Who We Are
Our History
est. 2017
Northern Lakes Baptist Church was founded by Pastor Shawn Suri in 2017. After graduating West Coast Baptist College, Shawn was led by the Lord to plant Riverview Baptist Church near the Oneida Indian Reservation outside Green Bay, Wisconsin. Shawn felt the call of God to hand the work to Pastor Scotty Backhaus and move further north to Phelps, Wisconsin. After much prayer and consideration, Shawn was once again called by God to plant Northern Lakes Baptist Church in Land O’ Lakes Wisconsin.
After the church was established, Shawn began the search for another man to take over. It was during this time that God worked on the heart of Shawn's son, Seth, to pray about helping his father grow Northern Lakes Baptist Church. On March 5, 2021, Seth was installed as the senior pastor.
After much prayer and guidance, Seth led the church to move to Eagle River, Wisconsin, in the summer of 2022. Seth continued to pastor until November 2024, when he felt the Lord’s call to move to assist another pastor.
The Lord called Jacob Christian to take the pastorate in November 2024. Through God’s guidance, Northern Lakes Baptist Church moved again in December of 2025. The Lord provided a beautiful building in downtown Eagle River. It is our hope and prayer that the Lord will continue His work at Northern Lakes Baptist Church.
...behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it...
–Revelation 3:8
Our Pastor
Pastor Jacob Christian grew up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin under the ministry of Randy King at Wyldwood Baptist Church. Jacob trusted the Lord as his Savior on March 3, 2001. In 1999, Jacob’s father accepted God’s calling to serve in Belarus and moved overseas in 2003. They assisted in several churches.
Jacob attended Fairhaven Baptist College in 2010 and graduated with a degree in Pastoral Theology. While at Bible college, he met his future wife, Stephanie. Jacob and Stephanie were married in 2015.
The Lord led Jacob and Stephanie to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin to serve under Pastor Andy Doll from 2016 to 2023 as the supervisor of Prairie Christian Academy. He also contributed significantly to various church ministries and functions, including the Prairie bus route, VBS and special promotions, and covered the Teen class and Wednesday night services when needed.
Jacob served at Mountain Valley Baptist Church in Pocatello, ID, under Pastor Don Whitecar, from July 2023 to October 2024. In this role, he led the Blackfoot bus route, preached monthly, and actively participated in church activities, bus visitation, and canvassing.
Pastor Jacob Christian accepted the call to pastor Northern Lakes Baptist Church in October 2024 and was installed as the senior pastor on November 10, 2024. Jacob and Stephanie have been blessed with 4 children: William, Victoria, Daniel, and Eleanor.
Jacob has fond memories of visiting the Northwoods every summer as a young child to visit the family cottage in Land o’ Lakes. Jacob’s desire is to pastor Northern Lakes Baptist Church for His glory.
We’d love to have
you join us!
“Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God."
–Romans 15:7