Dee F. Duke has been the pastor at Jefferson Baptist Church in Jefferson, OR, since October 1976.  He grew up in Oregon and Washington and graduated from Western Baptist College (now Corban College) in Salem, OR, and has since earned a Master’s Degree and an honorary Doctorate from Corban College.

When he first came to the church there were about 25 members and the congregation was meeting in the local City Hall.  The church was able to move to the Elementary School and then purchase its own land on which to build.  All of the present buildings were built on a cash basis and with volunteer labor from the congregation. 

Pastor Duke attributes the growth of the church to the emphasis on prayer.  In 1989 he attended his first Pastors’ Prayer Summit and has since modeled and preached the importance of individual and corporate prayer. He has had the opportunity to speak throughout the United States as well as travel overseas to speak and participate in several Prayer Seminars and Prayer Walking Journeys.  He has written articles for Moody Monthly, Leadership Journal and Pray!  Magazine, and has written a book, entitled Prayer Quest.  He also speaks on a daily radio program.