The SGC Team​

Tim Keep and his wife Becky pastored for 5 years in the U.S. and served 13 years as missionaries in the Philippines, training and equipping rising Christian leaders. From 2010 to 2022, Tim was Missions Director for Bible Methodist Missions. In 2012, Tim founded Shepherds Global Classroom and now serves as its president. Tim and Becky have written three books together. In June 2023, Tim published Keep it Simple: Reflections on the Character, Habits, and Practices of Christians Who Lead. 

Tim and Becky are blessed with several children and grandchildren.

Tim holds a BA in Intercultural Studies and an MA in Pastoral Theology. He enjoys being with his family, having a daily routine, walking four miles a day (most days), playing golf and kayaking once or twice a year, traveling to new places, experiencing new cultures, and training and discipling Christian leaders.

Dr. Michael Avery is Chancellor of God’s Bible School & College where he served as president for 22 years. He is an ordained elder in the Bible Methodist Connection of Churches with whom he pastored for 10 years, served as the Missions Director for 5 years, and served as the General Connectional Chairman for 8 years. He maintains an active schedule of speaking in camp meetings, revivals, conventions, and conferences. His passion is the Deeper Life Conferences that he leads both nationally and internationally.

Joel Hood has worked in various financial roles over the past 10 years, and currently fills the role of CFO of PraxiPower Inc., a software business serving K-12 Christian schools and two other organizations. Joel is actively involved in his local church and has served on various church boards as a financial advisor.

Dr. Danny McCain is the founder and International Ambassador of Global Scholars. He also serves in the Department of Religion and Philosophy in the University of Jos as Professor of Biblical Theology. He holds a BA in Biblical Education, MAs in both Bible and Theology, and a PhD in New Testament Interpretation. He developed a training program used in two public universities in Nigeria that has trained hundreds of Christian leaders and laymen. He has also worked closely with the Nigerian Ministry of Education, developing material for teachers of Christian Religious Education.

Rev. Troy Keaton pastored for several years in the inner city of Dayton, Ohio, largely working with low income and troubled youth. He then pastored for five years in Tennessee before taking on a church planting challenge in Moneta, Virginia. Today, Eastlake Community Church is a growing ministry where many souls have found the Lord and dozens have been sent into the harvest field. Troy invests much of his life not only in preaching and teaching, but in developing spiritual leaders and in training the next generation of church planters.

Dr. Mark Bird is a professor of theology at God’s Bible School & College in Cincinnati, Ohio. He teaches classes in theology, philosophy, and evangelism. He holds a BRE in Education, an MS in Secondary Education, an MA in Theology, and a DMin in Theology and Apologetics. He has authored 2 books on apologetics: How Can You Be Sure? and Defending Your Faith.

David A. Croteau (PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the Dean of the Seminary and School of Counseling at Columbia International University. He teaches New Testament and Greek courses and is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society, the Evangelical Seminary Deans’ Council, and the Fellowship of Evangelical Seminary Presidents. Dr. Croteau has taught in Tanzania, Kenya, South Korea, India, Nepal, Cambodia, the Dominican Republic, and Indonesia. He has published several books and articles, including Urban Legends of the New Testament, Urban Legends of the Old Testament, and Tithing After the Cross.

Stephen Gibson is the president of Evangelistic Faith Missions and director of Holiness Pilgrim Mission. Stephen and his wife, Stephanie, are blessed with several children and grandchildren.

Stephen’s ministry has included pastoring, foreign missions work, Bible college teaching and administration, Christian school teaching and administration, and writing.

For five years, he pastored Victory Chapel, a diverse inner-city church in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Stephen lived in Ukraine with his family for five years and served Kiev Wesley Bible College in the roles of professor, academic dean, and president. During that time he also taught classes at other colleges and preached in churches in Ukraine and Russia.

Stephen has taught at Union Bible College, Allegheny Wesleyan College, and God’s Bible School & College. His courses have included intercultural studies, biblical studies, and urban ministry.

He graduated from Union Bible College with a ThB, from Wesley Biblical Seminary with an MA in Theology, from Louisiana Baptist University with an MA in Biblical Studies, and from Grace Theological Seminary with a DMin.

He is ordained by the Pilgrim Holiness Church.

Books written by Stephen include The Prosperity Prophets; Steps of Grace; The Sincerity of God: A Demonstration of the Wesleyan Promise Hermeneutic; and Help from the Little Red Hen: Reversing Poverty with Responsibility.

Books edited by Stephen include I Believe: Fundamentals of the Christian Faith and A Timeless Faith: John Wesley for the 21st Century.

Stephen has written several courses for Shepherds Global Classroom.

David Eslinger is an engineering advisor for Schlumberger, an oilfield service company. Much of his career has been spent designing reciprocating and centrifugal pumps. Some of his other activities include: teaching a Sunday School class; participating in The Gideons International ministry; and reading, collecting, and restoring 16th and 17th century English Bibles.

Harold Martin serves as president of FEA Ministries, a diverse, cross-cultural, missionary-sending ministry reaching into 14 countries. Harold holds a BA in Intercultural Studies. He is also a licensed pilot and A&P mechanic. For 14 years he served with Missionary Flights International (MFI), an organization that serves over 400 mission agencies in the Caribbean. He orchestrated MFI’s disaster response efforts following Haiti’s massive earthquake in 2010 and rose through the leadership ranks of MFI to be its executive vice-president.

Dr. Philip Richardson has a passion for engaging people with the Bible and helping them interpret it within its original contexts and apply it to their own situation. He serves as director of Theological Education for OMS, coming alongside the 30+ Bible colleges, seminaries, and training programs around the world that partner with OMS, as well as promoting theological education throughout the organization. From time to time, he travels to teach intensive courses at OMS-partner seminaries and seeks to train and equip international church leaders with in-depth Bible knowledge and understanding. He is excited to see what God will do through these leaders, who will themselves become leaders of leaders and teachers all over the world.

Philip's wife Fiona has a passion for equipping and encouraging people as disciples and disciple-makers. She delights in equipping leaders to work with women by developing written resources, training trainers, and praying for God’s transforming Spirit to move in the nations. She also loves to pray with and for missionaries through the OMS World Intercessors team.

Philip and Fiona are from England. After volunteering and working with churches there, they began a partnership with a missions agency (Crosslinks). In 2002, they moved to work for a region of churches in Tanzania, East Africa under the Anglican Church. While there, they adopted their two precious daughters, Bethany and Jasmine. They spent several years training pastors, lay leaders, young adult leaders, children’s workers, and women’s leaders by teaching, building teams, and writing resources until they left in 2010.

God opened the way for Philip to study for a PhD in Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, which was a huge blessing to all the family. Fiona continued her prayer ministry; writing resources; and speaking, training, and leading Bible studies with a women’s ministry in the U.S., while continuing to work on publishing and distributing Bible study resources for young women’s ministry in Africa. Philip enjoyed opportunities to teach at the Master’s level during his time at the seminary and grew in his love for building up leaders all over the world as he studied among many internationals.

R.G. Hutchison is the Missions Director for Bible Methodist Missions, having served as a missionary and field director in the Philippines from 2010-2022. During that time, he was involved in training Filipino pastors and leaders as a professor and academic dean at the Philippine Bible Methodist Shepherds College. Prior to that, he served as a pastor for more than 12 years, ministering to congregations in Ohio and Tennessee. He is married to Sarah.

An alumnus of God’s Bible School & College, R.G. also holds a DMin degree in preaching and leadership from Asbury Theological Seminary, as well as graduate degrees from Temple Baptist Seminary (MDiv) and Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (MST Intercultural Studies). He is currently pursuing a PhD in Intercultural Studies with Biola University. He has authored one book, Union with Christ.

R.G.’s passion is to help people live in the full confidence of Galatians 2:20, “...It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me....”

Tim Keep and his wife Becky pastored for 5 years in the U.S. and served 13 years as missionaries in the Philippines, training and equipping rising Christian leaders. From 2010 to 2022, Tim was Missions Director for Bible Methodist Missions. In 2012, Tim founded Shepherds Global Classroom and now serves as its president. Tim and Becky have written three books together. In June 2023, Tim published Keep it Simple: Reflections on the Character, Habits, and Practices of Christians Who Lead. 

Tim and Becky are blessed with several children and grandchildren.

Tim holds a BA in Intercultural Studies and an MA in Pastoral Theology. He enjoys being with his family, having a daily routine, walking four miles a day (most days), playing golf and kayaking once or twice a year, traveling to new places, experiencing new cultures, and training and discipling Christian leaders.

Dr. Randall McElwain was a professor of Bible and music at Hobe Sound Bible College for 32 years. He served as a missionary in Taiwan and has taught classes for pastors in a growing number of countries including China, India, Vietnam, Nigeria, Lesotho, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand. He holds a BA and MA in music as well as a MTh and DTh in practical theology.

Randall has written several books including Holy Hearts; Holy Hands: Holy Living in the Bible; Joy Comes in the Morning: 31 Days of Christian Hope; and Unchanging Truths: A Guide to the Apostles’ Creed. Randall has written several SGC courses.

Becky Keep is a freelance author and an inspiring speaker for numerous women’s conferences. She is married to Tim and is the blessed mother of five children and several grandchildren.

Becky and her family served as missionaries in the Philippines for 13 fruitful years. There she used her nurse’s training to organize medical missions treating thousands of patients in towns and villages throughout Northern Luzon.

Besides the books she and Tim coauthored, Becky has written a memoir with her parents, Another Time: Two Unlikely People, Their Uncommon Path, An Unshakable God. She also wrote His Gift, My Story with her sister Kim Collingsworth.

Becky enjoys traveling with Tim, loving on her grandbabies, and spending time with her children. She loves music, reading, and taking long walks. Becky resides with her family in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Timothy Keep Jr. holds a BA in ministry from Ohio Christian University. Tim also earned an MA in content and digital media at Liberty University. 

Tim lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife Megan and their children. Tim and Megan love exploring Cincinnati, going to the zoo, and traveling together. 

Tim is responsible for developing communication strategies that promote SGC's mission and vision, managing media relations, and overseeing various projects that help to advance the ministry of SGC.

Justin LePage was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He ventured to Cincinnati, Ohio in 2012 for college and has since made Cinci his home, along with his wife Janelle and their delightful children.

Justin's academic journey began at God’s Bible School & College. He then obtained a finance degree from Xavier University. His professional path took him from being a payroll supervisor at a large corporation to being an account manager at a small lending firm. These experiences equipped him with a diverse skill set in financial management and a keen eye for process improvement.

His work with Shepherds Global Classroom is more than a role for Justin; it’s a calling. He says, "I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to our mission of spreading Bible-based training to Christian leaders around the globe. My goal is to ensure that our financial records are not just accurate, but that they also reflect our commitment to integrity and excellence. I am eager to explore ways to enhance our processes, ensuring that we are as effective and efficient as possible in our endeavors."

In her role as Curriculum and Translation Project Manager, Elizabeth manages the collection of SGC curriculum files, oversees translation projects, works with curriculum writers to edit/update courses as necessary, and leads our team of Project Managers and Proofreaders.

Elizabeth is a graduate of God’s Bible School & College, where she studied missions and children’s ministry. She enjoys going on walks, teaching children the Bible, and writing devotionals.

Jeffrey Albertson serves as a Translation Project Manager, overseeing a comprehensive translation process for over 10 languages, with specialization in languages originating in India. He also meticulously manages the final layout and integration of translations into various applications, including the SGC app.

Jeffrey earned a BA in Intercultural Studies and World Missions from God’s Bible School & College, and later lived internationally for nearly a year. His passion for connection and intercultural exchange drives his enthusiasm for fostering relationships within God’s kingdom worldwide.

Beyond his professional responsibilities at SGC, Jeffrey actively contributes to the advancement of God’s kingdom within his church and through English as a Second Language outreach initiatives. He and his wife, Lesa reside in the vibrant international district of Houston, where they share their home with their Weimaraner, Preston, and a charming flock of chickens.

Born in the post-Soviet country of Kyrgyzstan, Alima Sarigul embarked on a journey of faith in her early 20s, inspired by the love and guidance of her dear husband, Onur. Her life has become a testimony to God’s transformative power and grace.

Gifted with the ability to speak five languages—Russian, Turkish, Kyrgyz, Kazakh, and English—Alima has embraced the richness of diverse cultures and perspectives. She also ventured into the world of web design, teaching herself.

Alima pursued a degree in food engineering at Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University and later graduated with a BA from Istanbul University.

Alima is honored to be a part of Shepherds Global Classroom, serving as a Translation Project Manager. She is grateful to be able to contribute her talents and experiences to a greater purpose.

Ezra is in charge of layout and design for SGC courses; formatting them for printing, producing illustrations in many languages, creating covers, and making them all available on the website. He does a lot of work behind the scenes to make the SGC website as fast and accessible as possible for people all around the world. As an assistant editor, he also helps with improving the quality of the courses so that they can be easily understood and translated into other languages.

Lesa Albertson is an amateur linguist with a passion for languages that has been evident since her childhood. She is currently engaged in proofreading translated courses for SGC, contributing to the publication of quality translations that are utilized worldwide.

Her academic journey includes participation in the Summer Institute of Linguistics for five summers, where she studied and also served as a Teaching Assistant. This experience, coupled with nearly two years of living abroad, has enriched her understanding of diverse cultures and languages.

Lesa’s expertise, honed over the years, seamlessly aligned her with her role at SGC, even before she officially joined the organization. Her commitment to SGC’s mission is unwavering, and she actively participates in various initiatives within her church and in English as a Second Language outreach programs.

Lesa resides in the international district of Houston with her husband Jeffrey, their Weimaraner, Preston, and their chickens. Her professional and personal life reflects her dedication to God’s kingdom, people, and mission.

Ebony Thompson enjoys serving as an SGC proofreader, performing detailed reviews of course translations. She is grateful to be part of a team whose mission is to provide Christ-centered, culturally adaptable curriculum to Christian leaders around the world.

Ebony was born in Los Angeles, California and raised in San Ignacio, Belize. She decided to fully follow Jesus and was born again on February 14, 2021. She now resides in Houston, Texas with her mom and sister. She loves to serve and assists in the youth ministry at her church.

Being raised in a country filled with adventure, she has found that the greatest adventure is to know God through His Word and to share Him with others. She has a heart after God’s own heart.

Heidi Echols is a wife, mother, and follower of Jesus. As a child, she loved words and wanted to be a linguist when she grew up. Though that did not happen, her love of words and languages did lead to some Latin study and five years of Spanish study. She is currently trying to learn some German which was her great-grandparents' native tongue. Languages are still fascinating to her, and that, combined with her love for words, good theology, and sharing the gospel made proofreading for SGC a perfect fit for Heidi.

She says, “I love the vision of SGC and the sound, biblical content of the courses.”

Heidi has a BA in Elementary Education from God's Bible School & College and is a Licensed Practical Nurse. Throughout her many years of teaching, language, reading and phonics were her favorite subjects.

In addition to working for SGC, Heidi teaches Vietnamese students via Zoom and homeschools her son, Connor. In her free time, she enjoys quilting, reading, gardening, and cardmaking.