New Greenbelt Pastor Trades in Bike Racing Ambitions to Win Souls

Timothy Michael Christ is the new pastor to a well known church in Old Greenbelt, .

Initially, Christ had the ambition to pursue a career in racing mountain bikes but soon found that his true passion was preaching, and he has been doing just that for the last 10 years.

Greenbelt Baptist has had over six pastors since its start in 1953. Now Christ has taken up the baton. Music director, Claudio Ruoff, feels he's started with a gusto.

“He just dived right in," Ruoff said. “He relates so well with people of all ages. He’s just wonderful with kids, compassionate toward the seniors and always willing to listen and talk.”

“I’m learning.” Christ adds, “The church is patient. They help me help them."

Christ approaches his ministry with a vision for expansion.

“I want to see the church grow, whether that’s more people or a better understanding of whom God is and connecting with Him more deeply,” Christ said.

The expansion started with him, as he came into the congregation bringing a few new members: his wife of eight years, Rebecca Christ, and their three young children, who joined him as the new first family of Greenbelt Baptist Church. 

Prior to coming to Greenbelt, Christ spent three years in Turkey on a missionary trip to help improve an existing ministry. He worked in Maryland as the associate pastor at First Baptist Church of Perryville for about three years prior to his mission work.

Christ was educated in Theology and Divinity at Capital Bible Seminary in Lanham, Md., and at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, and he is currently working on his doctorate.

He said he puts a large amount of effort into his sermons, often researching libraries, university and online sources — as evidenced by the piles of books stacked on his office desk, each one thicker than the last.

“I enjoy seeing the scripture come alive in people,” Christ said.

This preacher said he loves his family and studying the Word of God. In addition to his fondness for Italian food and the color blue, Christ said he truly enjoys any opportunity he has to help others get to know Jesus Christ.

“I really enjoy helping people connect to God, whether that’s preaching or counseling. I really love (this) local church. Hopefully, I’ll be staying a while.”

Among his enjoyments, though no longer at the top of the list, Christ does still hop on his bike every now and then.