Leadership

Rev. Marshall Faulkenberry

Lead Pastor

Pastor Marshall and his wife Hellen have been in ministry together since 1993 when they were married at FBC Holiday, FL where Marshall was serving as Minister to Students. Marshall and Hellen first met in 1990 at Trinity College of Florida, from which they both graduated. Marshall later attended Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he earned a Master of Theological Studies degree.

Marshall received Christ as his personal Savior at the age of 15 at FBC of Merritt Island, FL. Hellen grew up in St. Petersburg, FL with her identical twin sister and two brothers. She also knows Christ as her Savior, having made that decision in High School. They are blessed with a growing family of three adult children, a daughter-in-law, son-in-law and two grandsons. Marshall and Hellen are also blessed to have parents who also each professed Christ as Savior.

Marshall and Hellen began serving here at Friendship in October of 2023. They have previously served together in six churches in Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa prior to arriving here in Live Oak.

Get in Touch

Our Ministry Leaders

Wanda Crowe

Music Ministries Leader

Wanda leads our music ministry with passion and dedication, helping our congregation worship through song and praise. She brings years of experience in church music and a heart for leading others into meaningful worship experiences.

CJ Lewis

Student Ministries Leader

CJ leads The Vine Student Ministry, serving students in grades 7-12. With a focus on discipleship and fellowship, CJ helps teens grow in their faith and develop lasting relationships in a Christ-centered community.

Cindy Heffernan

Children's Ministries Leader

Cindy oversees our children's ministries, including AWANA and Sunday School. She creates engaging, faith-building experiences for children from age 2 through 6th grade, helping them learn about God's love in fun and meaningful ways.

Our Vision & Mission

Our Motto

God's Will, God's Way, for God's Glory!

At Friendship, this is who we are. Where does that purpose come from? It comes from Scripture. The Bible lays out for believers in Jesus who we are and what we are to be about. That purpose has not changed since Jesus ascended into Heaven. The Bible records this purpose for us in passages like Matthew 28:19 which says, "Go and make Disciples..."

Our Mission

God's Will, God's Way, for God's Glory

Everything we do at Friendship Baptist is driven by the desire to honor God. From our Sunday morning worship to our midweek programs, from community outreach to personal discipleship -- we seek to do God's Will, God's Way, for God's Glory in all things.

Our Roots

Staying True to Who We Are

Friendship started over a century and a half ago to reach the lost and minister to the needs of the surrounding community of farmers. While we have grown and changed over the years, we take pride in remaining a country church that accepts people as they are and that has never met a stranger. We are a friendly church, so come on out and join us as we Worship our God.

Our Facilities

Keeping it Simple

Sticking with our Baptist roots, you will find our facilities to be clean, safe, and simple. We strive to keep our kids and our community safe and enjoyable. We care about our environment, and work diligently to leave as small a footprint on it as we can. Our campus couldn't be in a more beautiful setting. Come, and enjoy it with us!

What We Believe

Our message is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have no creed but the Bible and believe it is God's Word to us, written by human authors who were divinely inspired. It is true, without mistakes as originally written, revealing God's plan for salvation. It is our sole source of truth and authority for Christian living.

We believe there is one living and true God who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is the Creator and Ruler of all things. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ. He was miraculously born of a virgin; lived a sinless life; willingly offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross; was bodily resurrected after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death; ascended to the right hand of the Father; and will return again to earth as King of kings and Lord of lords.

We believe salvation is possible only through faith in Jesus Christ. A person comes into right relationship with God and receives His free gift of eternal life the moment he/she chooses to turn from their sin and place their faith in Jesus. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian.

A more detailed explanation of beliefs commonly held by churches cooperating with the Southern Baptist Convention can be found at: Baptist Faith & Message 2000.