Jonathan Purks
Senior Pastor
Jonathan Purks was raised in Frederick, MD. His father, the late Pastor Louis Purks, moved to the area when Jonathan was very young. After pastoring an existing church for a few years, Louis Purks started Victory Baptist Church. This afforded Jonathan the opportunity to be a part of the church from its very beginning.
Growing up in a Pastor’s home greatly influenced Jonathan’s life. Christian principles and Biblical truth were intertwined with everyday living. God’s Word was consistently taught and lived out before him. Godly parents who loved the Lord, a Christian education and a Biblical church all helped provide the right foundation.
Jonathan learned Jesus Christ died for His sins. He believed the true accounts given in God’s Word of the Savior’s life. While still a young man, the conviction of his own sin came with great force. He acknowledged his wrongdoing before God and by faith accepted the salvation only Christ could provide.
Things changed immediately. God imparted a zeal to share the Scriptures with others. This carried forwarded into his life with two major milestones and many ministry opportunities: At the age of 12 Jonathan surrendered his life to God; at the age of 17 God called him into the gospel ministry.
Jonathan graduated from the three-year Faith Bible Institute offered by his church. He then spent two years training at Lehigh Valley Baptist Church while attending their own local church institute to continue his Biblical and pastoral education.
In September of 2004 Jonathan and his family moved back to Frederick, MD where he accepted a full-time position on staff at Victory Baptist Church and served alongside his Father. In May of 2007 VBC ordained Jonathan as a minister of the gospel.
Pastor Jonathan Purks was given the very special privilege and honor of following in the footsteps of His father and pastoring the very church he attended from its birth. He became the lead pastor in March of 2009 and continues to serve in that position today.