Mission
Helping people find and follow Jesus Christ.
Vision
Transformed lives leaving a godly legacy.
Our Story
Fellowship Bible Church began in 1996, when God moved in the hearts of 20 families from Topeka Bible Church to plant a church in west Topeka - a church with the mission of helping people find a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and follow Him with their lives. The early years of the mission were difficult and included a failure in leadership and a painful church split; however, God showed us His power is made perfect in weakness as He carried Fellowship through those hard times.
After hopping between schools for the first few years, God blessed us with a brand new building at 17th and Indian Hills and we moved there in May of 2000. Two years later, the elders hired Joe Hishmeh to be the new lead pastor and between 2002 and 2006, the church grew from 150 people in weekend worship to 650. It quickly became clear that more space was needed and Fellowship Bible Church was able to purchase 12 acres of land at 10th and Urish to begin construction of a new facility.
In October of 2007, Fellowship Bible Church held its first official service at our current location.
In the 15 years since, God has continued to be faithful to our church. He has blessed us with incredible opportunities to engage the community around us with the gospel, including movements like Love Topeka, Sharefest, and Fellowship Hi-Crest. Even as we have continued to grow as a congregation, God has faithfully provided for our needs every step of the way. And even though we have had many changes in venue, size, and staff in the years since 1996, one thing that has never changed about Fellowship is our commitment to God, His Word, and people. We are confident that God has great plans for Fellowship in the coming years and are excited to see where He leads us next!
Fellowship Values
God
We love God because He first loved us. Our love grows for God when we get to know Him, obey His commands, faithfully endure through difficult times and worship Him in all circumstances.
His Word
We are grounded in God’s Word, the Bible. The Bible reveals who God is and helps us understand what He has done to restore us to Himself and how to come to Him through Jesus. We are also guided by the Bible as it provides a blueprint for us to live a life that responds lovingly to God and others.
People
God loves people. We want to love people the way Christ loves us. This love motivates us to give generously, serve sacrificially, share the truth and grace of Christ, and invest all we are and have to further God’s kingdom in the lives of people.
THE SCRIPTURES
The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed. We believe the Bible is living and active and is to be learned and lived.
2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2:15; 2 Pet. 1:20,21; Mat. 5:18; Jhn. 16:12-13, 17:17; Heb. 4:12; Rom. 10:17; Jas. 1:22
THE GODHEAD
We believe in one God eternally existing in three equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each has the same nature and attributes but is distinct in office and activity.
Mt 28:19; Isa 6:8; Mt 3:16-17; 1 Cor 6:11; 2 Cor 1:21-22; 1 Pet 1:2
GOD THE FATHER
The first person of the Trinity is an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. God the Father orders and directs all things according to His own purpose and pleasure, full of grace and truth. Because of His great love for people, He draws them to Himself, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Mat. 6:9; Jhn. 1:14, 3:16, 4:23-24, 5:19-24, 6:44; Eph. 1:3-6; Psa. 34:18
THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST
The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary to reveal God and redeem sinful humanity. He lived a sinless life and brought Good News to all in a broken world, accomplishing our salvation through His death on the cross as the only mediator between God and humanity. In obedience to the Father, He became our substitutionary sacrifice. He then ascended into Heaven and sits exalted at the right hand of the Father. As Prophet, Priest, and King, He is now our representative before the Father and Head of the Universal Church. Our justification is made sure by His real, physical resurrection from the dead. Our blessed hope is His future return.
Isa. 61:1; Jhn. 1:1- 2,14; Luk. 1:35, 4:18; Acts 1:9-11; Rom. 3:24, 8:34; Eph. 1:7; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6:15; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 7:25, 9:24; 1 Pet. 1:3-5, 2:24; 1 Jhn. 2:1-2
THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and during this age to convict people, regenerate the believing sinner, and indwell, seal, guide, instruct, unite, and empower believers for godly living and service, producing spiritual fruit.
Jhn. 14:26, 16:8-11; 2 Cor. 3:6; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13-14, 2:10, 5:18; 1 Cor. 12; Jhn. 3:1-8, 15:16; Gal. 5:16-25
CREATION
God created, out of nothing, all things in heaven and earth for His glory, and they exist by His power.
Gen 1:1; Col 1:16-17; Heb 1:2-3,11:3; Rev 4:11
HUMANITY
Man and woman were created in the image of God, without sin and in loving relationship with God. Instead of following God, they chose to disobey Him and sinned, resulting in spiritual and physical death. Because of Adam’s sin, all people inherit a sinful nature and are born spiritually dead, destined for hell. But God, through Jesus Christ, demonstrated his love for sinful humanity to save and restore them to an eternal relationship with Him.
Gen. 1:1; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:2-3,11:3; Rev. 4:11
SALVATION
God offers salvation as a free gift to all who believe in the person and work of Jesus Christ. God provides salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, which cleanses us from all sin, frees us from the penalty and power of sin, and delivers us from death and eternal separation from God in hell. Salvation is not from good works. God forgives our sins by His grace through our personal faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for sin. Although God desires all people to be saved, only those who receive Christ and believe in Him for salvation are chosen by God to have eternal life with Him, and once saved, they are kept secure in Christ forever.
Jhn. 1:12, 3:16, 5:24, 6:40, 10:27-30, 11:25, 20:31; Acts 4:12, 13:38-39; Rom. 3:23. 6:11-14, 23, 10:9-13; Eph. 1:3-7, 2:8-9; 1 Tim. 2:3-4; Tit. 3:4-7; Heb. 9:22; 1 Jhn. 1:7, 5:11-13; 2 Pet. 3:9
SANCTIFICATION
Through sanctification, God sets us apart for His purposes. Sanctification is threefold: positional, progressive, and ultimate. Positionally, when we put our faith in Christ we are set apart for God. Progressive sanctification occurs as we grow in grace by the power of the Holy Spirit to become more like Jesus. Ultimately, children of God will be completely set apart from all sin when taken up to be with Christ.
Jhn. 17:17, 19; Acts 26:18; Rom. 8:28-29, Gal. 2:20; 2 Cor. 3:18, 7:1; Eph. 2:10, 4:24, 5:25-27; Phil. 1:6, 1 Thess. 5:23-24; 2 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 10:10, 14, 12:10; 1 Pet. 1:2
THE CHURCH
The Universal Church is a living spiritual body, of which Jesus Christ is the Head. All those who profess Jesus Christ and have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit belong to the Universal Church. The Scriptures instruct all believers to be in community with a local church for worship, service, fellowship, and spiritual growth. God has commissioned His Church to bring hope to the world by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to help people find and follow Him.
Mat. 16:13-28, 28:18-20, 24:36, 24-25; Jhn. 14:1-3; Acts 2:9-11, 41-47, 4:1-16; Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 1:22-23, 2:19-22, 4:11-13, 5:19-32; Col. 1:24-27; 1 Thess. 4:15-17; Tit. 3:5-6; Heb. 10:24-25
BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
Water baptism and the Lord's Supper are God-ordained ceremonies, instituted by Christ, taught by the Apostles, and practiced by the early Church. They are to be observed by believers until Christ returns. These ordinances reflect our union with Christ and with other believers.
Water baptism portrays important scriptural realities. It proclaims Christ's death and resurrection. It serves public notice to the world of one's new life in Christ. It pictures a believer's death to sin, resurrection to spiritual life, and a new way of living through the power of the Holy Spirit. Baptism does not save, yet every believe, serious in his or her faith, should also be serious about baptism. The command of Scripture is "be baptized." By it, we both please the Lord and declare His reality in our lives and to the world.
Mt. 10:32, 28:19-20; Rom. 6:3-7, 10-11; 1 Cor. 15:1-4
The Lord's Supper is a remembrance and celebration of Christ's death with the elements being symbols of His body and blood. Every believer has a right to partake of the elements of the Lord's Supper, but participation should be preceded by sincere self-examination.
Mt. 26:26-28;1 Cor 11:23-30
END TIMES
The imminent appearing of Jesus Christ at the rapture of the Church is the blessed hope of every believer. Following a time of great tribulation, Jesus Christ will physically return to the earth, condemn Satan and evil, and reign in righteousness forever. Though the time of Christ's return is a mystery known only to the Father Himself, it is as sure as Jesus' first coming. There will be a bodily resurrection; the lost will experience eternal punishment and the saved will experience peace, joy, and the restoration of all things with God forever.
Mt 24-25; Jn 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Cor. 15; 1 Th 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-14; Rev 20-22
Fellowship Values
God
We love God because He first loved us. Our love grows for God when we get to know Him, obey His commands, faithfully endure through difficult times and worship Him in all circumstances.
His Word
We are grounded in God’s Word, the Bible. The Bible reveals who God is and helps us understand what He has done to restore us to Himself and how to come to Him through Jesus. We are also guided by the Bible as it provides for us a blueprint to live a life that responds to God and lovingly responds to others.
People
God loves people. We want to love people the way Christ loves us. This love motivates us to give generously, serve sacrificially, share the truth and grace of Christ, and invest all we are and have to further God’s kingdom in the lives of people.
THE SCRIPTURES
The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed. We believe the Bible is living and active and is to be learned and lived.
2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2:15; 2 Pet. 1:20,21; Mat. 5:18; Jhn. 16:12-13, 17:17; Heb. 4:12; Rom. 10:17; Jas. 1:22
THE GODHEAD
We believe in one God eternally existing in three equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each has the same nature and attributes but is distinct in office and activity.
Mt 28:19; Isa 6:8; Mt 3:16-17; 1 Cor 6:11; 2 Cor 1:21-22; 1 Pet 1:2
GOD THE FATHER
The first person of the Trinity is an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. God the Father orders and directs all things according to His own purpose and pleasure, full of grace and truth. Because of His great love for people, He draws them to Himself, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Mat. 6:9; Jhn. 1:14, 3:16, 4:23-24, 5:19-24, 6:44; Eph. 1:3-6; Psa. 34:18
THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST
The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary to reveal God and redeem sinful humanity. He lived a sinless life and brought Good News to all in a broken world, accomplishing our salvation through His death on the cross as the only mediator between God and humanity. In obedience to the Father, He became our substitutionary sacrifice. He then ascended into Heaven and sits exalted at the right hand of the Father. As Prophet, Priest, and King, He is now our representative before the Father and Head of the Universal Church. Our justification is made sure by His real, physical resurrection from the dead. Our blessed hope is His future return.
Isa. 61:1; Jhn. 1:1- 2,14; Luk. 1:35, 4:18; Acts 1:9-11; Rom. 3:24, 8:34; Eph. 1:7; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6:15; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 7:25, 9:24; 1 Pet. 1:3-5, 2:24; 1 Jhn. 2:1-2
THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and during this age to convict people, regenerate the believing sinner, and indwell, seal, guide, instruct, unite, and empower believers for godly living and service, producing spiritual fruit.
Jhn. 14:26, 16:8-11; 2 Cor. 3:6; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13-14, 2:10, 5:18; 1 Cor. 12; Jhn. 3:1-8, 15:16; Gal. 5:16-25
CREATION
God created, out of nothing, all things in heaven and earth for His glory, and they exist by His power.
Gen 1:1; Col 1:16-17; Heb 1:2-3,11:3; Rev 4:11
HUMANITY
Man and woman were created in the image of God, without sin and in loving relationship with God. Instead of following God, they chose to disobey Him and sinned, resulting in spiritual and physical death. Because of Adam’s sin, all people inherit a sinful nature and are born spiritually dead, destined for hell. But God, through Jesus Christ, demonstrated his love for sinful humanity to save and restore them to an eternal relationship with Him.
Gen. 1:1; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:2-3,11:3; Rev. 4:11
SALVATION
God offers salvation as a free gift to all who believe in the person and work of Jesus Christ. God provides salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, which cleanses us from all sin, frees us from the penalty and power of sin, and delivers us from death and eternal separation from God in hell. Salvation is not from good works. God forgives our sins by His grace through our personal faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for sin. Although God desires all people to be saved, only those who receive Christ and believe in Him for salvation are chosen by God to have eternal life with Him, and once saved, they are kept secure in Christ forever.
Jhn. 1:12, 3:16, 5:24, 6:40, 10:27-30, 11:25, 20:31; Acts 4:12, 13:38-39; Rom. 3:23. 6:11-14, 23, 10:9-13; Eph. 1:3-7, 2:8-9; 1 Tim. 2:3-4; Tit. 3:4-7; Heb. 9:22; 1 Jhn. 1:7, 5:11-13; 2 Pet. 3:9
SANCTIFICATION
Through sanctification, God sets us apart for His purposes. Sanctification is threefold: positional, progressive, and ultimate. Positionally, when we put our faith in Christ we are set apart for God. Progressive sanctification occurs as we grow in grace by the power of the Holy Spirit to become more like Jesus. Ultimately, children of God will be completely set apart from all sin when taken up to be with Christ.
Jhn. 17:17, 19; Acts 26:18; Rom. 8:28-29, Gal. 2:20; 2 Cor. 3:18, 7:1; Eph. 2:10, 4:24, 5:25-27; Phil. 1:6, 1 Thess. 5:23-24; 2 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 10:10, 14, 12:10; 1 Pet. 1:2
THE CHURCH
The Universal Church is a living spiritual body, of which Jesus Christ is the Head. All those who profess Jesus Christ and have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit belong to the Universal Church. The Scriptures instruct all believers to be in community with a local church for worship, service, fellowship, and spiritual growth. God has commissioned His Church to bring hope to the world by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to help people find and follow Him.
Mat. 16:13-28, 28:18-20, 24:36, 24-25; Jhn. 14:1-3; Acts 2:9-11, 41-47, 4:1-16; Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 1:22-23, 2:19-22, 24; 4:11-13, 5:19-32; Col. 1:24-27; 1 Thess. 4:15-17; Tit. 3:5-6; Heb. 10:24-25
BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
Water baptism and the Lord's Supper are God-ordained ceremonies, instituted by Christ, taught by the Apostles, and practiced by the early Church. They are to be observed by believers until Christ returns. These ordinances reflect our union with Christ and with other believers.
Water baptism portrays important scriptural realities. It proclaims Christ's death and resurrection. It serves public notice to the world of one's new life in Christ. It pictures a believer's death to sin, resurrection to spiritual life, and a new way of living through the power of the Holy Spirit. Baptism does not save, yet every believe, serious in his or her faith, should also be serious about baptism. The command of Scripture is "be baptized." By it, we both please the Lord and declare His reality in our lives and to the world.
Mt. 10:32, 28:19-20; Rom. 6:3-7, 10-11; 1 Cor. 15:1-4
The Lord's Supper is a remembrance and celebration of Christ's death with the elements being symbols of His body and blood. Every believer has a right to partake of the elements of the Lord's Supper, but participation should be preceded by sincere self-examination.
Mt. 26:26-28;1 Cor 11:23-30
END TIMES
The imminent appearing of Jesus Christ at the rapture of the Church is the blessed hope of every believer. Following a time of great tribulation, Jesus Christ will physically return to the earth, condemn Satan and evil, and reign in righteousness forever. Though the time of Christ's return is a mystery known only to the Father Himself, it is as sure as Jesus' first coming. There will be a bodily resurrection; the lost will experience eternal punishment and the saved will experience peace, joy, and the restoration of all things with God forever.
Mt 24-25; Jn 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Cor. 15; 1 Th 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-14; Rev 20-22
“I love serving on the elder team because I get to serve with people who genuinely love God and others and who are singularly focused on helping people find and follow Jesus. It has also pushed me to deepen my relationship with Jesus"
RICH M. | TOPEKA, KS
Our Team
Leadership
Joe Hishmeh
Lead Pastor/Elder
Katie Geiger
Lead Pastor Administrative Assistant
Brian Tryhus
Pastor of Ministries
Discipleship
Jeremy Wynne
Adult Discipleship Team Lead
Angie Stewart
Discipleship Administrative Assistant
Chelle Knapp
Women’s Ministry Director
Cody Lekan
Community Groups Director
Liam Weingartner
Connections Coordinator
Family
Doug Congdon
Family Ministry Lead
Ryan Goetzmann
Middle School Coordinator / Young Adult Coordinator
Lilly Lekan
Nursery Coordinator
Kielyn Smith
Children’s Director
Jennie Steinhoff
Family Ministry Administrative Assistant
Tim Walker
Student Director
Amy Weatherford
Student Coordinator / Young Adult Coordinator
Alli Weingartner
Preschool Coordinator
Kaden Harms
Elementary Coordinator
Lifecare
Frank Eschmann
LifeCare Ministry Lead
Bob Fulmer
Marriage Director
Lorraine Haug
LifeCare Director
Jennie Steinhoff
LifeCare Administrative Assistant
Operations
Zach Bloom
Associate Director of Technical Arts
Kyler Cogburn
Visual Media Coordinator
Wyatt Johnston
Technical Arts Director
Kris Klima
Communications Coordinator
Steve Poage
Treasurer / Finances
Mary Kemper
Office Administrative Assistant
Bruce Tidball
Facilities Director
Margaret Bengtson
Facilities Support
Katie Golder
Facilities Support
Brian Guest
Facilities Support
Eva Gentry
Financial Administrative Assistant
Outreach
Jeremy Wynne
Interim Outreach Ministry Lead
Angie Stewart
Outreach Administrative Assistant
Brody Lumpkins
Local Outreach Coordinator
Worship Arts
Bill Horn
Worship Ministry Lead
Ben Harwood
Worship Ministry Associate
Emma Wittmer
Digital Ministry Coordinator
Elders
Rick Tague
Greg Armbruster
Bill Hess
Joe Hishmeh
Doug Congdon
Rich McKee
Steve Prieb