On October 6, 1957, Marvin Gochenour became the pastor of First Baptist Church of Westwood Lake, a small mission work that met at the Royal Palm Elementary School. Six months after he accepted the call, the church was able to organize as an independent Baptist church.

The church family had a great desire to own property and build a church building. During the next eighteen months, the congregation saved money and purchased land on 107th Avenue. The church members were so enthusiastic about what God was doing in their midst they wasted no time starting construction on the south wing, and on Sunday, March 29, 1959, they had their first service in what is now used as the school dining hall.

Because the church began as a mission, the church saw the need of being a missions-minded church. The first missionary that the church supported was a missionary to the Jew. From there the church began supporting, world-wide missions, trying to reach the world with the gospel. Presently the church supports over one hundred missionaries.

Mrs. Gochenour has been a beautiful portrait of a pastor's wife to the membership. She has stood by pastor's side as a faithful helpmate throughout his ministry.

The fruit of Dr. & Mrs. Gochenour's ministry is demonstrated by many souls won to Christ and scores who are serving the Lord in both secular and vocational Christian ministries.

After forty six and a half years of faithful service as Pastor of First Baptist Church of Westwood Lake, Pastor Marvin Gochenour decided to retire in 2004. Although retired from the pulpit of First Baptist Church of Westwood Lake, Pastor and Mrs. Gochenour will continue their Christian service as God leads them.