Our Leadership

Peter Montoro

Preaching Pastor

Peter Montoro joined the staff of Westside Baptist Church in 2016. He was ordained as one of the pastors of Westside in 2018 and set apart as the preaching pastor in 2019. Born in Cleveland OH, he was raised in a pastor’s home in New York City, and was converted at the age of eleven. Currently a PhD candidate at the University of Birmingham, he is a 2018 graduate of the University of London (BD), and a 2011 graduate of Heartland Baptist Bible College (BA). He has had the privilege of being involved in various research projects through Tyndale House Cambridge, including the recent Tyndale House Edition of the Greek New Testament, jointly published by Crossway and Cambridge University Press. He married his wife, Ashley, in 2012 and they have four children; Peter, Chloe, Ethan, and Alethea. Peter’s desire is to discover, love, and apply truth and to equip others to do the same. Besides spending time with his family, he enjoys reading, cooking, and working out.

John Moss

Pastor 

John Moss joined the staff of Westside Baptist Church in 2006. He was ordained as one of the pastors of Westside in 2018. Born and raised in Michigan, he was saved at the age of 22. He holds a BS in advertising from Ferris State University. After serving for 21 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, he retired with the rank of senior chief petty officer. John and his wife, April, married in 1985 and have been members of Westside Baptist Church since 2002. A lifelong student of the Word of God, John teaches regularly and counsels frequently, as well as serving in a wide variety of administrative roles. John enjoys reading, hiking the great Northwest, and spending time with his wife.

Scott Hamilton

Pastor

Scott Hamilton was chosen as one of the pastors of Westside Baptist Church in 2019. He and his wife, Jean, have been at the church since 2012, where he served as a deacon from 2015 to 2019. He surrendered his life to Christ in 1976, and has been involved in various ministries since that time. Vocationally, Scott is a graphic designer. A 1980 graduate of the Burnley School of Professional Art, in Seattle, he also started his design business in 1980. He has been in business, with many clients in the Puget Sound area, since that time. Scott and Jean were married in 1981, they have four adult children, Matthew, Anna, Michael, and Sarah, and thirteen grandchildren. They have hearts for pastoral care in encouraging, nurturing, and equipping the members of the church to be strengthened in their relationships with Christ.

Josh Bartels

Pastor

Josh Bartels joined the pastoral team of Westside in 2023. He was born in Iowa into a pastor’s family and was raised in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. In 2011, he graduated from Heartland Baptist Bible College and then earned his masters degree from Heartland Baptist Graduate School in 2013. While in college, Josh met his wife, Julie. They were married in 2012 and now have three children. Soon after being married, Josh and Julie spent four months traveling across Russia to investigate the possibility of a long-term cross-cultural ministry. God had other plans for Josh that involved working on a local TV show in Tulsa, OK, ministering in a historic Tulsa church, and traveling across the world creating videos for international ministries. Their family moved to Washington State in 2020 to serve on staff at Westside as an Assistant to the Pastors. After working in that capacity for two years, Josh left the church staff to continue a career in digital media and now serves as a 3D designer at Passage.

Nate Axtell

Evangelism Minister

Nate Axtell, a Deacon since 2015, became our Evangelism Minister in 2016. Born in Bremerton, he served for six years in the Navy, finishing in 2008. Through the ministry of Westside Baptist Church, Nate was converted in 2007. He married Jody in 2010 and they have been blessed with seven children, Noah, Emma, Anna, Ruby, Leah, Sadie, and Abel. A full time wireman for Puget Sound Energy, Nate has attended Westside’s School of Ministry and is pursuing a B.A. through Liberty University. Nate’s passion is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with anyone who will listen, and to equip and encourage other followers of Christ to do the same. He loves spending time with his family and reading good books.

Philemon Rose

Music Minister

Philemon Rose has served as the Music Minister at Westside Baptist Church since 2012. Born in Pensacola, FL, he has lived in Washington State since 1994. Converted to Christ at an early age, he was raised in a Christian home. A full time delivery driver for UPS, Philemon attends the church’s School of Ministry and desires to further both his musical and theological education. He married his wife Rachel in 2010, and they have five children; James, Jonathan, Evilyn, Evangeline, and Piper. Philemon’s passion is to strengthen the body of Christ through music that enriches both mind and soul, unifying the saints in true worship. He enjoys reading, baseball, and strategy games of all types.

RJ Broxton

RJ Broxton

Deaf Minister

RJ Broxton has served as a Deacon and Deaf Minister since 2004. Born in 1974, he began learning sign language in 1987. He married Jannine in 1997 and the Lord has blessed them with six children—Donna, Stephen, Zachary, Andrew, Jayanna, and Oraley. RJ was converted in 2002. He now leads a team, including his wife and oldest daughter, in interpreting each and every service at Westside. RJ and Janinne also teach a class in Sign Language to the members of Westside. Their passion is to bring deaf to the saving knowledge of Christ and build them up in the Word of God.  Other than courting his wife, RJ enjoys playing with his children, reading, camping, and fishing.

For more information about the way our pastors work together to lead the church, please consult our bylaws.