Across The Nation
Randall & Barbara Bach, Thank You for 51 Years of Service through Open Bible Churches!
After serving in Open Bible for 51 years, Randall A. Bach is concluding his role as President of Open Bible Churches, effective August 30, 2023. He said, “Serving as your president is a privilege and blessing, undoubtedly the highest honor of my life. While serving in this office, I have been keenly aware that I am a steward of something I do not own. My hope is that I have made a positive difference for the Lord and Open Bible’s mission during my tenure of stewardship. Colossians 3:23 is deeply rooted in my heart as a life commitment: ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.’ That is a central component of my worship to the Lord.”
“Randall has been a leader of influence and innovation in our Open Bible family for many decades,” said Open Bible Vice President Bruce Pfadenhauer. “He is a man of integrity, excellence, and has a strong work ethic that has been proven in a long list of assignments and accomplishments. Randall has been a statesman for Open Bible Churches, and it has been my privilege to serve under his leadership and as a partner on his leadership team.”
Randall’s main assignments were serving at Open Bible College, Open Bible Churches’ national office, Open Bible’s East Region, and as president of Open Bible Churches. Here we list some of his accomplishments.
Open Bible College (1972-1983)
Randall began his tenure at Open Bible College in Des Moines, Iowa, as a faculty member and director of public relations at the age of 22. At age 23, he became registrar and implementor of the federal student aid program. He became the school’s executive vice president at age 24 during the college’s successful quest for accreditation. At age 29, he became the school’s president.
During those years at the college, Randall led choir and student ministry teams on tours through the Central, Mountain Plains, and Southeast regions. He relocated and expanded the college library. He led staff members who oversaw academics, student records, recruitment, student financial aid, dormitories, cafeteria, married student housing, facilities, and an on-campus childcare business. He worked to preserve and restore the historic Butler Building, which housed administrative offices and classrooms. He helped in the development of a cooperative Associate of Arts degree with the neighboring American Institute of Business and served several terms as chair of the Open Bible Committee on Higher Education, coordinating relationships between Open Bible’s colleges. Randall served as a member of Central Region’s board of directors and as district youth director. His wife, Barbara, served at Randall’s side as bookkeeper, vocalist on a ministry team, and leader of the student wives’ fellowship.
Open Bible Churches (1983-1998)
Next, Randall moved to the national office, where he wore many hats, including serving as the national Christian Education and Youth Director, Executive Director of Church Ministries, Executive Director of Communications, and Director of World Evangelism. In these offices he traveled extensively to speak to churches on behalf of Open Bible. He represented World Evangelism in most Open Bible districts, participated in transitioning the national board to a smaller size and redefining its composition, and led the transition to computerizing national office operations, including online giving and the website. He was the designer for renovations to national office spaces, published the first We Believe doctrinal publication for adults, published CrossTraining for Kids, a doctrinal resource, and sponsored children’s ministry leaders training workshops. He transformed the Message of the Open Bible to an award-winning, four-color publication. He championed Youth For Missions giving, which grew from $7,000 annually to $86,000. He led and organized Gospel Teams Overseas, a program that conducted short-term missions trips for young people, and led an adult ministry team consisting of regional and district youth leaders on a ministry trip to Jamaica. He implemented Frontline, Open Bible’s first national youth convention, led a leadership summit of regional and district youth leaders to visit Tijuana in pursuit of the development of a short-term ministry base, and led a Youth For Missions project that raised funds to purchase land in Tijuana for the base.
East Region Open Bible Churches (1998-2011)
Randall’s next position was serving as the East Region Executive Director and Vice President of Open Bible Churches. In this role, he renovated the regional office, led the development of the Open Bible Manual with separate sections that contain national bylaws and policies and principles, as well as church bylaw models. In consultation with the national board of directors, he led the 2007 national restructuring team, that changed the size and composition of the national board. He led the development of a district leaders manual and implemented a four-color regional newsletter called PULSE. He traveled extensively throughout the region assisting with pastoral transitions and conflict resolution, implemented complimentary Galatians 6:6 retreats for all senior pastors and spouses, led restructuring of the regional board of directors, published the Pastor/Board Relationship resource, implemented Vanguard teaching summits for ministers and church leaders, and planned and led regional conferences and retreats. Barbara served in various capacities in the regional office, traveled extensively with Randall, and led the regional women’s ministry. Barbara also exercised her gift for hospitality, hosting dinners and providing baked goods for board meetings.
Open Bible Churches (2012-2023)
As President of Open Bible Churches, Randall led and implemented the transformation of World Evangelism, an almost 50-year-old giving program, into Mission Venture Plan, a designated giving program that supports Open Bible ministries and missionaries with unified giving options. He implemented a strategic foresight process and led the implementation of a restructured, more inclusive board of directors and an executive leadership team. As a result of the strategic foresight process, he launched what became Movement, a ministry to identify, reach, and develop young adult leaders. He implemented a digital media office to create an online processing of functions and visibility. He led the Message of the Open Bible’s transition to become a free, online publication with a multiplied readership. He implemented an annual retreat with regional executive directors and spouses to resource and deepen relationships and mutual support, created the CURRENT e-letter for credentialed ministers and spouses, and upgraded the consultation process for the appointment of regional executive directors.
He represented Open Bible and served as a member of the board of directors and executive committee of the National Association of Evangelicals and represented Open Bible Churches as a member of the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America. He led an extensive remodeling of the national office. He implemented Acquire, an online video training resource for ministerial credential applicants, pastoral enrichment, and lay leader training. He also championed the establishment of Open Bible schools of ministry and implemented a certification process for them. He led a conversion of the credentialing process to be administrated entirely online.
Randall published We Believe: Core Truths for Christian Living and We Believe for Kids, a three-year, contemporary doctrinal curriculum for churches. He launched Prayer Points, a short, monthly video with praise and prayer highlights, implemented Better Roads, a bimonthly podcast in which the spiritual journeys of guests (mostly Open Bible) are explored, and created a staff communications team that brainstorms and coordinates the many pieces of communication that are distributed from the national office. The final piece of Randall’s publishing vision to resource Open Bible churches as they make disciples was Thriving in the Spirit, written by Burt Campbell and premiering at the 2023 Open Bible convention. He streamlined national conventions and targeted locations that are desirable family destinations, appointed a Presidential Unity Commission, dedicated to building bridges between races, and developed a new historical memories and archives room at the national office.
Randall and Barbara traveled thousands of miles to engage with pastors, spouses, and churches and to represent Open Bible in the greater evangelical community of the nation. Barbara again applied her God-given gift of hospitality to host dinners for boards, office staff, and other groups in the Bach home and contributed her delicious baked goods from “BaBaJo’s Baked from Scratch Kitchen” for board meetings and for the office staff.
“As challenging as it is to let go of something I love,” he said. “I know it is time to pass the baton to fresh leadership and vision, to walk out the door with thankfulness for the opportunity to have served, to leave at my initiative, and to depart with joy in my heart from knowing I have given every ounce of my fiber to be faithful to His call on my life. There would always be more I want to do, but that will be for someone else.”
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.
