Executive Board

Lee Axtell, President

Lee Axtell is a native of San Pedro, California.  He grew up in an American Baptist Church and gives credit to his Junior and Senior High Youth Pastors for his formation and subsequent calling to full time ministry.  He earned a Masters of Divinity from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1989 and Doctor of Ministry from Andover Newton Theological School in Boston, Massachusetts in 2016.  He is a Navy Chaplain and serves at Marine Corps Forces, Pacific at Camp Smith, Hawaii.  He is married to Paula and they have three daughters Kayleigh, Alexandra and Piper, and three grandchildren.

Sonnie Kerr, Vice President / Clerk

Sonnie was born in Seoul Korea and moved to Chicago when she was 6 years old.  When she was 12, her parents moved to the  west suburbs of Chicago to Glendale Heights. It was there that her parents but her and her brother on a bus to attend a southern Baptist church.  She accepted Christ when at that church. When she moved to Hawaii, she found First Baptist Church since it was down the street from her house. She has attended this church for over 30 years.

Crystal Bise, Treasurer

Crystal is a local girl born and raised in the sugar plantation town of Waipahu, the youngest of 5 children. She was raised by Christian parents that made her go to church every Sunday but she did not accept Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior until the Fall of 1974. While attending UH Manoa, Crystal joined First Baptist Church of Honolulu and has been a member there for over 35 years serving in a variety of different ministries, but her passion lies in teaching. She is also gifted in mentoring other women in their faith. Crystal is a single parent of a wonderfully creative daughter (Lace) who lives in San Francisco. While at UH Crystal earned a Bachelors in Human Development. She is employed by the Hawaii Association of REALTORS as Manager of Institute Services. Crystal is married to Kerry Bise.

Leadership Team

IMG_6314Connie Ma, Specialized Ministries Director

Connie was born and raised in Hong Kong. She married  Andy and moved to Hawaii in 1987, they have  two wonderful children- Philip and Judy.
Connie works at Stevenson Middle School as an Educational Assistant, a position she has held since 2007. She has been a member of FBCH since 2001. During those years she has served the Lord in a variety of different ways. Currently she attends the women’s Bible study group that meets on Saturday mornings and teaches the children’s Sunday School class.  Connie’s love for the Lord and for children is evident. Of her work with children she says,  I am learning a lot of patience, and God helps me to show kindness and love to the children he has placed in my care. I know that God has put me where He wants me for a reason. He has molded me and used me to fulfill his purpose and to glorify His name!

Gary Chong, Worship Director

160Dianne O’Steen, Fellowship Co-Director

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Dianne spent the first 9 years of her life there before moving to Florida where she lived for 7 years before moving back to Atlanta.  Dianne worked for United Airlines for over 34 years in administration. She moved to Hawaii in 1970.  For the past 10 years she has been involved with March of Dimes.  Dianne also has a special place in her heart for the Good News Jail and Prison Ministry having had a father who spent time in prison. Dianne’s other interests include her 1967 Mercury Cougar and NASCAR racing.

Gary Gascon, Fellowship Co-Director

Gary a local brother who was raised in Kailua and graduated from Kailua High School in 1978. He was married to a local girl, Maile from Kaneohe, for 27 years.  She had passed away in 2019.  They were blessed with two children Genevieve and Gary Jr.  Gary and his family started attending First Baptist Church shortly after Pastor Barry became Pastor and were among the first people he baptized here.  Gary says, “First Baptist is where I started my walk with Christ, and I have had God in my life ever since. I believe the Lord has guided me on the path to help people in need.”  For 47 years Gary worked as a Chef. Although retired now he has many opportunities to prepare wonderful meals for the members and friends of First Baptist. Church.  In his spare time Gary enjoys playing pool and has become quite competitive in the two different leagues he’s in.

052Sharon Dumas, Missions Director

Sharon has been a member of the church since 1971 and has served in many leadership positions.  She has heart for missions which has led her on mission trips to Nicaragua, Thailand, Burundi, Indonesia and Malaysia.  [READ MORE]  Her bucket list includes trips to China  and the Middle East. Sharon sings in the choir and is also part of our Praise & Worship team. She is originally from Pennsylvania but is considered “Kamaaina” since she has lived in Hawaii since 1970. She is widowed, has two children and three grandchildren who live in Australia.  In her spare time, she enjoys swimming at the beach or playing piano and ukulele.

049Lourraine Coffey, Discipleship Director

Lourriane was born in the Republic of Palau located in the West Pacific Ocean.  She accepted Christ in the summer of 1977 through a VBS program taught by students from Bethania High School, a Christian school.  In 1999 Lour moved to Hawaii to pursue her education. She is married to Tim and they have one daughter, Jackie, born in 2006. Jackie was dedicated to the Lord in a baby dedication service here at First Baptist Church. Lour works for E Noa Corporation six days a week. She is grateful that she does not have to work on Sundays so she can attend worship services.  She spends most of her free time studying the Word but also enjoys playing computer games.

Kerry Bise, Support Ministries Director

Kerry was born in Ewa, Hawaii and has spent his whole life here except for the 6 years he was in the Army. During those years he was stationed in Italy and San Francisco. Kerry is married to Crystal who has been a member of  FBCH for many years. They were married by Pastor Barry in October 2020. In 1973, having accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior, Kerry was baptized. His home church is the United Church of Christ Congregational Church in Ewa where his family has attended for generations, and where Kerry has been active in serving in a variety of different capacities.  Currently Kerry is serving as the Director of Support Ministries here at FBCH. Kerry is retired from the Honolulu Police Department where he served as a policeman for 25 years.  Kerry was previously married to Latitia Cabere for 22 years before she passed away from breast cancer. They had two sons. In his spare time Kerry is an avid golfer, and volunteers for a number of worthy causes.

L-R: Kerry Bise, Sharon Dumas, Gary Gascon, Gary Chong, Dianne O’Steen, Connie Ma, Lour Coffey, Pastor Barry