About Marty Beamer
Marty Beamer is a pastor, theologian, teacher, and writer serving as the Preaching Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri.
He holds a B.S. in Cross-Cultural Studies from Spurgeon College, a Master of Divinity from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Theology in Philosophy from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Ethics, also from Southern Seminary.
1. A Christian at Nineteen
Marty became a Christian at the age of nineteen. Although he had attended church his entire life, he describes those early years as a time when he mostly pretended to love the things of God while his heart was really set on pleasing himself. His obsession was sports — especially baseball.
After his freshman year of college, Marty found himself at the end of himself. “I had all the things the world would deem valuable, but I was miserable.” One night, at a breaking point, he decided to read the Bible. As Marty describes it, everything simply “clicked.” He realized that he was a sinner and stood condemned before God. He cried out to Jesus for mercy while lying on the floor of his parents’ basement, and became convinced in that moment that mercy had been given.
“When I stood up, I knew everything was different, and I belonged to God.”
2. A Growing Call to Pastoral Ministry
After becoming a Christian, Marty knew he wanted to serve the Lord. He joined a missions program, where he eventually met his future wife, Jessica. Marty and Jessica originally expected their lives to move toward overseas missions — and while they were dating, Jessica told him plainly, “I never want to be a pastor’s wife.”
Their plans began to change during their first year of marriage. The Lord repeatedly placed teaching opportunities in front of Marty, and older pastors began taking an interest in him. Over time, a growing desire developed to preach, equip believers, and love the local church. Marty was hesitant to tell Jessica — they had agreed he would not become a pastor. Eventually, one night, he simply blurted out, “I think I am called to pastoral ministry.” Thankfully, God had apparently been working in Jessica as well. She responded, “I think you are too.” From that point forward, Marty’s training, opportunities, and desires increasingly moved toward pastoral ministry.
3. The People Who Shaped Me
I am blessed to be able to say that the pastors who have influenced me most have never been “famous.” They have been my own pastors and the men the Lord put around me. I have learned a great deal from authors and books, but these men have had the greatest impact on my life.
- Rusty SavageTaught me how to really love people.
- Shawn BranscumTaught me to love study.
- Tim JunkheTaught me the day-to-day work of pastoral ministry.
- Jason DawsonTaught me to live with people, care about their souls, and reach the community.
- David HallamTaught me the need for organization and administrative discipline.
- Jed HayesTaught me patience, discernment, and thoughtfulness with people's struggles.
4. Teaching, Ministry & Formation
Marty credits several experiences with preparing him for pastoral ministry. His academic studies taught him to engage a wide range of ideas graciously while still holding firm convictions. His years teaching middle- and high-school students at Faith Christian Academy taught him how to genuinely care for people younger than himself. His years as an associate pastor taught him the daily realities of church ministry.
And he says he remains deeply indebted to his family, “with whom I have to live out what I preach daily.”
Areas of particular interest
- Pastoral ministry
- Biblical exposition
- Ecclesiology
- Church revitalization
- Christian ethics
- Christian wisdom and prudence
5. Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church
In 2021, Marty became pastor of Bethel Baptist Church during a significant season of revitalization. At Bethel, he serves alongside a plurality of elders in a congregation committed to expositional preaching, meaningful church membership, biblical church leadership, discipleship, missions, and Joyful Gospel Advancement.
Under Marty’s pastoral leadership alongside Bethel’s elders, the revitalizing congregation eventually grew beyond the capacity of its historic NE Barry Road sanctuary, worshiped for more than a year in the gymnasium at Oak Hill Day School, and moved into a permanent new ministry home on NE Vivion Road in August 2026.
Marty consistently describes Bethel’s story within the larger context of God’s providence, the faithfulness of the congregation, the courageous leadership that preceded him, and the shared work of the church’s elders and members.
6. Family
Marty is married to Jessica, whom he met while participating in a missions program. They have four children: Oliver, Charlotte, William, Penelope.
7. What Drives My Ministry
Simply put, I want to love God and love others. For me, that means having a passion for explaining God’s Word and helping people think through how it is lived out in their lives. I also have a passion for training church leaders to understand the joys of pastoral ministry.
When people encounter my preaching or writing, I hope they leave loving God and loving others more faithfully in their own particular contexts.
I don’t want people to think they have to live the Christian life exactly like I do. God has uniquely placed them where they are to make an impact for His kingdom in ways I never could.
