REV. DR. KEVIN MCBRIDE, SENIOR PASTOR
Pastor Kevin grew up in a strong Italian Catholic family in the church with a deep love and appreciation for God. He came to a personal relationship with Christ through his college roommate, and his call to ministry was affirmed by the Pastors of the church he attended while in college.
Raising fully committed disciples of Christ to carry out Jesus’ priorities summarized in “The Great Commission” to Reach, Teach, and Serve.
My name is Tara Swist and it is a privilege to serve as the Children’s Ministry Director at Raymond Baptist Church. Having a heart for children and a love for sharing the Good News of Christ, I serve alongside my husband Ken, of 20 years, on the worship team, directing Vacation Bible School and serving in various ministries throughout the church.
Raised in a Christian home, I accepted Christ’s gift of salvation at a Billy Graham Crusade in Boston my junior year of high school. Upon graduating high school, I enrolled at Gordon College, in Wenham, MA, earning my Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education.
This led to a 15-year teaching career in both private and public schools, and 7 summer’s directing summer camps. After adopting our 5 children, I have had the privilege of being a stay at home mom, as well as, homeschooling them.
As the Children’s Ministry Director, my desire is to Reach, Teach, and Serve families in equipping them to grow in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, walking alongside them and their children as they “grow in wisdom, in stature and in favor with God and Man,” as proclaimed in Luke 2:52.
I was raised in a small farming town of Dinuba in the central San Joaquin Valley of California. I was saved at a young age and raised in a Christian home. I have spent most of my career working with young people in elementary, middle, and high school in church, private and public schools. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from Simpson University and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Point Loma Nazarene University. I am currently enrolled in New England Bible College and Seminary working on a Master of Divinity degree.
I have been married to my wife Edith for over 25 years and we have 4 wonderful children. I love spending time with family and friends, walking and telling Dad Jokes, for which I will always be the one who laughs the loudest. Edith and I visited New England in October of 2021 and fell in love with this area. We then went home and prayed, asking the Lord if He might bring us here, and He said “Yes!” We feel so blessed to be serving at Raymond Baptist Church. I just love that I get to work with young people and families, discipling, and sharing the love of Jesus with them.
