WHO'S ON STAFF
Dwight Spotts - Senior Pastor
Dwight says he became a senior pastor in the same way President Kennedy became a war hero, "It was easy" Kennedy said, "They sank my boat." Well that's not quite the way it happened but the boat language works. Dwight never thought he'd be a "senior pastor". But following 22 years working with Youth For Christ and a few more as a general contractor Dwight was "called" to help lead our church. But the "my boat sank" kind of "calling" is especially meaningful to Dwight because he is an avid sailor and when he's not working around the church you'll often find him with other disciples "on the water".
Fortunately, his wife of 35 years, Lila, enjoys sailing and has learned to put up with his youthful nature and toys. Dwight did his undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Illinois; his theological training at Fuller Theological Seminary and his doctoral work at George Fox Seminary. Lila is an RN and together they have three sons, three daughters-in-law, and 6 grandchildren.
Ron Miller - Teaching Pastor
Ron is our teaching pastor. But Ron isn't all that comfortable wearing a lab coat. Ron is not content peering at the Bible under a microscope finding more and more facts to disseminate to a waiting audience. Ron is a narrator, who tells God's story with a deep desire to guide people along the path to experiencing God's Word.
Ron and his wife, Barbara have been married 50 years. Together they preside over a large family of four sons, who are all married, 12 grand children and even 2 great-grand children. Ron did his graduate theological work at Dallas Theological Seminary and has pastored churches in Henderson, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Spokane, Washington.
Ron also has a great interest in missions both here and overseas. His love for missions stems in part from time spent pastoring in International Churches in Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Budapest, Hungary and as director of a tent-making mission organization that is responsible for placing self-supporting missionaries in countries where missionaries are not permitted.
James Leman - Youth and Young Adult Pastor
James likes to pretend he grew up in eastern Montana on a Native American reservation...and he did...he spent his early years in Montana on a Native American reservation but he's never really grown up. Truth is: he's still a kid at heart. That's why we put him in charge of youth and young professionals. Even though he first acknowledged Jesus Christ at age five he'll be the first to tell you that his real relationship with Christ was ignited as a freshman in college. And that's when he first realized that his real heartbeat was to help young people become the leaders God made them to be. Now he wakes up each day excited to see what God is going to do in the lives of those around him.
James is also passionate about his family. He's been married to Abby since 1999. They are blessed with two young sons, Sam and J.J. James loves being in God's creation - backpacking, bicycling, rafting, camping, and the list could go on. But what he really enjoys is a good round of disc golf in just about any weather.
Orval Dean - Pastoral Care
Orval is a native of Eastern Washington. He grew up in the Colbert area and lives there today. Over the years he's tried more than a few things to stay out of trouble: dairy farmer, merchant seaman, logger, truck driver. But now days when someone goes into the hospital we call on Dr. Orval Dean. And that makes sense - after graduating from Whitworth College he went on to the University of Washington School of Medicine, served his internship at St. Luke's Hospital became a flight surgeon(USAF), then went into general practice and occupational medicine. Yet, that's not the only reason we ask Orval to fill this role. The real reason is Orval has an incredible gift and deep desire to care for people in crisis. Imagine, a doctor who wants to make house-calls.
Over the years he has also traveled annually to Honduras to provide medical service and supplies to a mission school. He's married to Josephine, his wife of 48 years. They have two sons and a daughter and 6 grandchildren.
Lisa Nebergall - Church Administrator
Webster's Dictionary defines "administrator" as a "person who administers and has considerable executive ability." Well, yeh! That's what Lisa does. But Webster should have included Lisa's name. She makes sure our church functions the way it should. But that's not really who she is. Lisa is the mother of two teenagers and the wife of Rob for over 20 years. She loves to camp along the Oregon Coast, cook and volunteer at North Central High School. But to those who know her well, her real gift is to come along side and serve volunteers and staff alike here at First Church.