Across The Nation
Taking as Many to Heaven as We Can: An Interview with Jeff Farmer
Jeff Farmer is stepping away from his position as President of the Pentecostal Charismatic Churches of North America (PCCNA), effective April 30, 2020. Jeff served as a church planter, business executive, and president of Eugene Bible College prior to becoming the president of Open Bible Churches from 1995 to 2012. He served the greater body of Christ through positions on the boards and executive committees of the National Association of Evangelicals, Mission America Coalition, Christian Churches Together, and The Sentinel Group. We interviewed Jeff to catch up.
Message: You have been involved with PCCNA for several years. How long have you served as its president?
Jeff: I began serving as chairperson of PCCNA in 2006 while still the president of OBC. PCCNA was quite small then. There was no need for a president. But faith increased, and with it substantial growth in membership. PCCNA needed a leader who woke up every morning thinking about the vision of the Pentecostal church “demonstrating unity in the power of the Spirit.” In 2014 PCCNA amended its bylaws to include a president as an officer. I was honored at that meeting to be elected the first president in our history.
Message: In what ways does PCCNA serve the body of Christ?
Jeff: We are committed to a message of reconciliation through the cross and unity in the power of the Spirit. To that end PCCNA is passionate about 1) promoting evangelism in North America and the world; 2) praying for revival in the Church and spiritual awakening in our North American nations; and 3) serving as a family for dialogue and fellowship of Pentecostal and Charismatic leaders across all cultural and racial lines based on mutual equality, love, respect, and sound doctrine.
Message: What are some of the biggest strides PCCNA has made during your time as president?
Jeff: Opportunities for collaborative, Spirit-empowered ministry have increased exponentially as denominational and church network leaders have united in common purpose. PCCNA launched a “War on Malaria” in sub-Saharan Africa in partnership with World Vision. As a result, we sent over a million dollars of insecticide-treated bed nets, saving the lives of untold numbers of children. [A follow-up study showed malaria cases decreased by 50 percent where malaria nets were distributed.] PCCNA expanded to include Mexico in its mission of reaching North America. PCCNA published two successful books, Servants of the Spirit and Miracle Invasion. PCCNA membership and the funding has grown by over 500 percent.
Message: Your family has grown! Could you update us?
Jeff: After 52 years of marriage, Ramona and I are still passionately in love and best friends. Our three children, Eileen, Jeff, and Andrew, and their wonderful spouses have given us nine precious grandchildren (ages 2 to 22). All of them love Jesus and want His direction in their lives. When we get together on holidays, there are 17 crowded around the table! Last year 16 of us went on an Alaskan cruise together – the memory of a lifetime!
Message: What’s next on your agenda, or is this a waiting or resting time?
Jeff: One cannot retire from the call of God. We may be able to step aside from a ministry position, but the brooding and wooing of the Spirit remains constant. Those vows we made to Jesus still draw us to faith and obedience. I’ve tried to “retire” three times now, and it hasn’t worked. But to be clear, we still canoe and tent camp; we still bike ride and walk; we still metal detect; we still garden and harvest our berries and fruit; and we still fish – for fish and for men.
Message: Throughout the years you have challenged many of us in Scripture literacy and personal evangelism. What are your current primary passions as you serve the Lord?
Jeff: Ramona and I plan to take as many people to heaven with us as we can. We are called to be intercessors for revival in the Church and spiritual awakening in our nation. We are passionate about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and Spirit-filled living and ministry. I love and believe in the gifts of the Spirit and miracles for today! I still memorize Scripture – lots of it. And I believe in a strong commitment to my local church.
Message: The world is at an interesting point in time. Never have we had such opportunity to share the gospel with so many people around the world via technology. Yet it seems morality in the U.S. has taken a nosedive and the country is divided. What message would you like to give the body of Christ?
Jeff: We are at war! The devil came to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. This is a life and death struggle over the lives of broken, needy people. Those in the midst of war don’t sip tea at a poolside and ignore the obvious. They fight for survival.
Our call to combat is against complacency and mediocrity in the church. Our combines are in the barn instead of the “fields ripe for harvest.” We alone have the truth; we alone have the answer to the ills of society. We will never legislate righteousness. Each of us should be involved in an intimate embrace of Great Commandment love that leads us into Great Commission evangelism and discipleship.
Jesus had no worship team, no sound board, no stage, lights, or smoke and He had no band or building. But He had the Holy Spirit and was clothed in power. May we, by the grace of God, follow in His steps. Amen.
Life “happened” to me when my first husband died. After walking through my own grief, the Lord allowed me to walk alongside many others who were also grieving. Doors continued to open in this area, and when the opportunity arose to serve with Marketplace Chaplains, I felt a confirmation from God that this was where He wanted me. I started as a chaplain shortly after applying, and two years later I was offered the job as Director of Operations for a new team formed in South Florida.
Marketplace Chaplains is a ministry that stands out from others due to how it was formed and its core reason for existing. It was formed by a former military chaplain, Lee Strickland, in 1984. After his experience of being served by chaplains in the military, Lee desired to provide a similar service for his community through this unique ministry. Marketplace Chaplains has teams made up of male and female chaplains who each assist in the care of the employees within companies throughout the United States and Canada. Relationships within these companies are built through routine chaplain visits that happen weekly, bimonthly, or monthly. These regular visits help the employees become comfortable with the chaplains so that when a crisis happens, they are more likely to call for help. Chaplains are available to the employees 24/7, assisting with bereavement, funerals, suicide prevention/support, and family crises.
Marketplace Chaplains has teams made up of male and female chaplains who each assist in the care of the employees within companies throughout the United States and Canada.
A few years back, a leader of one of the companies I serve called in a panic when one of his employees was sobbing, having discovered that her healthy, 40-year-old husband had died suddenly in his sleep. The leader asked me, “What do I do?” He had offered her condolences and covered her flight home to begin arrangements, but despite this, he shared that such a tragic situation made him feel helpless and weak. I reminded him that when we feel weak, the Lord promises to be our strength. I also let him know that in times of tragedy it is often not what we say but simply our presence that God uses. As I spoke, I realized that all I had walked through in my own grief had helped me support this leader through this huge trial.
There are challenges with being a Christian chaplain in spaces that recognize all faith traditions. I remember a particular moment when I was in training at the hospital when the program’s director insisted that the name of Jesus could not be used to close a prayer without the patient’s consent. I wrestled with this concept, even wondering if this limitation was God telling me not to serve in this type of ministry. Later that day, I was making my rounds on my assigned floor in the paralysis unit, which serves patients with injuries impacting their ability to walk. I entered a male patient’s room, greeting him with a simple, “Hello, sir, how are you?” In an extremely loud and animated voice, the patient responded, “There you go!” Assuming I wasn’t welcome, I responded, “I’m sorry, sir, I’m not sure I understand you. Did you want me to come back a different time?” To which he responded, “How can you leave now? You just brought the Holy Spirit in here!”
I was shocked; I knew that a greeting was all that I had spoken. I hadn’t offered prayer or said anything about God. This man hadn’t even seen my badge of chaplaincy when he made this statement. In this moment I saw the power of God’s presence in my life. I was able to see that when I support and serve patients or employees in secular spaces, Jesus goes with me whether I mention His name or not. God can and will use me in this role as a chaplain, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve Him in the marketplace.
I realized that all I had walked through in my own grief had helped me support this leader through this huge trial.
For those who sense a calling to serve as a chaplain or who simply want to learn more, Marketplace Chaplains is often looking for men and women who sense the call of God to impact their community outside of their church. Visit this website to search for jobs and learn more about this amazing way to transform lives: www.mchapcares.com
About the Author
Kwabea Francis
Kwabea Francis serves as Executive Director of Operations with Marketplace Chaplains and is an ordained Open Bible minister. Her heart is to share the love and purpose of God with those she ministers to as a chaplain, preacher, and teacher of the Word of God. She attends Living Word Open Bible Church in Cooper City, Florida. Kwabea earned her Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and is a graduate of the University of Florida. She and her husband have five sons and three grandchildren.
On September 19-21, pastors from around the country gathered for the 2024 Open Bible National Hispanic Conference, held in Antioch, California. Attendees of the conference numbered close to one hundred and represented nineteen different Open Bible churches. Templo Santo Community Church was the hosting church for the conference, and our theme was “CHANGED: Transformed to Transform.” We were blessed with the presence of powerful speakers: President Michael Nortune, Dr. Nicholas Venditti, and Pastors John Mendez, Michael Zakarian, and Caleb Plummer.
The Church as a whole, the Open Bible denomination, and Hispanic Ministries are needed for such a time as this.
The conference started with a welcome dinner where pastors and leaders were able to reconnect with old friends and connect with new friends who were first-time attenders. We had a powerful night of worship during which President Nortune spoke a prophetic word about entering a new season. God has opened a wide door for Open Bible, and new opportunities are on the horizon for our ministries.
Throughout the following days, we heard challenging messages on embracing our vision (Dr. Venditti), navigating culturing changes (Pastor Mendez), loving and embracing the next generation (Pastors Zakarian and Plummer), and depending on the presence of God (President Nortune). In addition to these incredible sessions, we had the opportunity to explore the beautiful city of San Francisco and the surrounding areas.
In our closing session, Pastor Mendez encouraged us that we were chosen for this time in history. The Church as a whole, the Open Bible denomination, and Hispanic Ministries are needed for such a time as this.
As we concluded with a time for more fellowship, here are a few of the things we heard people saying:
“This conference exceeded my expectations.”
“I felt the love and unity within the Hispanic Ministries.”
“The messages were relevant for our time.”
“Best conference ever!”
We look forward to what God has in store for Open Bible’s Hispanic Ministries. We believe that a door has been opened for our dream to come to life – having a Hispanic ministry in every state in this nation.
About the Author
Jorge Navarrete
Jorge Navarrete was appointed as the senior pastor of Templo Santo Community Church in May 2002. Prior to that, he served as youth pastor, Sunday school teacher, member of the Board of Elders, and as church administrator for Templo Santo. In May 2017, Jorge was appointed to serve in his current role as Director of the Hispanic Ministries for the West Sector. Pastor Navarrete also works for the Supreme Court of California as the Clerk/Executive Officer. He has served in this role since 2016.
There are over 10,000 homeless citizens in Lee County, Florida, but thanks to a creative nonprofit idea and a fully sponsored shower trailer, Open Bible Community Church (OBCC) has found a unique way to serve them.
Located in North Fort Myers, OBCC is pastored by Joe and Pat VanEst. When Hurricane Ian hit their county in 2022 and homelessness exploded, pastors Joe and Pat responded by founding “Hope Ambassadors,” a nonprofit designed to empower individuals through disaster relief and ongoing rehabilitative efforts.
Beginning by providing food and hygiene kits to homeless communities, the team soon realized there was a need for showering facilities. Through a string of miracles and one philanthropic donor, a shower trailer was purchased, and Hope Ambassadors now owns the only shower trailer in Southwest Florida. Housing two rooms and ten total shower units, the trailer visits two homeless communities twice a week and has already provided nearly 500 showers to families in need.
“This has totally changed the thinking of our church,” says Pastor Joe VanEst. “We are building relationships with these folks, and it’s only a matter of time until we can share Jesus with them.” Already, the church has seen growth from visitors who have come to church after using the shower trailer.
Hope Ambassadors is quickly building relationships with other local nonprofits that provide services like haircuts, food, and clothing. Future dreams include creating a commercial kitchen that would create nutritious, freeze-dried meals for hungry families. Hope Ambassadors’ mission statement is “To heal communities in the spirit of unity,” and thanks to God’s grace and provision, they are well on their way.
“This has totally changed the thinking of our church”
