Steve Poole

Interim Pastor

Steve was raised in a Navy family. Since he moved often he had to learn how to make new friends often. At the age of 12, he accepted Christ at a summer youth camp. He surrendered his life to full-time ministry at the age of 17. He attended University of South Alabama and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he met his wife, Wendy. They served as missionaries with the International Mission Board in the country of Jordan where their eldest son, Ashton was born. Their second son, Zachary, was born in Texas.


Steve was pastor of various ministry areas at churches in four different states before moving to Maryland in 2006. He has served in established churches for 30+ years as pastor in areas of youth, music, education, administration, and even children. In 2015, they became missionaries with the North American Mission Board and started the work to plant Elevate Church in the Eastport community of Annapolis.

Camille Contino

Office Manager

Camille was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in College Park, MD where she was baptized at age 16. After graduating high school, she spent the next 4 years in the great northwest, including Alaska. When she moved back east she began a career in live television news as a satellite traffic coordinator in Alexandria VA, Charlotte NC, and Washington D.C.


Camille eventually settled in Shady Side where she has spent the last 16 years raising her son Cole and growing closer to God through Bible study and service. She owns Believe Photography and enjoys taking pictures of people and the beautiful Chesapeake Bay area.  She also likes watching movies and is an avid reader.


Toni Baden

Director of Children's Ministries

Toni Baden is a born and raised Washingtonian.  She grew up in Cheverly, MD and graduated from Fairmont High School where she met her husband, Dan.  They were married at Central Baptist Church in Bladensburg, MD in 1987.


The Baden's moved to West River in 1993 and have two children, James and Shannon.  Mackenzie joined the Baden family in September of 2015 when she married James.  Toni's first grandchild, Callie, came to bless their lives in December 2017.


Toni enjoys time with family, loves children, laughing and cruising around in her punch buggy convertible. 


Mark Hawkins

Worship Leader

Mark is currently studying music at Towson University with plans to be a High School music teacher. His audition into his program was very successful, and he's performed in choirs for two semesters and had a short recital where he sang three pieces - one in Italian and two English songs.


Mark also is the worship leader at Elevate Church in Annapolis.

Elders

Matt Kasap

Glenn Neubauer

Dave Hursh

Dan Baden

Chris Pearson

Deacons

Herta Bellefleur

Diane Karkosh

Roy Karkosh

Camille Contino

Nick Schaeffer