Staff and Ministry Leaders

Pastor Lonnie Musgrave


     Pastor Musgrave was born in central Pennsylvania in 1966. Raised in a broken home, he was however, taken to a revival meeting with his father at the age of nine. During which time, having heard a clear presentation of the Gospel for the first time in his life, went forward and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour. At that point in his life, and the circumstances he was raised in, he did not know what to do with this new found faith he had committed to, or how to learn to develop it further from that point.

     At age thirteen he agreed to spend some time with his father in Michigan, at which time, he was brought into the teaching and growth of a Fundamental Baptist Church. Confirming his salvation, he was baptized by emersion on his fourteenth birthday and his growth in the Lord accelerated. Having returned home, his teenage years brought forth an opportunity for rebellion and the growth in the Lord once again came to a halt. 

     Much was changed when he met his wife of 36 years and together they have now served the Lord in a multitude of capacities throughout those 36 years of marriage. Called to preach the Gospel in 1998 at 32 years of age, the Musgraves sold their home in central Pennsylvania and moved to Northern Michigan for Bible college and training for the pastorate. While in Bible College, and pastoring a small church in Northern Michigan, they raised their three children and continued to serve the Lord in many capacities. Fruits of the labor, Pastor and Mrs. Musgrave have now been blessed with 6 grandchildren.  

          Pastor was called to our church in May of 2008, when our church was still known in our community as Defiance Baptist Church. Having had a spotted past and enduring a very challenging time in our church history, Pastor Musgrave led us through a name change and with slightly more than 3 faithful families, we began to watch God move in our midst. Following our Pastor’s leadership and the Lord’s direction, we have seen God do some amazing things in the lives of our people and we have become a simple and thriving Church of the Living God, just trying to make a difference for the Kingdom of the Lord.                                                       

                                 
Tim and Jeannie Jewel

Tim and Jeannie Jewel


Junior Church and Sunday School


TIm Jewell and his wife Jeannie teach our Sunday morning Junior Church as well as one of our Sunday School classes. Tim was saved as a child and Jeannie when she turned 17.  They have been married since September of 1994 and share three children of there own, two of which are serving the Lord as adults while their youngest remains at home. Children's ministries have been a cornerstone of their marriage and they welcome the opportunity to teach the children of Heritage Baptist Church.

Zach and Alesha Johnson


Teen Ministry


Zach and Alesha Johnson have the joy of teaching the teens within Heritage Baptist Church.  Zach and Alesha were both saved early in life and have been serving the Lord in some capacity since. Married in June of 2013 they have three young children of there own and have had the opportunity to serve as youth leaders and teen leaders throughout there marriage.  Alesha plays piano and manages the music ministries within HBC while Zach serves as deacon and treasurer. 

Caleb and Jessica Wipf


Bus Ministry and Sunday School


Caleb and Jessica Wipf have the privilage of leading the Bus ministry and the youth Sunday School class at Heritage. Graduates of Bible college in 2024, and married since July of 2025; their heart's greatest desire is to reach the children of Defiance, Ohio with the love of Jesus Christ. Through this ministry they bring children to church where they can hear the Gospel, learn about God's love and know that they are deeply valued and cared for. It is their prayer that every child reached will grow in faith, and experience the hope, joy, and purpose that comes from a personal relationship with Christ.