Cuba First Baptist Church of Western NY

Rev. Larry Poelma and the congregation of the Cuba First Baptist Church are in their 31 years of ministering together. In addition to the pastoral care of our members and friends, and the administration of our church programs, Larry coordinates the Council of Churches’ Community Food Pantry and the Holiday Assistance Program. He has also served on the Cuba-Rushford Central School Shared Decision Making Team, the Allegany County Domestic Violence Task Force, and is currently on the Board of Trustees at the Cuba Memorial Hospital. For over 30 years he has volunteered as a Counselor at Camp Vick, our church camp in Western New York, and in 2000 received the David P Foulk Award for his active support, involvement and leadership in our American Baptist Churches of New York State Outdoor Ministries Program.

Since Nov. 2003 Larry has been working with our church’s Vision Team under the guidance of a Church ReDevelopment Consultant. After much prayer, discussion, discernment, and planning they have set an exciting agenda of ministry priorities for the coming years that we might touch more hearts with the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Larry was raised on a fruit and vegetable farm outside Albion, NY. He received his BA from Harpur College (SUNY at Binghamton) and his Masters of Theology from Boston University School of Theology. His wife, Linda, is the Children’s Librarian at the Cuba Circulating Library. Their son Jon and his wife Jo live in Morristown, NJ, and their daughter Joy lives in Charlotte, NC.