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Pastors, Elders, and Deacons

Our Church Leadership

Senior Pastor Steven Baker

Pastor Steve is devoted to helping people grow in their love for God, people, and their ability to help others do the same. As Senior Pastor, he endeavors to provide Biblical preaching that elevates Jesus Christ and deepens our relationship with Him.

Steve also understands that helping people grow in their love for God, people and their ability to do the same happens best in intentional and accountable relationships. Therefore he seeks to mirror the life of Jesus by walking with people through life’s ups and downs with the hope of pointing them to Jesus.

Prior to his family answering the call to serve as Senior Pastor of Candia Congregational Church he was an Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church Tempe, AZ. Steve is a graduate of Phoenix Seminary where he received his Master of Divinity in Biblical Communications.

Steve and his wife Theresa met while on a mission trip to Morocco to partner with an NGO committed to sharing the love of Jesus Christ by meeting the physical and spiritual needs of Moroccan families and individuals. Together they enjoy snow skiing, tubing, rock climbing, playing board games, and watching movies. However, now their greatest enjoyment comes from watching their two kids, Lily and Elijah, simply being kids.

Elder Bob Claver

Bob and his wife Liz joined CCC in the summer of 1977 after having moved to Candia from Manchester the previous Fall.
Several years after joining the church, Bob was asked to become a Deacon and continued to serve in that role until becoming an Elder when the church changed its leadership structure to an Elder/Deacon model in 2008.
Over the years, both Bob and Liz have participated in a number of short-term mission trips as well as being very involved in various capacities with several Church Renewal movements at the national level.
We have two children who live in this area with their families, and we have five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Bob has faithfully served in the US Coast Guard Active Duty for 5 years and continued to serve in the Coast Guard Active Reserve for the next 22 years.

Elder Jeff Philbrick

Jeff has been a member for a very long time – in fact, his whole life! He and his wife Kate live in Candia and have been blessed to raise their five children in the church as well.

Professionally, Jeff is the founder and head of the Christian school that is a ministry of the Church, Jesse Remington High School. He is a relatively new Elder, signing on in 2021, and looks forward to how God will use him on the team to fulfill the mission of the CCC.

Elder Richard Thurber

Richard joined the fellowship of Candia Congregational Church in 2012. Prior to that, he served 37 years in another CCCC congregational church.

He was married and was a team with his wife Annetta for 49 years until her death. He has now been brought together in marriage with Claudia. They married in February of 2021. She and Richard had known each other in high school, 55 years earlier. God brought them together to serve Him as a new team in New Hampshire.
Richard has a degree in mathematics and an MBA. His working career was with the military for two years followed by 22 years with a life insurance company. He spent 11 years self-employed and 6 years as a tax auditor.
He enjoys his family, teaching God’s Word, and shooting sports. He also serves, with his wife on the worship team.

Deacon Mark Galatis

Mark and his family came to Candia Congregational Church in 2001.

Mark works full time as an Engineer in a Metal Fabrication Manufacturing company in a career spanning over 30 years.

He was on the former Board of Trustees and now serves on the Finance & Facilities Teams for CCC. He is also a backup Sound Tech for the Worship Team.

Mark is an avid Bruins fan and enjoys fishing and spending time with his family.

Deacon Deb Puderbaugh

Deb has been worshipping at CCC since 1985.

Deacon Kate Philbrick