Reaching Rio Rancho with the Gospel
Celebration Baptist Church sits on Laredo Road in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, where it has planted itself as a mission-shaped body of believers reaching into one of the fastest-growing communities in the Albuquerque metro area. The church's motto, "Reaching our community with God's Love," captures the heartbeat of a congregation that centers its identity on the gospel of Jesus Christ and on sending its people outward into the neighborhoods, the wider state, and the nations beyond.
The congregation gathers each week around preaching, prayer, and the Word, with a clear sense that they exist "to glorify God by reaching the lost, equipping disciples, and sending believers on mission." That mission statement shapes everything from Sunday worship to midweek Bible study to a children's ministry called Praise Park.
Sunday Mornings at Celebration
Visitors arriving for worship will find a 9:00 to 9:50 a.m. Sunday school hour followed by the main worship gathering at 10:00 a.m. Children have classes during the worship service, so families can attend together without dividing up. Children's classes are provided during service time, and the church operates background checks and a volunteer safety process for every worker who serves with young people.
The services are centered on expository preaching and the gospel, and the church highlights 2 Corinthians 5:21 as a defining verse: "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Those who cannot attend in person can find recent messages on the church's YouTube channel, and the sermons page links to the same archive for older messages.
Praise Park and the Children's Ministry
Children's ministry at Celebration is called Praise Park, and the name reflects its purpose: showing God's love to the youngest members of the congregation. Classes meet on Sunday morning during the 10:00 a.m. service, with age-appropriate teaching that points children to Jesus. The prayer of the church is that the children of Celebration will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
On Sunday afternoons at 3:00 p.m., preschoolers can join an AWANA class, and AWANA continues for children ages 4 through high school. AWANA is a Bible-based, Christ-centered program whose goal is to teach boys and girls the gospel and train them to serve Christ. Every AWANA worker has gone through a background check and the church's volunteer safety process.
Youth Ministry
Celebration's youth ministry serves middle and high school students with a mission of helping them grow in faith and take ownership of their walk with Christ, preparing them to live as committed Christ-followers beyond their teen years. The ministry meets weekly for fellowship, worship, and Bible study, and adds fall and spring retreats, mission trips, and monthly fun events on top of the rhythm. Students are encouraged to become peer leaders in their group and to participate in the broader ministries of the church. Families wanting more information can connect with the youth ministry leader, Patrick Wilshusen.
Wednesday Nights: Prayer, Bible Study, and AWANA
Wednesday night prayer and Bible study begins at 6:30 p.m., giving the church family a midweek way to recharge and refocus on the Lord. The gathering takes its shape from 2 Timothy 2:15, where Paul calls believers to be "approved workmen" who handle the Word of God accurately. AWANA also meets on Wednesdays as part of the same evening rhythm, so children and youth can grow in Scripture alongside the adults.
Men's, Women's, and Seniors Ministry
The men's ministry meets the second Saturday of each month at 8:00 a.m. at the church for a bring-something-to-share breakfast, coffee, and Bible discussion. Husbands and fathers look to Proverbs 27:17 and Ephesians 5:25 as they sharpen one another, and the group keeps things relaxed and conversational while staying grounded in Scripture.
The Women's Ministry gathers women of all ages for Bible study, prayer support, and devotional times, with an emphasis on unity, encouragement, mentoring, and helping each woman use her God-given gifts and talents.
The Seniors Ministry is one of the most active groups in the church, with weekly Bible study for spiritual growth, monthly potlucks, and special events like game day and field trips. The ministry encourages seniors to use their talents in serving others, and the potlucks and outings have become a steady rhythm for the older members of the congregation.
What Celebration Believes
Celebration Baptist holds a set of core values organized around its mission to glorify God by reaching the lost, equipping disciples, and sending believers on mission.
The church is Centered on Christ, with Jesus as the center of everything from how the church lives to how it teaches and engages the community. It seeks to be Empowered by the Holy Spirit, recognizing that God's presence and power flow through the church by the Spirit, as Acts 1:8 describes. The congregation is Grounded in Scripture, treating the Bible as the foundation for all truth and the basis on which believers understand God, themselves, and the world. And it aims to be Engaged in Community, both inside the church family and outward into the neighborhoods, the country, and the world.
The Statement of Faith affirms that the Old and New Testaments together are the Word of God, divinely inspired, inerrant in the original writings, and the infallible rule of faith for the church. The Bible's central theme is God's saving purposes in Jesus Christ, and the church considers it disloyal to Jesus to stray from Scripture in belief or practice.
Leadership
Lead Pastor Jesse Parker grew up in the Philippines as the son of Southern Baptist missionaries. He graduated from Ouachita Baptist University and earned an MDiv and ThM from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and is currently completing a doctorate in theological studies. He met his wife Katy while at seminary, and they have two children, Lottie and Logan. Katy grew up in New Mexico, and when God called the family to Rio Rancho they were eager to return to her home state. Jesse enjoys watching sports, playing basketball, and mountain biking.
The church is served by four deacons: Patrick Wilshusen, Jerry Benner, Dan Ware, and Terry Pettit.
Reaching Out from Laredo Road
Each fall the church hosts a Fall Festival and Car Show on its campus, drawing families from across Rio Rancho with food, bounce houses, games, and a chance to admire classic, modern, project, and specialty cars. The festival has become an annual gathering that opens the doors of the church to neighbors and friends who might never otherwise walk through them.
For those who want to support the ministry, giving can be done online through the church's give page. Those exploring faith can also reach out to learn about baptism, a new members class, or beginning a relationship with Christ. The office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and the church can be reached at 505-524-2836 or info@celebratechrist.net.