Our Leadership group

John Ludka - Pastor

I guess you might call me a religious “mutt.” No, I did not say a nut. I grew up with a little of everything in the realm of “Christian” teaching. I attended Catholic church and school. I attended a Non-denominational church, where I trusted Christ as my Savior at age 11. This church was affiliated with Pentecostal churches. I also attended a Baptist church and school which grounded me in the faith. It was due to this background that I searched for answers to the seeming contradictions which I perceived. Listening to various teachers and diligently searching the Scriptures, I concluded that the literal interpretation of the Bible and the leading of the Holy Spirit is the only acceptable means of understanding the Word of God. I realized that the Baptist doctrine and distinctives are biblically accurate, which gave me the security I needed to fully commit my service to God. I have had the privilege of serving in church ministries since I was 17 years old. Now I have the greatest thrill of my life to share the truth of God’s Word with those who serve along side of me and those who attend our services. Email me at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bonnie Ludka

I was saved in 1981 through a Christian Day Camp in Seal Beach CA. You would think a Christian Camp would be ready to give the gospel…I never heard it. On the last day of camp we were required to do a skit of our choice. A group of kids put together a skit that told the story of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Again, you would think an invitation would have been given or a question and answer time…again, nothing. But as I sat in the pew, the little girl next to me asked me if I have ever asked Jesus in my heart. I answered “no” and she led me in the sinners prayer. Oh how I would love to thank this girl someday. She will never know what she did that day. It was not until age 15 that I finally understood what took place. I was invited to First Baptist Church of Long Beach, CA by a group of teenagers from my high school. I reluctantly went. I am so glad I did. It was there I grew spiritually. At age 17 I surrendered my life to marry a preacher. I would settle for nothing less. Off to Bible college I went. There I met and married the best Christian I have ever known. We moved back to CA to serve in my home church. While there for 8 years I taught school, organized ladies functions, ran a bus route in downtown Long Beach, and taught a reading program for dyslexic children. Since our move to Connecticut, I have no greater joy then to serve alongside of my husband here at Community Baptist Church.

Jason Weaver - Adult Sunday School Teacher/Trustee

I was saved in 1978 at the age of 5. It was during Sunday School. My teacher was talking about Hell and that it was put there by God as a punishment for sin. She said that because we have all sinned, we are headed to Hell. As you can imagine, it scared this 5 year old. But what she said next took my fear away forever. She said we didn't have to go to Hell, but that God had sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins and if we accept Jesus Christ by faith, we would be saved and be destined for Heaven.

I am sure I had heard that story many times, but this time I understood it. I stayed after class and accepted the Lord as my Saviour. I wish I could say that the rest of my life I have served God faithfully, but there have been times I have chosen to follow my own path rather than God's will for me. God allowed me to learn a valuable lesson from that...His way is the right way! He has always been willing and able to forgive me and restore that fellowship with Him, just like a Father, a Heavenly Father.

Charlie Hwang - Treasurer/Music Director

I grew up as a pastor's kid in a Presbyterian Church, but unfortunately did not hear the gospel according to the Bible until later in my life. I realized that I was following man-made standards rather than having a relationship with Jesus Christ. I got saved in 1986 at a Baptist church but struggled for a while because I had been previously sprinkled at the Presbyterian Church. Through careful study of scripture, I came to the realization that baptism through immersion was a step that I needed to take as a professing Christian. Not having had proper teaching and instruction on how to live as a Christian, I was living two distinctly different lives--one in the church and one in the world. It was over the course of some trials that I surrendered my life to Lord and sought Him for direction and guidance for my life. God answered my prayer by sending my family to a fundamental Bible-believing church during which my children got saved and I learned how a Christian should conduct his life.

As treasurer, I would like to share my personal struggle with the biblical mandate of tithing. I used to find it absolutely ridiculous that I was supposed to give up a tenth of my paycheck to the Lord. I would think about the bills that needed to be paid and all of the other things that I wanted to buy. But God gave me the courage and the strength to trust Him and once I began tithing I haven't looked back. Realizing everything God has done for me, it no longer became a problem to give back to God a small portion of what He abundantly supplies me with. Ever since I made the commitment to tithe faithfully to the Lord, I have found that the Lord has blessed my life even more so. How many more years of blessings could I have received if I had just trusted in God sooner?