About Us
Who We Are
Beacon – a beacon is a guidance signal (most often one that emits light) used to help travelers navigate safely to their intended destination. Our desire is to send the light of Jesus Christ’s glorious saving gospel in Gig Harbor, the Kitsap Peninsula, and around the world!
Baptist – while we enjoy fellowship with other likeminded churches, we are not affiliated with any association, board, convention, denomination, fellowship, or educational institution. Our distinctive doctrinal beliefs are those traditionally held by Bible-believing Baptists. You can read more about our beliefs here.
Church – we are a called-out assembly of believers in Jesus Christ, who have been baptized and commissioned to do his work!
Our History
Beacon Baptist Church had its beginnings when Calvary Baptist Church of King, NC sent Bro. Terry Lawson and his family to the Kitsap Peninsula in 2012 to plant a church. The first service was held on October 21st of that year at Goodman Middle School. In 2014 the church moved to its current meeting location on 38th Ave. The church was organized on November 8, 2015, with 20 charter members.
Pastor Lawson moved to Reidsville, NC and assumed the pastorate of New Heights Baptist Church in April of 2019. At that time Pastor Kyle McMillan began selflessly serving as interim pastor, while simultaneously continuing to pastor Skyline Baptist Church in Seattle, WA. During this time, he and his family spent countless hours commuting on I-5, preaching and ministering in five church services each week between Seattle and Gig Harbor.
In 2020, God used the United States Air Force to move Andrew Geist and his family to Seattle, where they met Pastor McMillan and joined Skyline Baptist Church. As Andrew carried out his Air Force duties as a member of Reserve Officer Training Corps detachment at the University of Washington, the Geists joined the McMillans in ministering to Beacon Baptist Church, contributing to the preaching, music, and children’s ministries. God used this season to reveal his call on Andrew’s life, and in 2021 he committed to separate from the Air Force and become a pastor.
After many months of prayer and preparation, on July 13, 2023, the church unanimously voted to call Bro. Geist to the pastorate of Beacon Baptist Church. He was ordained and installed as pastor the following Sunday, July 16. You can read more about Pastor Geist here.