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.
One Monday afternoon in the early spring of 2024, as I finished my personal sabbath at the church where I pastor, I felt a prompting from the Holy Spirit to go outside. I sensed that [the Holy Spirit] wanted me to meet new individuals as they walked by the church, introducing myself as the pastor and learning their names. This was out of the ordinary for me, but I was excited by a new assignment, so I obeyed and went outside immediately.
As I waited in front of the church, I soon met four individuals as they were leaving their A.A. Fellowship meeting. One of these was the attorney who worked across the street, whom I got to know a little better during our conversation. I also met a woman named Michelle who turned out to be my wife Cheryl’s childhood next door neighbor. Thanking the Lord for these meaningful connections, I got in my truck to go home when I heard the Holy Spirit’s voice say, “MAGNIFY!” I responded in my spirit, “Okay, God, I magnify You.” The Holy Spirit spoke again, this time explaining to me, “‘MAGNIFY’ is an acronym that means MEET AND GREET NEW INDIVIDUALS FOR YESHUA. I realized that this was what God was newly calling me to do every day when I was at the church. After committing to the Lord that I would do it, I logged the acronym in my cell phone notes so I could capture the moment.
Just as I began to back up in my truck, I saw a couple walking down the nearby sidewalk carrying a heavy-looking kitchen table. Sensing the Holy Spirit’s prompting again, I asked them if I could help. The woman spoke to her husband, who hadn’t heard me, after which he replied, “Yes, you can help us.” I told them to put the table in the back of the truck and get in, which they did.
When I asked them where they were going, they said three blocks north to their apartment. As we drove the short distance, I asked them their names and the man answered, “Abdul and Maria.” When I arrived at Abdul and Maria’s apartment, they immediately got out of the truck and carried the table toward their doorway. I waved and began to drive away, but Abdul quickly called after me, “No, it is our custom to feed you.” Excited and honored to be a guest in their home, I parked and went inside.
Inside their home I found an empty living room with only blankets on the floor that they used for seating and a television. I sat down on the floor and before I knew it, Maria was bringing food on trays for me to eat (and I mean, it was a lot of food!).
As we sat and dined together, I learned that they were from Afghanistan. I asked them their story, and Abdul shared in full detail how they came to live in Tacoma. The story was so moving to me that I asked them, “How can I help?” Abdul said that they needed chairs for their new table, a vacuum cleaner, and a sofa. Our church had all those things, so I told them, “Let’s get back in the truck and go get those things right now.” They were so thankful for the help that they invited me back for lunch the next day. (Apparently, I didn’t eat enough to satisfy them). I told them I would return with my wife Cheryl.
Since the Lord called me to go out into the neighborhood and “MAGNIFY,” I have met over one hundred people.
The next day, to my surprise, they had set the table to look like a feast for a king! Their appreciation for my assistance was evident in their heartfelt hospitality. As Cheryl and I sat to eat with them, I asked if I could pray over the food, and Abdul said yes. I asked because I assumed that they were Muslims, which I learned they were. After I prayed, we had a conversation about faith. Most of my conversation was with Abdul, since Maria doesn’t speak much English yet, which explained why I’d spotted them coming from the direction of Bates Vocational College, where Maria is taking English lessons.
During our conversation I asked Abdul if he believes Jesus is the Christ, and he responded twice that he believes Jesus is coming again, which really didn’t answer the question. I shared the story about the Samaritan woman at the well who acknowledged Jesus as a prophet, after which Jesus revealed Himself to her as the Messiah. Abdul said he knew the story, since it had been told to him at the dinner table when he was a child. I left it at that and proceeded with the luncheon.
What I have learned through MAGNIFY is this: soul winning begins with seed planting
When it was time to depart, I thanked them for their wonderful hospitality, and they invited us to come over any time for tea or for lunch. I did not invite them to church, since I didn’t want them to think that was the only reason I had helped and had lunch with them.
That following Sunday, to my surprise, I looked up and saw Abdul and Maria walking through the doors! Abdul served as Maria’s interpreter throughout the whole service. My heart was overjoyed that simple acts of kindness had led to drawing these new people to our worship service. Abdul and Maria do not attend regularly yet but have attended a few times since. Our relationship has continued to grow. I was able to transport Abdul to a job interview, and he got the job. Today, he and Maria are both working, both have driver’s licenses, and own a car.
Since the Lord called me to go out into the neighborhood and “MAGNIFY,” I have met over one hundred people. All their names are on a list that I keep, both so I can remember them the next time I see them out in the community and so I can call their names out in prayer. Some of them are even showing up in our worship services! I cannot begin to tell you how many lives have been touched by the light of the Lord through MAGNIFY. The conversations I have had with the “down and out” and the “up and out” have been priceless and insightful. Many of them have allowed me to pray for them, and I have found the most precious people in the homeless community surrounding our church. As a pastor, my goal is always to win souls to Christ, and this endeavor is no different. However, what I have learned through MAGNIFY is this: soul winning begins with seed planting. Will you join me and MAGNIFY?
About the Author
Gary Wyatt
Gary Wyatt has been the lead pastor of SureHouse Open Bible Church, an urban ministry in the inner city of Tacoma, Washington, for over 25 years. He is the author of The Art of Blending, a book about mixing cultures in a biased society. The Art of Blending is a book intended for racial reconciliation within the body of Christ.
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, Gil Strickland, in 1984. After his experience of being served by chaplains in the military, Gil 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.
