Naveen Balakrishnan has been the pastor of the First Baptist Church, SBC in Paxton, IL since December 2001. He was raised in Hyderabad, India in an orthodox Hindu Brahmin (priestly) family. He earned his Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering at JNTU College of Engineering in Hyderabad, India. In 1990, he came to the US to pursue a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Through the Clemson Area International Friendship program, he met a family that invited him to attend a church service with them. In February 1993, he surrendered his life to Jesus as his Savior and Lord. He was called to the gospel ministry six months later and underwent training for M. Div at Erskine Theological Seminary in Due West SC. He is married with three children with one preceding to heaven.