First Baptist Church of Dixon

Rev. Bunyan C. Cocar

Pastor Bunyan was born in Romania and immigrated to the United States due to religious persecution. The Cocars settled in the Chicagoland area where Bunyan grew up. His father continued to pastor a Romanian speaking Baptist Church in Chicago where Bunyan attended until he went off to college.  Bunyan attended Northern Illinois University where he received a B.S. in Finance. The Summer before Bunyan’s final year he went with the American Baptist Xtreme Team to South Africa. While on this trip God called Bunyan to the ministry. 
He then went to Northern Baptist Theological Seminary where he received his M.Div degree.  In 2004, Bunyan married Rachel Olsen a young woman he met while training for the Xtreme Team.  Bunyan and Rachel became Co-Pastors of the First Baptist Church of Dixon in the Summer of 2005.  They have a one year old son, James.  Bunyan also coaches volleyball in near by Amboy. He enjoys fishing, and woodworking.

 Pastor Bunyan and son James

Rev. Rachel O. Cocar

Pastor Rachel comes from a long line of American Baptist ministers.  As a pastor’s kid, she moved from northeastern PA to Portland, OR and then back to PA near Philadelphia.  She attended West Chester University and holds a B.S degree in music education.  After teaching music in the public schools in PA she experienced a call to ministry and moved to Durham, NC to attend Duke University Divinity School.  While in seminary she traveled to Romania with the American Baptist International Ministries and met her future husband while training for the trip.  She served as Interim Pastor at FBC Dixon in 2004 until being called as co-pastor with her husband, Bunyan in 2005.  Together they have a one-year-old son, James who keeps them both busy!  Rachel works part-time at the church as well as teaching music part-time at St. Anne’s School.  She enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, and gardening.

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