Across The Nation
Meeting of Open Bible’s New National Board of Directors
In the 2021 virtual national convention of Open Bible Churches ministers and delegates approved a leadership restructuring plan that transitioned two national leaders and all five regional executive directors to serve on a new Executive Leadership Team with President Randall Bach. The National Board of Directors was then complemented with the addition of new members who add breadth of experiences and representation to the board.
After the first meeting of the newly restructured national board held November 17-19 in Des Moines, Iowa, President Randall Bach commented, “What an outstanding group of people! Open Bible is blessed to have a rich and diverse array of experiences, skill sets, and perspectives added to our National Board of Directors. They are spiritually passionate, missionally connected, and eager to help lead Open Bible Churches to reach a new level of fruitfulness for the Lord and His Kingdom. It is an honor and privilege to run with them! May we be courageous and bold in pursuing His call upon Open Bible.”
These are the current members of the Open Bible Churches National Board of Directors:
Randy Brock –Rapid City, South Dakota
Rev. Randy Brock, a 1982 graduate of Open Bible College formerly in Des Moines, Iowa, has served as a youth pastor, a regional Christian education and youth director, an administrative pastor, a care pastor, and as a lead pastor. He and his wife, Tami, are currently the lead pastors at Open Bible Church of Rapid City, in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Karl Francis – Cooper City, Florida
Rev. Karl A. Francis, church planter, conference speaker, and visionary, is the senior pastor of Living Word Open Bible in Cooper City, Florida, which he pioneered 28 years ago. He has mentored many leaders, including five successful church planters. His ministry extends for more than 40 years and includes ministry in the Caribbean, North, Central and South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. He currently serves on the National Board, Global Ministries Board, and Southeast Region Board of Open Bible Churches U.S.A. and is the South District Director of the Southeast Region. He has served on the board of several community agencies and is the current chairman of South Florida Keswick, a multi-denominational association of twenty plus churches. Prior to engaging in full-time ministry, Karl had a very successful career in business, last serving as Executive Director of a Miami banking consortium. Currently pursuing doctoral studies in ministry, Karl lives in South Florida with Dyrie, his wife of 44 years.
Gary Khan – Desert Streams, California
Gary Khan graduated from Eugene Bible College (now New Hope Christian College) in 1990. In fact, he graduated one week, got married the week after, and started ministry as the youth pastor at Desert Streams Church of the Open Bible in Santa Clarita, California, a week after that. He and his wife, DeLaine, began serving as the lead pastors at Desert Streams in 1999. Having been ordained with Open Bible Churches since 1990, Gary is currently serving as the district director for the Southern California/Arizona district and as the director for the Pacific Resource Network. Gary and DeLaine have been married for more than thirty years and have two grown children.
George Williams – Toledo, Ohio
George Williams is the founding pastor of CityLight Church in Toledo, Ohio, and serves as the church planting director for Open Bible East Region. George and his wife, Sarah, both credentialed ministers with Open Bible Churches, started ministry as urban missionaries in 2005. They bought a large house on Lewis Avenue in Toledo with the sole purpose to love their neighbors as themselves. After they had spent years of loving and reaching their neighbors, the need for a transformative and life-giving church became evident. In 2012 George and Sarah felt God was calling them to plant that church, and in January of 2013, they held their first CityLight Church meeting. George and Sarah are the proud parents of two daughters.
Darrick Young – Urbandale, Iowa
Darrick Young is the founding and lead pastor of Journey Church of the Open Bible in Urbandale, Iowa. He also serves on the leadership coaching network for Central Region Open Bible Churches and on the Central Region and national boards of Open Bible. Darrick has been in full-time ministry for 31 years, including serving as Central Region Youth Director from 2002 to 2011. This fall he will celebrate 30 years of marriage to his wife, Ranada. Darrick and Ranada have two adult married children.
Dan Carlson – Gurley, Nebraska
Dan Carlson is a credentialed Open Bible minister who provides interim and pulpit supply and interim pastoral services to churches in Nebraska’s Panhandle and South Dakota’s Black Hills. Dan Carlson started his broadcasting career at WCCO-TV, the CBS affiliate in Minneapolis, as a TV weathercaster, producer, and fill-in news anchor. It was the beginning of a 25-year career in TV and radio that would expand into other roles in the broadcast industry. Also a writer, Dan eventually earned four undergraduate degrees or professional certifications from accredited institutions with emphasis of study in communications, earth sciences, broadcast meteorology, and ministry. He is also a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
Renita Collins – St. Clair Shores, Michigan
Renita Collins is a writer, worship leader, business owner, and licensed cosmetologist. She currently serves as executive pastor alongside her husband, Frank Collins Jr., who is the senior pastor of Breath of Life Christian Church in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan. She is the author of two books, 31 Days of Focus and Persevere. Commonly known as “The Focus Guru,” Renita is passionate about encouraging others to overcome obstacles in order to cultivate life’s most important relationships and assignments. Renita and Frank currently reside in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, with their children, Frank III and Raina.
Evonn Dorr – Des Moines, Iowa
Evonn Dorr is a second-generation Tai Dam-American and has resided in Iowa her entire life. She currently serves as a delivery lead at one of the major American agriculture companies in Iowa. She is an independent and self-motivated professional with more than twenty years of experience working with cross-functional teams, coordinating, planning, and managing projects, programs, and events. The opportunities she’s had in her career journey have given her a keen sense of people and helped her develop the ability to handle a variety of situations, encouraging and mentoring those around her. Evonn is happily married to Todd, her husband of more than twenty years, and is a proud parent of two wonderful adult children.
Jorge Morelles – Spanaway, Washington
Jorge L. Morelles was born in Patillas, Puerto Rico, and met his wife, Linda, in Hayward, California. Jorge accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior in 1993 at Iglesia La Roca church in Lakewood, Washington, when Joaquin Ramos was serving as pastor. Linda gave her heart to the Lord later that same year. The congregation moved to the city of Tacoma in 1997. Jorge became the church’s senior pastor in 2001, having received his associate license. He graduated from INSTE Level 2 in 2008 and today is an ordained minister with Open Bible. Jorge and Linda have three sons and one daughter: Michael, Jorge, Christopher, and Jozlyn.
Ximena Urra – Miami, Florida
Ximena Urra lives in Miami, Florida, where she and her husband, Pablo Urra, serve as pastors of Templo de la Biblia Abierta (Open Bible Temple). Ximena is a graduate of Bible and Theology from INSTE Level Two. She has visited over 40 countries, serving on short-term mission trips and overseeing various training aspects necessary with Operation Mobilization (OM) Ships International (a non-denominational Christian organization dedicated to bringing knowledge, help, and hope to the people of the world), with Open Bible Churches, and with Spanish House Ministries. She worked as a graphic designer and freelancer for 24 years for Editorial Unilit Publishers and later helped INSTE design their study book covers in six different languages. She and Pablo served as regional directors of OM for the mobilization of Hispanic missionaries and assisted COMHINA, a missions network that focuses on the Hispanics in North America and their worldwide involvement. The couple helped establish Open Bible Church of Kendall in Miami, Florida, alongside Pastors Jorge and Magdalena Urra. Ximena is committed to reaching the church and instilling the importance of studying God’s Word.
Burt Campbell – O’Fallon, Missouri
Burt Campbell, a graduate from Oral Roberts University, was credentialed with Open Bible in 1994. He served congregations in Oklahoma and Michigan before becoming the lead pastor at a church in Ohio for 17 years. While in East Region, Burt served as a district director and was part of the East Region Board. In addition, Burt was a contributing author to Open Bible’s We Believe book and study guide. In 2017, Burt and Linda relocated to the greater St. Louis, Missouri, region. He serves as the Chaplain Director for Friendship Village Chesterfield, a senior living community that includes 550 residents. He is also enrolled in the MDiv program at Regent University and plans to earn his next degree by May of 2023. Burt and his wife, Linda, have been married since 1990 and together raised three children.
Kerry Crawford – Brooklyn, New York
Kerry Crawford hails from the Caribbean Island of Jamaica, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Management Studies. Upon migrating to the United States, she embarked upon a career in the human resources field, specializing in talent acquisition, and earned a Master of Science degree in Business Management and Leadership. Additionally, she is an INSTE Level 1 graduate. Kerry is a member of the Rehoboth Open Bible Church iin Brooklyn, New York, and serves in multiple capacities, including praise team member, lead service coordinator, and director of the youth ministry.
John Hoffman – Boone, Iowa
John Hoffman grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, and attended Fort Des Moines Church of the Open Bible. He is currently a member of the Open Bible Church of Boone in Boone, Iowa, where he served on the governing board from 1983 to 2019. He has also led in various areas in the church, including children’s ministry, youth ministry, small groups, and the worship team band. As a board member, John helped lead the church through two building programs and two pastoral transitions. He has been on mission trips to Jamaica, Thailand, and Mexico. He also served for five years on the board of the Boone Community Theatre, including two terms as president. John works at Iowa State University as a web developer, building websites and web applications for the facilities department.
Josh Stelly – Spokane, Washington
Josh Stelly was born in Houston, Texas, in 1981. When he was 18, Josh had a strong desire to attend a ministry training school, so he joined Spokane Master’s Commission in the fall of 2001. He married his wife, Melissa, in the summer of 2004 and graduated from INSTE Global Bible College in the spring of 2005. That same year the couple was hired at Turning Point Open Bible Church as young adult pastors, and in the summer of 2007, they began to lead Spokane Master’s Commission. In 2010, they transitioned from Spokane Master’s Commission to the role of family ministry pastors and ministered to children and their parents as well. The Lord strengthened Josh’s desire to see entire families spiritually nourished and made whole in Christ, so in July of 2019 he transitioned out of family ministries into the position of executive pastor, where he oversees ministry leadership and work in the day-to-day ministry operations of the church. Josh and Melissa have been blessed with three wonderful girls: Chloe, Adelaide, and Josie.
Randy Sterns – Tampa, Florida
Randy Sterns was born in Iowa and raised in Oregon although his earliest years were lived in Africa as the son of Open Bible missionaries Verl and Shirley Sterns. An attorney, he has extensive experience representing entities that seek financing, forming broker-dealer firms, overseeing investment and loan funds, as well as representing financial institutions, credit union service organizations, public, and private companies. Randy began his career serving as Legislative Assistant and Counsel to U.S. Senator Mark O. Hatfield (R-OR) from 1979 until 1984 and was actively involved in tax simplification, tax reform initiatives, and religious liberty issues, including the Equal Access Act of 1984 that granted legal protection to non-curriculum related student groups to meet for religious purposes. He has continued to be actively involved in assisting churches, private schools, charter schools, athletic organizations, and community service organizations and is actively involved in assisting and supporting international mission organizations which focus their efforts on the needs of orphans. He is a member of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association and Non-Profit Organizations, State Regulation of Securities, Exempt Transactions and Exempt Securities sub-committees and regularly contributes to and speaks at seminars relating to not-for-profit organizations.
The National Board represents and directs the mission and business of the Association. It is accountable to and shall report to the governing body for those responsibilities and powers delegated.
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”
Rehoboth Open Bible Church has stood strong for forty-five years. Our journey began in the cozy apartment living room of Revs. Easton and Joy Grant in Brooklyn, New York, with seven adults and seven children. As the years passed and our congregation flourished, outgrowing the capacity of two hundred set by the NYC Department of Buildings, the church initiated a second service in 1998 and began an arduous search for a new, larger home, a journey that has tested our determination and resilience.
Finding a suitable space to meet [in Brooklyn] is daunting, with people seeming to occupy every square inch
Brooklyn, one of the most densely populated counties in the United States, presents a unique set of challenges for churches. Finding a suitable space to meet is daunting, with people seeming to occupy every square inch. There are no new spaces for churches in New York. Currently existing churches were originally built in the 1800s, often by Catholics and Presbyterians; modern churches must convert commercial spaces or purchase existing spaces occupied by older churches or temples. Even when property can be found, political and business environs do not want such valuable real estate removed from the tax roll and often restrict access by religious non-profit organizations. Thus, most churches in Brooklyn are classified as storefronts, utilizing small commercial retail spaces or the front rooms of homes.
When we were appointed as pastors of Rehoboth in 2011, the search for a larger facility was already ongoing. Four months into our role, we drove by a former Jewish temple on 888 East 56th Street which had a sign saying, “For Sale or Triple Net Lease.” Despite our uncertainty, we called the listed number and met with the owner.
Most of the property was in a deplorable condition, requiring eyes of faith to visualize its value. Based on the redlining lending practices of the neighborhood and commercial banks’ refusal to lend to churches, the likelihood of acquisition was slim to none. Negotiations were painful, but after numerous meetings and much prayer, two years later we achieved an owner-seller financing purchase. That was the first miracle in the journey to 888, since we would not have been able to qualify for financing on the open market.
The purchase consumed all the church’s savings and more. Despite this, God provided monthly mortgage payments of $16.1k while funding the church’s day-to-day operations, our second miracle.
888 East 56th Street is more than a building. It continues the legacy of bringing Rehoboth’s soul to life.
We launched a three-year capital campaign in 2015 that proved God’s power in Rehoboth’s life at a new level. Like Gideon, God used a small group to catch the vision, amassing funds exceeding the pledged amount by nearly forty percent! God’s faithfulness gave birth to the third miracle – providing the equity needed to match our upcoming construction loan.
In 2019, six years after purchasing the property, we obtained a construction loan and refinanced the seller’s note at a lower interest rate, providing more funds for renovation – miracle number four.
With much excitement after the groundbreaking in December 2019, construction began in March 2020. Three weeks in, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, sending NYC spiraling. The city that never sleeps shut down tight for three months. While COVID-19 kept us all enclosed, our property renovations were in limbo. Unattended projects suffered, material prices quadrupled, and labor costs followed suit.
The challenge of dealing with unscrupulous consultants, renegotiating contracts, finding new subcontractors, confronting disfavored lending practices, and seeking to manage construction timelines was an enormous feat. But God provided miracle after miracle by granting favor, stretching finances, creating new alliances, empowering us with new boldness to advocate, and providing the changes we needed while keeping our integrity intact. As one major devious player on the project stated, “With all that I have done, you should not be here. I know God is with you.” To which we say, “Yes, Amen!” God is with us.
On Palm Sunday, March 24, 2024, we held our final service at our previous address. Afterward, we marched to 888 East 56th Street with a police escort and a drumline, waving palm branches and flags in joyous jubilation. Our seniors who were unable to walk traveled via cars behind the marchers. All reveled in the moment, singing and giving God thanks as we beheld the miracle on East 56th Street and rejoiced in what God had done!
Upon arrival, we introduced ourselves to the community, recited Psalm 24, opened the doors, and let the King of Glory in! We then held our first service at 888, celebrating jubilantly the fulfillment of the biblical promise our church name represents. The founders of our church chose the name “Rehoboth,” taken from Genesis 26:22:
And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So, he called its name Rehoboth because he said, ‘For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land’ (NKJV).
888 East 56th Street is more than a building. It continues the legacy of bringing Rehoboth’s soul to life, providing room to become, belong, and believe for those who are here and those who are yet to come. What God said with His mouth, He has fulfilled with His hands this day for His glory. He has made room for us!
About the Author
Leroy and Dalton Spencer
Leroy and Dalton Spencer are the lead pastors at Rehoboth Open Bible Church, in Brooklyn, New York. They have been members of Rehoboth for over 25 years, serving in various capacities before assuming the helm in 2011. They are passionate about advancing the kingdom of God, prayer, and caring for the sheep with a good shepherd’s heart. Leroy and Dalton believe people are our greatest asset and fully embrace the mandate to bring them to maturity by equipping them with the Word and life skills.
