Leadership

First Baptist Church is led by a plurality of Elders under the headship of Jesus Christ (Acts 14.23, Acts 20.28, 1 Timothy 5.17, Titus 1.5).

James M. McDougal
Deacon

Jim is currently the Chairman of our Deacons committee, a group of seven men who serve the Lord in this local church gladly. He is also the chairman of the Pastoral Search Subcommittee. He has served as a deacon on and off at FBCE for 26 years.

Jim has been a Christian for over 50 years and a member of FBCE for over 30 years. He has led Bible studies, prayer meetings, cooked for the Men’s Breakfast, taught adult Sunday School and led our TV video ministry.

In addition to his other responsibilities, he also preaches a sermon on occasion. He is married and has two children and three grandsons.

Dana P. Steele
Deacon

Dana grew up in Enfield, attending First Baptist Church of Enfield since the age of 10.  He graduated from Fermi High School in 1989 and received a bachelor of science in civil engineering from the University of Connecticut in 1994.  He became the Awana Commander at FBCE in 1998 and began serving as a deacon in 2000.

His responsibilities include teaching Adult Sunday School, leading the worship services, overseeing the children’s ministries and offering counseling.  Dana has been trained in biblical (nouthetic) counseling.  If you or someone you know could benefit from biblical counsel, Dana would welcome your call.

In addition to his ministries at FBCE, Dana also continues to work as a license professional engineer and partner of a civil engineering firm in East Windsor, Connecticut.  He is married and has two young children.

George H. Heiland
Pastor Emeritus 

Pastor and Esther Heiland retired to Florida in November 2018.

Pastor Heiland is from New Jersey.  He graduated from Baptist Bible Seminary with a ThB in 1963.

Pastor ministered for ten years as a home missionary. First Baptist Church of Medford, NJ commissioned him to serve with the Fellowship of Baptist for Home Missions in 1962. He pioneered an apprentice program for one year in Ohio. He served two years in Maryland, five years with First Baptist Church in Enfield CT. followed by two years in Braintree, MA.

In 1973, Pastor Heiland received and accepted a call to return to FBC Enfield as Senior Pastor, serving in that capacity for 21 years. Seeking a respite from ministry, he worked four years for a diagnostic lab in Virginia. Pastor was called again to serve as a missionary. Having been sent by FBC Enfield, he served with Grace Baptist Missions International in Port St Lucie, FL.

After serving ten years in Florida, Pastor  returned to Connecticut to serve  once again at First Baptist Church of Enfield.  He and Esther have once again retired to Florida. He is married with three grown children and several grandchildren.