Faculty

Other training, experience, or professional affiliations:

• Recipient of Association for Biblical Higher Education’s (ABHE) Biblical Higher Education Award – 2018
• Recipient of Faith Baptist Bible College’s Faithful Servant Award – 2018

Published works:

• Biblical Slave Leadership, Regular Baptist Books, 2013
• Contributor – World Religions and Cults Vol.2, Answers in Genesis, 2016
• “A Call for Great Commission Passion” – Sept/Oct ’14 Issue, The Baptist Bulletin Magazine
• “The Path of Separation in the 20th Century” – Nov/Dec ’99 Issue, Voice magazine (IFCA International)
• Numerous other articles and periodicals

Bio:

Dr. Anderson explains his entrance into Biblical higher education in this way: “My burden to pursue Bible College teaching was the result of God’s using my education at ABC in such an impacting way. Also, I believe God confirmed His leading as we sought His will. I am passionate about equipping the next generation of ministry servants. I love the opportunity to pour my life into my students with a passion and conviction that will help them go beyond me in impact.” His dedication is experienced by the students of his American Church History class—a course he has taught at a senior level throughout his time at ABC.

Dr. Anderson’s life verses are Psalm 84:11-12, and his testimony of salvation he gives as follows: “I was privileged to be born into a pastor’s home so that spiritual matters were part of my life from birth. However, I came to realize that I needed to put my trust in Christ as my personal Savior at the age of 5. As a result of a message my father preached on the return of the Lord, I realized that if the rapture happened I would be left alone. While I did not respond to the opportunity to trust Christ in that service, the Spirit of God continued to convict my heart that I needed to be saved, and the following evening I said to my mother ‘I need to be saved’ and she led me to the Lord in our home. I am thankful for the assurance of my salvation through the years because of the guidance and teaching of my parents and others in my life such as Sunday school teachers.”

In his 40+ years as President of ABC, Dr. Anderson has spoken, taught, and ministered around the world. “I have enjoyed a blessed life full of experiences from greeting President Bush to seeing Queen Elisabeth.” Learn more about Dr. Anderson on his President’s Biography page.

Other training, experience, or professional affiliations:

• Handbell training seminars
• Past member of AGEHR
• Past member of American Guild of Organists
• Recipient of Faith Baptist Bible College’s Faithful Servant Award – 2018

Bio:

Mrs. Anderson explains that her desire to become a teacher of music “grew as I watched and learned from my music professors while a music student here at ABC. As my music skills were fine-tuned and I was able to use them to minister to others I knew I wanted to pass on to others what I had learned and follow in the path of my instructors I had here at ABC.” Teaching several core music classes and leading some of the music teams at ABC, she explains that “I have two favorite classes that I teach. Each has its own distinct joy for me and both classes work at times in tandem. One class is very practical and helps students understand the detailed parts of music and teaches them to create their own music. Those are the Music Theory classes. The other class involves the teaching and training of our Jubilate English Handbell team. This class gives me the ideal stage to show the music students and others who just have a love of ministering with music how to use their music theory to impact how they perform and how to effectively and excellently minister.” She diligently and passionately pursues excellence in her musical responsibilities, enjoying “looking at and listening to music that I can use with the English Handbell team… The tour theme is based on a Bible verse and/or passage which causes me to dig deep into the passage and then incorporate the message and truths that God has impressed upon me as I select the music and design the program.”

Mrs. Anderson gives her salvation testimony this way: “I was reared in a Christian home and loved all things Christian. However, it wasn’t until the age of 15 while working in the kitchen at a Child Evangelism Camp in Indiana that I realized, as the missionary speaker was speaking on Christ’s imminent return, that I had not personally accepted Christ as my Savior.  It was then that I made that decision.” Her commitment to love and serve the Lord with her life is now represented in her “life song” by Fanny Crosby, “Close to Thee.”

Besides music, Mrs. Anderson enjoys swimming and would love to travel to the Galapagos Islands. “I love nature and visiting unique places and seeing animals in their natural habitat.”

Other training, experience, or professional affiliations:

• Certified through ACBC (Association of Certified Biblical Counselors)
• Associate teacher with OIC (Overseas Instruction in Counseling)

Bio:

Mr. Best takes on his role in Biblical higher education with great seriousness and joy. “God is glorified in His revelation being understood and obeyed. To pass along Biblical truth and values to the next generation is my responsibility to God. I thoroughly enjoy seeing students grow and change in understanding and maturity (knowledge and wisdom).”

This sense of duty is further demonstrated by his life verse, Colossians 1:28, “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Mr. Best explains that “this is the essence of my life and responsibility before God.” His current favorite class to teach is Biblical Patterns of Parenthood. “It is so foundational and practical to life.” Outside his classes, he enjoys pursuing further learning in areas such as Biblical counseling, parenting, ministering to youth, and addiction. “These areas are where life is lived and where I am able to grow and help others to grow.”

Mr. Best’s testimony of how he came to know Christ he tells in this way: “I was born in Washington, DC, and spent the first 18 years of life in the little town of Brandywine, MD. As a young boy, I trusted Christ (1976) after hearing my need and the gospel preached by my pastor. Soon after, I identified with Christ through baptism… At about 16 years old, I began to sense the Lord burdening my heart towards gospel ministry. After serving a summer with a missionary, I determined to go and do whatever God wanted. In 1988, I left for ministry preparation at Appalachian Bible College.”

One day, Mr. Best would like to resume his hobby of painting. He would also enjoy hunting elk in the Rocky Mountains and moose in Alaska or Canada.

Bio:

Mrs. Dingus shares that she “had a desire to teach from the time I was a young child. I love to learn and I enjoy helping others learn. I see education as being about gaining knowledge for the purpose of knowing God as we learn more about Him through the world that He created. Through my years of teaching math, I’ve seen that there is joy in discovering the intricacies of God’s wisdom as evidenced in the mathematical system that He designed. The more we understand about God, the more we can give Him proper glory, honor and praise. However, studying His creation cannot compare to studying His Word, His personal revelation of Himself to us. I find no greater joy than to teach God’s Word to others and to help them grow in the knowledge of Christ.”

“I also love teaching because education allows us to serve others more effectively. Learning gives us personal benefits, but we are created to worship and serve God through serving others. The more we know, the more we can use that knowledge to help people. It is a privilege to be able to train young people for that future service.”

Mrs. Dingus’s testimony begins with her “parents who loved and served the Lord. They modeled a life that was centered around Christ and His Word. I was taken to church every time the doors were open. My parents gave me the blessings of attending Bible conferences, Bible camps, and missions conferences. As a young child, I heard a Bible lesson on heaven and I knew that I wanted to go there. I prayed and asked the Lord to let me go to heaven. I grew up thinking that I was a Christian, that I was a ‘good girl.’ I was a good student, I did all the ‘right things,’ said all the ‘right things,’ but my heart was far from God. I was really just living for myself and my own desires. My freshman year of college the Lord used a sermon that I heard in chapel to convict me of my sin and to draw me to Himself. He saved me and changed my heart. From that point on, I have desired to serve Him with my life and to live to please Him. I am so thankful for His grace and mercy.”

“My favorite book of the Bible is Philippians because of Paul’s example of a life of joy, rejoicing in the Lord always, no matter the circumstances. My favorite Bible passage is Romans chapter 8 which begins ‘there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.’ The entire chapter brings great encouragement to my soul.”

Mrs. Dingus has also begun studying Biblical counseling and has “gained more confidence in the sufficiency of the Word of God for all of life. I hope that the Lord will use what I am learning to help others.” She also enjoys the study of history, spending time outdoors, reading mystery novels, and “I also am a big football fan. I even was a quarterback for an intramural powderpuff team my freshman year of college.” Something she would love to do one day is a Reformation Tour of Europe “to see that area of the world, but also to learn more about the history and God’s providence during the time of the Reformation.”

Other training, experience, or professional affiliations:

• Associate of Arts in Biblical Studies from New Tribes Bible Institute (now Ethnos360 Bible Institute)
• Member of the Association of Christian Librarians

Bio:

Mr. Dunkerton’s favorite class to teach at ABC is Biblical Thinking & Worldview, “because it demonstrates how every aspect of life must be filtered through the authority of God’s Word, and it encourages critical thinking based on that. I love it when students understand the principles behind the content I teach and they research it further on their own.”

Mr. Dunkerton’s testimony of salvation he shares this way: “I was raised in a Christian home and led to Christ by my parents when I was about five years old. While I do not remember it exactly, I am confident in the fact that Jesus died for the sin of the world, including mine, and rose again. I am confident that He has a specific plan for me.” His life verses are Romans 12:1-2, “because they are an admonishment to think right and behave in submission to God’s will.”

His passion for a Biblical worldview and apologetics extends into his hobbies. “I like to read about various ways of thinking and processing information, as well as Christian apologetics, and they sometimes overlap. I think it is important to recognize that even people who share the mind of Christ operate in different ways by God’s design.”

Mr. Dunkerton also shares some moments of his life that helped shape him and show him God’s plan for his life. “I spent a summer in Siberia on a missions trip in between my time at New Tribes and ABC. After ABC, I got married, and six weeks later was in a truck/bicycle accident (I was on the bicycle) and needed brain surgery. I got better, and God used that to direct me into librarianship.” One thing he aspires to do in the future is “earn my PhD to make me more effective in what God has me doing and to open up more opportunities.”

Bio:

Mr. Frink’s passion for teaching comes from his love of “being a part of the opportunity and process of discipleship. It is a privilege to be able to take the wisdom and knowledge that I have gleaned over years of ministry, study, and life, and pass that knowledge on to the next generation.” He enjoys learning more about Biblically addressing the needs of youth and families, apologetics for “understanding the thinking of others and identifying how the Bible specifically addresses those issues,” as well as the historical aspects and significance of Biblical places, accounts, and people.”

Mr. Frink’s testimony of salvation he describes this way: “I was raised in a godly home, and always knew the Bible and the message of salvation. I made a profession of faith at the age of 8 at Alpine Bible Camp. I then experienced assurance of my salvation when I was around 13 or 14.” His favorite Bible passage is Psalm 37:4-5. “I believe these verses give a wonderful blueprint for how to live life as we delight first and foremost in God, trusting Him to give us the desires that He wants us to have, and then trusting Him to lead us into His perfect path toward those desires.”

Some of Mr. Frink’s pastimes include watching soccer and cricket matches on TV and reading historical fiction novels or Louis L’Amour westerns. He loves outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, backpacking, surfing, and whitewater rafting. He would love to try hang gliding one day and “to go big game hunting out west or in Alaska.”

Bio:

Mrs. Hammons’s desire to become a teacher was sparked “when I was a student at ABC, the wife of a professor encouraged me to teach the Ladies’ Sunday School class at church. Through her encouragement, I sensed the Lord leading me to teach the Bible to other women as a ministry! I love to see the “light bulb” come on in a student’s mind as they learn something (especially a Biblical principle) for the first time! … I love to focus on the individual students in the class. As a teacher, I find that each class is completely different depending on the individuals on the roster. They each interact with, absorb, and internalize the material in different ways and to different degrees! It is a privilege to strive to impart the material in a manner that excites each student!”

Mrs. Hammons gives her salvation testimony in these words: “I was raised in a denominational church where I never heard the gospel but gained a sense of reverence for God. The summer before I started college, a fellow staff member at our secular summer camp invited me to read the Gospel of Mark out loud with them…a little bit at a time. I began to wonder if there was a God and, if so, why didn’t I know about Him? That fall, on a secular liberal arts college campus, the Lord intersected my life with a dorm RA who was a believer. She invited me on a Fall Retreat with the Christian Fellowship. That was the first time I heard the gospel clearly. While I did not come to faith then, I began attending Bible studies on a regular basis. Eventually, I read James 4:17: ‘Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.’ At that moment, I truly realized I am a sinner. Not long thereafter, I attended an Easter Sunday service. The sermon was based on 1 Corinthians 15. I was very convicted that the chapter did not apply to me. I went for a walk that afternoon, confessed my sin, and asked the Lord to save me. And He did!”

Now, one of Mrs. Hammons’s favorite Bible passages is Galatians 2:20. “Having come to Christ as a young adult, the Lord needed to rebuild my worldview from a humanistic one to a Biblical one.  As part of that process, I learned the principle of ‘being crucified with Christ;’ that Christ actually lives through me, that my life is not my own, and that the sacrifice of Christ is the basis of everything in life.” She now also loves reading books about Biblical counseling, missionary biographies, prayer, sanctification, and systematic theology. One day she would love to have the Bible studies she has developed be published. “I have loved investing many hours of study, seeking to bring the Bible to other women in a proper hermeneutical layout, incorporating life-changing applications. To this end, I would love for ladies to be able to access this material instead of having it just sit in my file cabinet!”

Outside of her Biblical studies, she enjoys hiking and has completed most of the White Mountains of New Hampshire portion of the Appalachian Trail.

Other training, experience, or professional affiliations:

• Attended numerous conferences through the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF) and the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).

Bio:

Mr. Hammons loves teaching because “it’s my desire to communicate the importance of God’s Word and how it relates to life, how it answers the questions that young (and older) adults have about living the Christian life in today’s culture and being a faithful witness for the cause of Christ… I appreciate the opportunity to impact future generations of believers for the cause of Christ. I want my students to see how they can connect the Word of God to their lives and interact with the world around them.” This desire is further seen through his favorite Bible verse, Romans 10:17 “This verse reminds me of my responsibility of proclaiming the Word of God, not only in my immediate vicinity but throughout the world. It is the Word of God that is most important in any ministry.”

Mr. Hammons recounts how he came to salvation through Jesus Christ: “While attending a technical school for the Navy… in Norfolk, Virginia, another sailor asked me ‘[if] I were to die tonight where would I spend eternity.’ I looked at him and said I would spend it in hell. I knew that I was a sinner, but no one ever explained the gospel to me. While I didn’t make a decision at that time, it was a week later that another sailor from the church I attended the previous Sunday came by the barracks and clearly explained [the gospel] to me. It was at that point, I asked Christ [to be] my Savior.”

Now, Mr. Hammons is training others to share the gospel and guide others by God’s Word. His favorite class to teach is on Biblical Counseling. “I learned the importance of Biblical Counseling during our ministry at Fort Bragg. During this time, I grew in my understanding that the Word of God had solid answers to life’s problems. I look at Biblical Counseling as a form of intensive discipleship.”  He also enjoys “reading and studying Creation Science… My interest in Creation Science is based on my confidence in God’s Word and the creation account in Genesis.”

One day, Mr. Hammons “would like to hike the New England portion of the Appalachian Trail (AT). It offers spectacular views and is some of the hardest hiking along the AT.” He also shares the ironic fact that “despite spending 11 years in the Navy, I cannot swim.”

Bio:

Mrs. Kilbride became a teacher because “I love the multiplication aspect of teaching: as I invest in students, they will go out all around the world and impact countless lives. They will go to lands and reach people with the gospel that I never could have reached.” She especially enjoys teaching the class Methods for TESOL 1 as it is “the basics of teaching and I just love seeing students grow from struggling at teaching a short lesson to being fully confident and excelling at teaching for an hour.” Her passion for TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) extends into her love for studying the languages of the world. “It is absolutely fascinating all the unique characteristics and features other languages have that English does not, but then also seeing areas of similarity that I had not realized as well.” She is fluent in Spanish and has a working knowledge of Mandarin.

Her favorite verse of Scripture is Jeremiah 29:11. “It is so comforting to know my God, who loves me more than anyone else ever has or could, is in total control of my life, which gives me hope and peace regardless of my circumstances.” She describes her salvation testimony in this way: “I was led to the Lord by my grandmother when I was 5, when she shared about the sacrifice Jesus had made to pay for my sin so that I could spend eternity with Him in heaven.”

Mrs. Kilbride enjoys baking and decorating cakes and cookies, as well as organizing and decorating—they “give me such a rush!” She dreams of being able to “travel and see all of my students who are currently teaching overseas.”

Other training, experience, or professional affiliations:

• Conducted seminars and workshops in Christian drama, both stage and puppetry
• Served on the Board of Greater Beckley Christian School

Published works:

• Sunday school curriculum, primarily for Union Gospel Press
• Multiple pieces of poetry in elementary school materials published by Abeka Books
• Self-published textbooks used in classes at ABC, including The Trained Christian Speaker (Speech textbook) and Storytelling: Theater of the Mind (Storytelling textbook)
• Self-published multiple scripts for Christian drama and puppet programs

Bio:

For Miss Parvin, “Teaching is in my blood going back at least 4 generations! My mind frequently goes to ‘How could I explain or illustrate this concept more clearly?’ There is such a joy in helping a student go from ‘huh?’ to ‘I get it now!’ I am passionate about helping people of all ages communicate more clearly. I adore teaching!” In addition to leading the drama and puppet ministries at ABC, she expresses her enthusiasm for training effective communicators in her favorite class, Fundamentals of Speech. “I love showing students they can get up in front of others and deliver a coherent presentation and that it’s not about self, it’s about loving others enough to give the audience what God has helped them prepare.”

Her favorite verse continues to express the burden of her heart: “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6). She says this verse “challenges me daily both for my own communication and for training others. What a challenge it is to pre-think about what is about to come out of our mouths! It is not my natural instinct to speak graciously, but I must strive toward more kind and appropriate words in every situation in order to honor and please God.”

Miss Parvin’s testimony of salvation began when she was about three years old as a pastor’s kid. “…My older brother was explaining that he was now a Christian because he had accepted Christ as Savior. I claimed I was a Christian too, and he said I couldn’t be until I had accepted Christ as Savior. This escalated into an argument that caught my mother’s attention. She took me to her room, calmed my anger, and explained what my brother meant. I was very young, but at the time I thought I understood my sinful state and asked God to forgive my sin and make me His child. At the age of 12 I was troubled and uncertain I had known what I was doing, so I recommitted my life to God and know only He knows my heart and is the source of my salvation.”

She further tells that “as a young person I dreamed of being a missionary and later of writing a speech textbook from a Christian perspective. Years later God brought both those dreams to reality, but so gradually and naturally that I didn’t see it happening until it was reality!” Now, she has a goal of wanting “to continue writing and to publish a novel I’ve worked on for ten years! Two of my nieces and I have for years joined together in a group we laughingly call ‘Writers’ Block.’ We have encouraged each others’ writing for many years.”

Bio:

Mr. Peterson became a teacher because “we desperately need more missionaries and church planters who have the theological training and practical skills necessary to do the job well. Through teaching I am able to pass on the knowledge and experience I have gained to the next generation.” This passion of his came after he “almost pursued a career in politics and law until God convinced me that only the gospel is effective in changing lives and culture, and that I should pursue the eternal rather than the temporal.”

Other training, experience, or professional affiliations:

• Attendee and presenter at Bible Faculty Summit

Bio:

Dr. Pinter explains how “the thing I love about teaching is that it gives me the opportunity to disciple young Christians in a formal education setting. The principle of 2 Timothy 2:2 is to train those who are faithful who will be able to train others also. Formal Bible education gives an excellent opportunity for accountability and encouragement to be faithful while imparting teaching from God’s Word. It is a joy to see young students ‘grounded and settled in the faith’ (Colossians 1:23). It is a delight to watch ‘Christ be formed’ and ‘dwell in’ the hearts of our students at Appalachian Bible College (Galatians 4:19; Ephesians 3:17).”

He goes on to say that “one of my favorite classes I have taught is Major Cults. The reason this class became a favorite is because it challenges one to really know sound doctrine from the Bible. It requires one to be familiar with the false doctrines of the cults that are leading so many people astray in today’s world. It is helpful to know not only how to discern but also how to refute false doctrine with sound doctrine from scripture. Paul encouraged Titus to train church leaders to confront false teachers, ‘many unholy and vain talkers and deceivers . . . whose mouths must be stopped’ and ‘who subvert whole houses teaching things which they ought not’ (Titus 1:10 11). It is amazing what strange beliefs and contradictions in thought exist in false cults. It is a blessing to realize that the Bible’s teaching is sound, can be trusted, never contradicts itself, and yields ‘the fruits of righteousness’ (Phil. 1:11), ‘true holiness’ (Eph. 4:24), and love, joy, and peace (Gal. 5:22). On the other hand, cults are characterized by contradiction, confusion, and chaos. Exposing students to false doctrine in major cults (after they have been established firmly in the faith) helps them appreciate more the sound doctrine of the Bible. This knowledge about Major Cults equips our students to have tender hearts to reach out and help those who are lost in the false doctrine of cults.”

Dr. Pinter’s testimony of salvation he recounts in this way: “My mother led me to the Lord at age three. I got saved in our living room one night when Mom led me in prayer at bedtime. I asked God to forgive my sins, trusted in Christ, and asked Jesus to save my soul and take me to heaven when I die (John 3:16). The next Sunday my father asked me to give a public testimony at the close of the morning church service. At that time, in addition to teaching at Appalachian Bible Institute, my father was a pastor at the small coal-mining town of Stotesbury, WV. I remember standing before the congregation and telling them I had asked Jesus Christ to save me. It was a privilege to grow up in a Christian home, to attend good churches, and to be in the spiritual family environment at Appalachian Bible College.”

He also “felt called to be a teacher when I was a teenager. Our local pastors of independent Baptist churches sponsored a crusade with evangelist Joe Boyd. The evangelist encouraged us to consider if God was calling us to serve the Lord with our lives. During the invitation, he asked those who felt God’s call to the ministry to come forward. The building was filled with hundreds of people, and I thought many people would come forward to answer God’s call.  However, only two of us young men went forward. To my surprise, the evangelist handed me the microphone and asked me to tell everyone what God had called me to do. Although I had not previously thought about or planned a specific answer, I told everyone that I felt God was calling me to be a teacher or missionary. It is very interesting that I have served for half of my life as both a missionary and a teacher.”

Dr. Pinter’s devotion to the Lord and to his students is reflected in his love of learning more about the Biblical concepts of prayer and revival. “It is important for men in the church to pray (1 Timothy 2:1-8). The president at ABC often reminds us, ‘Prayer is the nerve that moves the muscle of God.’ Prayer accomplishes great things for God (Jer. 33:3). I love to read Biblical prayers, prayer promises, and books on prayer and revival. Perhaps if we pray, God will bring a revival in our day.” His greatest worldly ambition is not worldly at all; it is “to teach Bible and theology to the children and grandchildren of ABC alumni. My father and I have taught multiple generations of students from the same families. How exciting it is to see students established in the faith as they attend ABC, to watch as they bring up their children in the ‘nurture and admonition of the Lord’ (Eph. 6:4), and to have their children arrive here to attend Bible college. It is rewarding to help them continue to grow in Christ and be ‘rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith’ (Col. 2:7).  What a joy (1 Thess. 2:19) to see the next generation of graduates become faithful servants like their parents, sharing the good news of the gospel (1 Thess. 1:8), and serving God at home and around the world in fulfillment of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). In this way our school motto is fulfilled: ‘…because Life is for Service.’”

Other training, experience, or professional affiliations:

Received training in history and the principle approach to Christian education from the Pilgrim Institute in Granger, Indiana

Bio:

Dr. Rinehart became a teacher “because I am convinced that it is a part of the Great Commission as seen in Matthew 28. In Bible college, I get to help students learn what it means to ‘observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.’ I love being a small part of the development of disciples. It is my prayer that our students will go and make disciples!”

If forced to name a favorite class to teach, Dr. Rinehart says, “I have to choose Principles of Bible Interpretation because it brings together in one course the reason we have Bible college. We exist to equip students to read and understand God’s Word so that we may apply it to our own lives and then to others in Christ’s church.”

Dr. Rinehart’s passion for the Bible extends to his favorite passage of Scripture: Joshua 1:8-9. “These verses remind us of the importance of the Word of God in verses 8. In verse 9, the promise of God’s presence is the key to being courageous and not being fearful. Many times in my life these two truths have been a help to me, from my earliest memories as a child who trusted Christ, through college and marriage and ministry. These verses are all the more special as I have learned that the same principles that God spoke to Joshua here are the given to Christians in places like Ephesians.” Dr. Rinehart also enjoys “studying the dates for the flood, Tower of Babel and the Egyptian sojourn. These dates are important for our understanding of the historicity of Genesis and by extension the rest of the Bible, and yet even believers committed to the reliability of the Bible do not agree on the actual dates.”

Dr. Rinehart was saved by grace when he was six years old. “My family attended church faithfully, so I heard the gospel early on at church and Christian school. I realized that the good news of the gospel also meant that I was a condemned sinner. One winter day in first grade, I knelt by my bed and trusted Christ. I was baptized when I was 8.”

Though he and his wife grew up in small households, together they have 10 children—7 boys and 3 girls.  He even shares a birthday with his wife and youngest son. A desire of his is to “publish my Ph.D. dissertation. With some additional research and adjusting some of the chapters, the message would be a timely one about the dangers of compromising Bible truth.”

For fun, he enjoys long distance running, completing at least one half-marathon each year. And, at one time, he could ride a unicycle and juggle at the same time (but if you ask him to do it now he will say “I am out of practice”)!

Published works:

• Mark 11-16 in “A Daily Greek Devotional” (Northeastern Baptist Press), forthcoming

Bio:

Dr. Rinker expresses his love for teaching, the Word of God, and the study of the Word of God in this way: “My own experience as an ABC student planted a deep conviction in my heart: the all-sufficient, written Word of God is the most essential training for effective ministry. Therefore, I am burdened to train the next generation of servants and see them transformed by the power of God’s Word. It is a great privilege to see servants grow in love with Christ and His Word and pursue a lifetime of gospel service. By God’s grace, He has used me to impact servants who are now around the word, spreading the grace and truth of our Lord Jesus.

“I enjoy teaching the four Gospels because of the challenge and reward of reading narrative accurately. Honestly, I enjoy every exposition and theology course I am able to teach. I am planning to write a commentary on the Gospel of Mark in the next few years for a Regular Baptist Press series called the New Testament Expositor’s Commentary. My favorite verse is John 17:17 because of its simplicity and focus on the centrality of the Word in the life of Christ’s followers.

“I am currently enjoying the challenge and reward of understanding eschatology in light of the whole Bible’s storyline, especially the Biblical covenants. How we read the beginning of God’s story, especially the first testament, affects how we read the end of the God’s story. I also enjoy hermeneutics and exploring its basis in God as the original speaker and writer, the eternal Word. I’ve concluded that the credibility of literal hermeneutics is anchored in how communication works as designed by God.”

Dr. Rinker’s salvation testimony he tells in these words: “When I was about age five, my brother Paul, who is five years older than I, shared the gospel with me. I don’t remember much but I believe it may have been at that time when God saved me. I do recall, as a young child, doubting the security of my salvation, and so would again confess my sin and ask God to save me. Around this time, my older sister Nancy, then in college at Moody Bible Institute, shared the gospel with me. I remember Nancy coming up to the top of my bunk bed, sharing the gospel, and asking me if I had trusted in Christ. I told her yes. Looking back at that now, I suppose my confession and conduct did not clearly demonstrate a new heart to my sister. But I believed God had saved me.

“While I was a moral child, I was not a bold witness to school friends. As a young teen I began to dabble more with the world and its sin in many ways I’m ashamed of. Worse yet, I don’t recall much inner conviction for my actions. I can say that I had no inner desire to read God’s Word or serve Him. Because of this cold heart I sometimes wonder myself if I actually had a regenerate heart at this time. My character did not match my confession, but I was blind to this.

“However, in the summer before 10th grade I attended a Christian youth convention in Kansas with my church youth group. Through the preaching of God’s Word, the Spirit of God convicted me of my sin, and he brought me to repentance. My heart’s desires changed. I was eager to read the Bible each day.

“I also had a desire to serve in our church and did so in various ways. I joined our church’s Bible memory and quizzing team, which was part of the youth ministry. This daily Bible memory and meditation had a huge impact on my life and I sometimes think that this Bible quizzing program was what got me through public high school alive. The last three years of high school were a joyful season of Christian growth. I was also baptized during these years. I still was not a bold witness, and certainly struggled with temptations and sins, but I desired to follow God’s will for my life. I did not know what God’s path would hold but came to believe that knowing God’s Word and growing through a year of Bible college would be a wise choice. God led me to Appalachian Bible College in the fall of 1994 where I enrolled in the one-year Bible Certificate.”

Some of Dr. Rinker’s other interests include traveling to other countries and visiting the Church as it exists around the world. He has been to Canada, France, Lithuania, Hungary, Ukraine, Togo, and India. Growing up near Chicago, IL, he also enjoys Chicago sports teams and food, “especially stuffed pizza, Italian beef, and Chicago-style hot dogs. My favorite ethnic food is Bohemian pork, dumplings, sauerkraut, and liver dumpling soup.” He also has interest in timber framing, old barns, old tractors, fruit orchards, and hunting. “I equally enjoy the mountains and the beach. I would like to build a timber-frame cabin or house because I enjoy the craft of timber framing. I would also like to develop my fruit orchard so I could have a fall apple festival with old tractor rides, cider presses, and lots of happy children.” Still, he expresses that “I am most proud of my wife and children and my primary goal is to love them well and encourage them in their walk with Christ.”

Bio:

Mr. Rowe explains that “as an associate pastor and administrator of several ministries, I have been exposed to a broad range of ministry tasks and an equal number of opportunities that I did not deserve much less feel qualified for, but God has stretched me and always given grace to depend on Him. Because of this stretching, God has increased my burden for the ministry, especially as it pertains to mentoring. Whether in the church or in the school, the greatest need is consistent and thorough discipleship.” He and his wife, who also teaches at ABC, have a burden “to help perfect the saints, especially the ‘young saints,’ to do the work of the ministry—to prepare them to accept His call to future generations!” He especially enjoys teaching classes that involve student-teacher interaction and are “not just lectures.”

Mr. Rowe’s life verses are Romans 12:1-2 because “the thought here is that daily transformation in Christ produces godly fruit.” His salvation testimony is as follows: “I had the gracious privilege to be saved as a ten-year-old boy after several weeks of conviction in church. I was baptized the next Sunday on Easter. After my up and down teenage years… spiritually, God impressed [on] me that there was more to life than me! God’s calling to the ministry was revealed to me while praying in a cemetery with friends as He showed me a dying and lost world.”

In his free time, he enjoys being outdoors hunting, farming, or logging. He also looks forward to completing his doctorate in Organizational Leadership.

Bio:

Mrs. Rowe’s love of teaching stems from “building relationships with my students and guiding them as they develop and strengthen their Biblical worldview. It is a privilege to serve God by sharing my knowledge and experience with my students, helping them prepare to serve the Lord with their lives.”

She has a passion for helping students of all learning abilities. Mrs. Rowe’s favorite class to teach at ABC is Assessment and Intervention of Reading Difficulties. “Because being able to read has a profound impact on a person’s spiritual, emotional, social, and academic growth, I believe detecting and correcting reading disabilities in early elementary grades is vital. I love teaching elementary education majors the methods for both detecting and remediating reading difficulties.”

Other training, experience, or professional affiliations:

• 40 years of pastoral leadership in local churches
• Board Member of Foundations Baptist Fellowship

Published works:

• “Salvation from Nothingness: Is Annihilationism Taught in the Scriptures?”: Frontline Magazine, March/April 2020

Bio:

Dr. Russell’s favorite Bible verse, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” (1 Timothy 1:12), reflects the heart of gratitude behind his desire to become a teacher. “I enjoy sharing the lessons that I have learned in ministry with younger men who are just beginning their own ministries.” His work at Mount Olive Bible College, located inside Mount Olive Correctional Complex, is a unique and effective ministry as he guides inmates into an understanding of the life-changing truth of God’s Word.

Dr. Russell gives his salvation testimony in these words: “I accepted the Lord at age 6 as a result of my parents’ teaching and testimony. The Lord used a Christian camp to lead me to full assurance of salvation as a teenager.”

He enjoys Greek word studies and Biblical theology, “tracing a subject chronologically through Scripture and through church history.” He would love to visit Cuba one day since “I grew up in central Florida and had many friends who were Cuban immigrants.”

Other training, experience, or professional affiliations:

• SOLO Wilderness Medicine – Wilderness First Aid Instructor
• Certified Wilderness First Responder
• Professional Climbing Guides Institute – Top Rope Guide Mentor
• American Canoe Association – Level 3 Tandem Canoe Instructor
• National Cave Rescue Commission – Orientation to Cave Rescue Certified

Published works:

• (InSite is a magazine publication of Christian Camp and Conference Association)
• InSite – April/May 2018 – “Programming Hacks”
• Insite – Dec/January 2019 – “Program Sustainability: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – 3 Principles for Keeping Programming Fresh”
• Insite – Feb/March 2019 – “Needs-based Programming: Identifying the needs of today’s campers”
• Insite – April/May 2019 – “Activity Life Cycles: Knowing when to ‘Kill It Before It Dies’”
• Insite – June/July 2019 – “Dumpster Diving: Creative ways to obtain program materials”
• Insite – Aug/Sept 2019 – “Engaging Adults: Programming active learning environments for adult guests”
• Insite – Oct/Nov 2019 – “Index Cards: Creating an organized activity filing system”
• Insite – Dec/January 2020 – “Preventing Burnout: How discipleship and delegation extend the life of your program team”
• Insite – Feb/March 2020 – “The Power of B.A.D. Programming: Balanced, Appropriate, and Deliverable Programs”
• Insite – Aug/Sept 2020 – “The Relational Side of Programming: Creating genuine Christian community through relationships “
• Insite – Nov/Dec 2020 – “Culturally Integrated Programming: 6 Tips for adapting to diverse groups”
• Insite – March/April 2021 – “Programming the Creates Value: How your program contributes to marketing”
• Insite – July/Aug 2021 – “Mobile Camp: Taking Program Opportunities to Churches”
• Insite – Nov/Dec 2021 – “Prioritizing Program Training: Prioritizing Program Staff Training”
• Insite – March/April 2022 – “Principles to Share Biblical Truth: Reflection, Intention, Transparency, & Transference”
• Insite – Sept/Oct 2022 – “Creation Stewardship: Minimizing environmental impact through biblical stewardship”
• Insite – Jan/Feb 2023 – “To Theme or Not to Theme: Integrating Themes into Program”
• InSite – May/June 2023 — “Tips for Programming Worship Experiences”

Bio:

When discussing why he became a teacher, Mr. Skaggs starts with 3 John 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” “God has given me a joy in training and discipling the next generation of outdoor servant leaders. Both pastoring and teaching are opportunities to care for and grow others to be more Christlike. I love taking the Word of God and making it real and practical in students’ lives. What a privilege to imitate Jesus’ model by using the outdoor setting and small group experiences to train servant leaders.” His love for learning and the outdoors continues into his research interests of a “Biblical philosophy of leisure, experiential based learning in the Bible, group counseling, flood geology relating to the formation of caves, rock climbing gear testing.”

Mr. Skaggs came to know Christ in this way: “When I was five years old I can remember my sister getting baptized. I realized that I didn’t want to go to hell but I didn’t do anything about it until about a year later. Walking into church one morning, I told my mother I wanted to talk to the pastor about how to be saved. I remember him talking and praying with me and telling me I had to make a public confession and come forward at the end of the church service. I came forward that day and a couple of weeks later I was baptized.”

In the future, he would like to go ice climbing as it “seems like a fun and unique experience. I would also like to finish hiking all of the Virginia sections of the Appalachian Trail. I love backpacking and seeing God’s majestic handiwork.”

Other training, experience, or professional affiliations:

• Teacher Licensure in Elementary Education – WV and FL
• TEAC – WV Training and Education Advisory Committee
• EPPAC – Educational Personnel Preparation Advisory Committee
• CAEP – Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation

Bio:

Mrs. Stiles “became a teacher because of the opportunity to impact lives of students for eternity on a daily basis. I enjoy helping others learn and seeing them grow to become all God has designed them to be.” Her current favorite class to teach is Classroom Management because “it emphasizes the practical aspects of preparing teachers for the daily duties of teachers and you get to organize lots of different aspects, including fun teacher stuff!” She perseveres in her important task by holding on to her favorite Bible verse: I Cor. 15:58. “It encourages me to keep going! My labor is not in vain—lives are touched, God sees and He rewards!”

Outside of her classroom duties, she has an array of interests from observing cultural change and its impact upon education to driving her motorcycle along country roads, from evaluations of elementary curriculum and observing the trends in education to reading a good book on the beach. An ambition of hers is to possibly run for School Board “so I can effect change in the local school district, offering a voice for conservative values and traditional practices.”

Mrs. Stiles recounts her salvation testimony: “I grew up attending a church thinking if I just did what they instructed and tried to be good, I could make it to heaven. But, I did not experience peace and wondered if I was doing enough. My mom had accepted Christ and began attending a new church where they gave me the opportunity to attend the youth camp. The pastor’s daughter asked if I was a Christian on the way in the bus, and I told her I was. The next couple days as I heard the messages, I realized that I truly had never asked Christ to forgive me of my sins and be my Savior. I told her I wanted to make that decision, and she took me to the counselor who led me in prayer. It’s the best decision I ever made! I’m so thankful for God’s grace and mercy in my life. His presence is so comforting and His Word so encouraging!”

Other training, experience, or professional affiliations:

• One year of Spanish language training in San Jose, Costa Rica
• Church planting missionary with ABWE in Peru, South America
• Helped the establishment of multiple Baptist churches in Peru
• Camp director of Campamento Vida Abundante, Camana, Peru

Bio:

Mr. Stiles’s heart for teaching springs from his heart for discipleship. “It has become very evident… through many life experiences on the mission field of Peru and here in the USA that people need the Lord and need to be discipled. It has been through experiences of mentoring in local church settings and even at Mount Olive Bible College that God has given me a heart and a passion to help people to become fully committed to following and serving our Lord Jesus. I have been blessed to see God do great and mighty things in the lives of people over the years of ministry. I would love to take the life experiences that God has allowed me to have and help a new generation of servants to go forth and make an impact for God.”

His passion for discipleship carries into his favorite class to teach at ABC: Pastoral Ministry. “In this class young men are taught the practical ins and outs of pastoral ministry. How to baptize, marry, bury, serve the Lord’s supper, hospital visitation, premarital counseling and other practical ministries of a local church pastor. It has been my goal to help young men to have as many of the practical skills needed to not only preach life-changing messages from the Word of God but also to do the work of the ministry.”

Mr. Stiles’s favorite Bible verse is John 8:32, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” He shares his testimony of how the truth of God’s Word set him free in this way: “I grew up on a dairy farm in Central Pennsylvania. Because of the responsibilities of the farm I learned hard work ethic, how to repair most anything, but most of all a moral code. Attending a mainline denominational church, I heard things from the Bible but never truly heard the gospel. Upon receiving my driver’s license, I started attending church with friends from high school. I was searching but never finding the answer that I knew must be there, the truth that would make me free. I was invited to and attended a wedding of two high school friends at a fundamental church. It was at that wedding that I first truly heard the gospel that I needed to be born again. The next day in Sunday School I asked my teacher what it meant to ‘be born again.’ He opened the Bible and showed me Ephesians 2:8-10. He challenged me that I could not be good enough to work my way to heaven, and that Christ died for me that I might have forgiveness. I repented of my sin and asked Jesus to save me.”

One of Mr. Stiles’s hobbies is riding his motorcycle with his wife, Aimee. “She has her own bike and we love riding the curvy mountain roads of West Virginia.” He also enjoys woodworking and “would love to build a log home.” He also has a love for music in the church. “Making the ‘worship’ in church services alive and fresh has always been a real passion for me in the ministry.”