Nosso Time

Tim Keep e sua esposa, Becky, pastorearam por 5 anos nos Estados Unidos e serviram por 13 anos como missionários nas Filipinas, treinando e equipando novos líderes cristãos. De 2010 a 2022, Tim foi Diretor de Missões na Bible Methodist Missions. Em 2012, Tim fundou a Shepherds Global Classroom e hoje serve como presidente. Tim e Becky escreveram três livros juntos. Em junho de 2023, Tim publicou Keep it Simple: Reflections on the Character, Habits, and Practices of Christians Who Lead.

Tim e Becky foram abençoados com muitos filhos e netos.

Tim possui um BA em Estudos Interculturais e um MA em Teologia Pastoral. Ele gosta de estar com sua família, ter uma rotina diária, andar quatro milhas por dia (na maioria dos dias), jogar golfe e andar de caiaque uma ou duas vezes ao ano, viajar para novos lugares, experimentar novas culturas, e treinar e discipular líderes cristãos.

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.

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 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....”

Amit left India and traveled to the U.S., Jamaica, and Canada, and settled in the Cayman Islands, where he ran many successful businesses. He came to Christ through the witness of a faithful missionary, sold his businesses, and moved to Cincinnati to attend God’s Bible School and College. He graduated in 2015 and married Lorna Rundell soon afterward.

After more than a decade in the nonprofit sector, Amit launched GrantAlly to serve other organizations as an integral grant-writing support system. He partners with multiple Southwest Ohio nonprofits in marketing, development, community engagement, programming, and facility management. He is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and continually furthers his education at Purdue University. Some of his favorite activities are dates with his wife, Lorna, volunteering, creating delicious meals in his home kitchen, spending time with his two daughters, Priya and Ruchi, and building community at his church.

For over 20 years, Dr. Mark Smith's passion has been to help shape students into ministers, missionaries, and ministering professionals who impact the nations with the message of Christ.

Dr. Smith served as the president of Ohio Christian University for 11 years and as president of Columbia International University for 6 years. At Indiana Wesleyan University, Dr. Smith served as dean and vice president of Adult & Graduate Studies.

He has written and published numerous education and professional development articles. He has co-authored one book, Leading Change in Your World, and co-edited another: The Church Leader's MBA, a management manual for church leaders.

Ed Smither (PhD, University of Wales; PhD, University of Pretoria) serves as Professor of History of Global Christianity and Dean of the School of Missions and Intercultural Ministry at Columbia International University. Previously, he taught church history and intercultural studies at Liberty University Theological Seminary. Prior to serving in higher education, Ed spent 14 years in intercultural ministry in North Africa, France, and the USA. Ed has written or edited twenty books in church and mission history and missiology. He serves as Vice President of the Evangelical Missiological Society and was founding editor of the Journal of EMS. Since 1999, Ed has been married to Shawn, and they have three young adult children—Brennan, in the US Army; Emma, a junior at the University of South Carolina; and Eve, a high school senior. In his free time, Ed enjoys road biking, traveling, and cheering for the Washington Commanders. 

Tim Keep e sua esposa, Becky, pastorearam por 5 anos nos Estados Unidos e serviram por 13 anos como missionários nas Filipinas, treinando e equipando novos líderes cristãos. De 2010 a 2022, Tim foi Diretor de Missões na Bible Methodist Missions. Em 2012, Tim fundou a Shepherds Global Classroom e hoje serve como presidente. Tim e Becky escreveram três livros juntos. Em junho de 2023, Tim publicou Keep it Simple: Reflections on the Character, Habits, and Practices of Christians Who Lead.

Tim e Becky foram abençoados com muitos filhos e netos.

Tim possui um BA em Estudos Interculturais e um MA em Teologia Pastoral. Ele gosta de estar com sua família, ter uma rotina diária, andar quatro milhas por dia (na maioria dos dias), jogar golfe e andar de caiaque uma ou duas vezes ao ano, viajar para novos lugares, experimentar novas culturas, e treinar e discipular líderes cristãos.

Dr. Randall McElwain foi professor de Bíblia e música na Hobe Sound Bible College por 32 anos. Ele serviu como missionário em Taiwan e deu aula para pastores em muitos países, incluindo China, Índia, Vietnã, Nigéria, Lesoto, Papua-Nova Guiné e Nova Zelândia. Ele possui um BA e MA em música, assim como um MTh e DTh em teologia prática.

Randall escreveu diversos livros, incluindo Holy Hearts; Holy Hands: Holy Living in the Bible; Joy Comes in the Morning: 31 Days of Christian Hope; e Unchanging Truths: A Guide to the Apostles’ Creed. Randall escreveu diversos cursos para a SGC.

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.

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 Translation Systems Manager, overseeing a comprehensive translation process for over 35 languages, and the SGC team of Project Managers and Proofers. He also meticulously manages the final layout and integration of translations into various applications, including the SGC app. He loves his frequent communication with translators worldwide.

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.

Ezra is responsible for layout and design of the SGC courses: formatting the courses for print, creating book covers, and publishing PDFs of both courses and covers on the website. He also oversees our audio course project from start to finish. As an assistant editor, he helps improve the quality of the courses so that they can be easily understood and translated into other languages.

He loves to travel and learn about new languages and cultures and find ways to use his skills for God's Kingdom.

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 and their Weimaraner, Preston. Lesa's 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.

Dixie is the wife of a research scientist, a mother to five grown children, and a grandma. As a Christian educator with a BA in Education and over 23 years of teaching experience, Dixie’s passion for nurturing and guiding the next generation has been at the heart of everything she does.

After graduating her youngest child, Dixie was excited to join the SGC team as an assistant editor, where she is able to use her love of words and attention to detail to contribute to the mission of SGC.

In her free time, Dixie enjoys traveling and capturing the beauty of the world through photography. She also loves sewing, baking, hiking, reading, and, of course, spoiling her grandchildren. Dixie is always finding new ways to nurture her creativity and enjoy life.

Cheryl Doty was born in El Paso, Texas, where she embraced a multicultural lifestyle from an early age. She learned Spanish during her elementary years and later studied German in high school as part of her journey toward earning a BA in Music at Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma.

Currently residing in a suburb of Houston with her husband, David, Cheryl is the proud mother of four grown children and is also a grandmother. Cheryl discovered salvation through Christ which led her to study at ORU, where she developed a passion for missions and outreach.

Cheryl's teaching career began at a Christian school in Houston, where she combined her love for the Bible with core academics, inspiring students through her daily lessons. Her commitment to faith and education has been a cornerstone of her personal and professional life.

Cheryl is thrilled to be part of an organization dedicated to spreading the gospel worldwide. In her free time, Cheryl enjoys traveling, canoeing, camping, and exploring her creative side through sewing, crocheting, painting, photography, and music. A multi-instrumentalist, she continues to expand her skills with instruments like the mandolin and violin.

Olivia McKay has loved cultures and languages throughout her life. She has studied Russian and has taken several trips overseas. She is currently engaged in proofreading translated courses for SGC, contributing to the publication of quality translations that are utilized worldwide.

An Iowa native, Olivia loves ministry at the church her parents pastor in Oskaloosa IA. She enjoys babysitting and helping several parents with child training assistance.

Olivia is honored to be a part of Shepherds Global Classroom, serving as a Proofer. She is grateful to be able to contribute her talents and experiences to God’s Kingdom.

Jaipal was born into a Garhwali family in Uttarakhand and grew up in Mussoorie, which is known as the “Queen of Hills.” He is the fourth of five brothers. His father ran a small business and worked hard to provide for the family.

Jaipal earned his bachelor’s degree in commerce at HNB Garhwal University. During his university years, he met Nisha, a young woman who deeply influenced his life and spiritual journey.

After college, Jaipal worked in New Delhi with several companies, gaining exposure across India. During this time, Jaipal grew in his faith and committed his life to following Jesus.

In 2005, he attended a Discipleship Training School (DTS) with YWAM. This became a turning point for Jaipal, as he discovered his call to missions. That same year, he married Nisha, and together they joined the pioneer team of YWAM Dehradun. They served with YWAM for about 11 years (2005–2016), in various roles including leadership, relief work, and media ministry.

After leaving YWAM, Jaipal started a small business to support his family and continued engaging in mission through the marketplace. Though modest in size, the business serves its purpose well and has made a meaningful impact in his community.

Jaipal has also extensively served as an interpreter in teaching, training, and conference settings. A few years ago, he began written translation work with Shepherds Global Classroom (SGC). With a heart to serve God’s Kingdom, he joined the SGC team as a continuation of his commitment to equipping others through ministry and education.

Jaipal and Nisha are blessed with three children, one daughter and two sons.

Jenna Alvarez serves with Shepherds Global Classroom as an SGC Proofer, using her attention to detail and love for learning to support the delivery of Christ-centered curriculum to leaders around the world.

She holds a BA in Film Studies with a minor in Studio Art and brings a creative eye and thoughtful perspective to her work. A serial hobbyist at heart, Jenna enjoys baking, ceramics, painting, and exploring creative outlets that reflect God’s beauty and design. 

Jenna makes her home in Frisco, Texas, where she lives with her husband, Ace, and their dog, Daisy. She is grateful to be part of a team that serves the Church, and is passionate about using her gifts to support the spread of God's word.

A lifelong follower of Christ, Amy Arend was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. She now resides in the Houston, Texas area.

Amy is excited to be working with an organization that is Christ centered and focused on helping people around the world pursue Bible knowledge for the purpose of growth in discipleship and spiritual education.

Amy and her husband have one human child and several canine children. Throughout her life, Amy has volunteered with animal rescues: fostering, rehabilitating, and rescuing dogs.

Amy has a dual MA in Business Administration and Practical Theology/Ministry from Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

In the past, Amy served as a language analyst in the US Navy. While in the Navy, Amy received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for her work as a Persian Farsi Linguist, helping her peers refresh their language skills.

Amy later served as Aquatics Department Director at a YMCA, gaining valuable experience in leadership and project management.

Amy is a lifelong learner. She has always had a passion for languages, linguistics, and studying the Word of God. She is excited to be a part of the Shepherds Global Classroom family, serving in a linguistic mission field once more.