (6), Daniel (1)
Education:  Doctoral Candidate Phoenix Seminary, Master of Divinity Phoenix Seminary, B.A. Political Science Arizona State University

Jason was born in Rochester, New York in 1971. He spent most of his formative years in Phoenix, where his family moved when he was eight years old. During eighth grade his parents’ marriage ended. In the midst of this a cousin shared the gospel with him, and he gave his life to Christ.

While attending college near his father’s home in Maryland, Jason grew in his faith and became a student leader of the campus chapter of Campus Crusade for Christ. Midway through his college years, he transferred to Arizona State University, where he met Andrea, who would become his wife three and a half years later in 1995.

After graduation from ASU in 1994, Jason enrolled at Phoenix Seminary with a deep desire to better understand the Bible. He received his Master of Divinity degree in 1999, and soon accepted a position as Pastor to Young Adults at First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton, California. In late 2007, after nine years in that role, Jason became senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Elk Grove near Sacramento.