General History

Born in 1972, Joseph Baxter grew up on a farm near Springfield, Missouri. He is the youngest of six brothers. The family attended a small Southern Baptist Church throughout Joseph's childhood. Despite the Holy Spirit of God dealing with Joseph's heart for Salvation during these years, he did not repent and accept the Lord Jesus Christ until the age of 19. A more detailed testimony of Salvation can be found at here.

Karis Baxter is the daughter of Kirk and Bonnie King, missionaries to Albania. Before marrying Joseph, Karis spent three years in Albania during her parent’s first term. In that time, she became semi-proficient in the language.

Karis was saved at twenty-two years old and followed the Lord in scriptural Baptism. She has been used of God to lead several ladies to Salvation, particularly after teaching through the six lessons of the Basic Bible Truths.

She is active in the church choir, leads in devotions at monthly Ladies Meetings, and is always ready to fill-in for children’s Sunday School teachers.

Karis and Joseph have been married since May of 1999. The Lord has blessed them with six children: Kendra, Evan, Titus, Nolan, Liam and Colin.

Ministry Experience

EVANGELIST, CRITICAL ARMOR FAMILY INTERNET SAFETY (2016 to PRESENT) Multi-part training program for churches, instructing families in Biblical principles for safety and protection from the influences of sin through technology, media, and the Internet. The Zone Strategy teaches a “defense-in-depth” strategy, dividing technology into four primary zones (Device, Network, Internet, and Physical) and preaches the Heart as the foundational Zone Zero. Critical Armor conferences have been held in many states, such as North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, and Washington.

MEMBER, MOUNT CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH - CLAYTON, NC (2014 to 2019)

• CHURCH DEACON (January 2016) - Serves church and pastor as defined by the Biblical qualifications and responsibilities listed in I Timothy Chapter 3. Worked with pastor to re-write Church Constitution and By-Laws (using Christian Law Association template).
• SUNDAY SCHOOL DIRECTOR (January 2016) - Develop and/or certify doctrinal Sunday School curricula for Sunday School Program as Sunday School Director. Served as teacher for Auditorium Class.

MEMBER, BEREAN BAPTIST CHURCH - SPRINGFIELD, MO (2003 to 2014)

• HOPE ADDICTIONS RECOVERY PROGRAM DIRECTOR (2012 to 2014) - Using the program entitled “Helping Others Put off Entanglements” created by Pastor Rick Carter (Beth Haven Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, OK) to promote the true freedom from addition available only through Christ Jesus. The HOPE program, meeting on Friday nights, provided group training (READY), small group dividing men and women (SET), and a time of preaching (GO). Each night focused on one of the fifteen Bible Truths.

• JUNIOR DEPARTMENT TEACHER (2008 to 2011) - Teach doctrinal Bible lessons to grades four through six. Maintain excitement for the Bible and God’s Word through Sword Drills, Activities, and lively teaching. Promote Bible memorization and a close walk with the Lord.

PASTOR, TENTH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH - ROLLA, MO (2002 to 2003) Upon call confirmed by church, led in the initiation of a Faith-Promise mission program to establish dedicated plan to support missionaries monthly. Began weekly Men’s Prayer meetings. Began weekly evangelism and visitation program. Worked to establish doctrinal basis of church members in order to strengthen the church in the fulfilment of the Great Commission as mandated by the Lord in the Book of Acts. Began monthly support for two foreign-field missionaries.

MEMBER, BEREAN BAPTIST CHURCH - SPRINGFIELD, MO (1992 to 2002)

• COLLEGE AND CAREER CLASS TEACHER (1999 to 2002) - Teach Bible lessons to college age group, plan and host class activities, and promote spiritual well-being among the class members. Activity recruit class from Baptist Bible College and other universities in the area.

• INTERIM, WILSON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH - AURORA, MO (1997) As an unmarried preacher, filled pulpit weekly for church without pastor, including Sunday School, Sunday Preaching Hour, and Sunday evening services for many months.

• NURSING HOME MINISTRY - Maintain weekly services (music and preaching) for at least one of many nursing homes in contact with Berean Baptist Church.

• OUTSIDE PULPIT SUPPLY - As sent out by Pastor Gray and (later) Pastor Ables. Filled pulpits throughout Missouri, including Preston, Aurora, St. Clair, Cassville, Sparta, Warsaw, Buffalo, Holden, and others.

Bible Training and Education

ORDINATION - BEREAN BAPTIST CHURCH - Springfield, MO (2002) After public doctrinal interrogation by a council of ordained pastors and missionaries, the church received a recommendation to ordain. The church voted to sustain the council’s considered recommendation to ordain.

BEREAN BAPTIST BIBLE INSTITUTE - Springfield, MO Pastoral training institute of the Berean Baptist Church, initiated by the late former pastor Leon Gray, and continued under Pastor Jeffrey Ables. God has used Berean (and this institute) to plant and organize twenty-eight churches within the United States. This training has also been used with direct missionaries to foreign fields, such as Australia.

BAPTIST BIBLE COLLEGE - Springfield, MO Attended single semester immediately prior to the institution of Heartland Baptist Bible College in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Discontinued enrollment to focus solely on Berean Institute.