Mike D. Dedera is the Associate Pastor at Jefferson Baptist Church.
Mike was born and raised in the small town of Gold Beach Oregon. After graduating from Gold Beach high school in 1992, he moved to the Salem area to attend Western Baptist College. During his college years he worked as a guide with an adventure based ministry program known as Reachout Expeditions. In this ministry, Mike and his team used rafting, rock climbing, hiking, and mountaineering expeditions as tools to disciple, challenge, and motivate young people in their walk with Christ.
After graduating from college with a Bachelors in Psychology/Family Studies, Mike married Jodi Wilkinson. After a stint of helicopter logging in Oregon and California, he started working full time for the State of Oregon as a juvenile corrections officer while serving as the part-time Youth Pastor at Dever-Conner Community Church.
For many years Mike had a passion and desire to serve the Lord full-time. In August 2007, he felt God’s specific call on his life to go into full-time ministry. Therefore, he left his career with the State of Oregon and was hired full time at JBC.
Mike and Jodi have two lovely daughters -- Madilyn and Mya. They are a family that loves the outdoors. Their vacations consist of rafting, hiking, and camping. They also enjoy spending time on their seven-acre farm --gardening, landscaping,raising cows.
