Connectional Leadership Team

Rev. Blake Jones

Connectional Chairman

Rev. Blake Jones is the General Connectional Chairman of the Bible Methodist Connection of Churches. He graduated from Jordan College with a BA and has pastored 49 years for churches in Michigan and Canada. He served as Vice President of the Great Lakes Conference for 13 years, and then, as Conference President for 23 years. Rev. Jones has been married to Saundy for 49 years. They have five married children and 17 Grandchildren. He is presently pastoring at the Rock Lake Bible Methodist Church.

Rev. Jack Hooker

Vice Chairman

Rev. Jack Hooker is the General Connectional Vice-Chairman of the Bible Methodist Connection of Churches. He is a graduate of God’s Bible School and College and was ordained in 1977. He has served as pastor for 36 years in Indiana, Florida, Alabama, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio. For seven years he served as Vice-President for Advancement at God’s Bible School and College. He presently serves GBSC as a member of the Board of Trustees and has held that office for 13 years. He has served the Alabama and Heartland Conferences in various capacities. Presently, he is the Conference Secretary and member of the Executive Committee of the Heartland Conference. He and his wife Jane have two married daughters and four grandchildren.

Rev. Bob Blankenship

Secretary

Rev. Bob Blankenship graduated with a Bachelor’s in Religious Education from God’s Bible School and College (Cincinnati) and a Master of Ministry from Moody Bible Institute (Chicago). He has been in pastoral ministry for over 35 years. He and his wife, Karen, presently pastor in the Tuscaloosa, Alabama area. They are proud parents of two adult children, Andrew (married to Angie) and Alissa.

Chelle Durr

Treasurer

Chelle Durr has been employed for over two decades as a bookkeeper for Advantage Solutions and is currently working for CBH in their accounting department. She is a member at Bristolwood Bible Methodist Church in Walker, Michigan, where her husband, James, has pastored for 20+ years. She has served as a pastor’s wife alongside James for 30 years in various churches in South Dakota and Michigan. They have 3 married children, Brittany and Jeffrey McDowell (from PA), Christianna and Mike Kelly (from AK), and Chip and Joy Durr (from MI) and four grandchildren. She currently serves as Mission’s Treasurer for the Great Lakes Conference and on the Connectional Mission Committee representing the Great Lakes Conference.

Dr. R.G. Hutchison

Missions Director

R. G. Hutchison has entered the role of 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. Previous to that, he served as a pastor for more than twelve years, ministering to congregations in Ohio (1 year) and Tennessee (11 years). He is married to Sarah, his life partner of almost 25 years. An alumnus of God’s Bible School and College (1998), R.G. also holds a Doctor of Ministry degree in preaching and leadership from Asbury Theological Seminary (2018), as well as graduate degrees from Temple Baptist Seminary (M.Div., 2009) and Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (M.S.T. Intercultural Studies, 2015). He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in intercultural studies with Biola University. He has authored a book, Union with Christ. R.G.’s passion is to help people live in the full confidence that it is “no longer I, but Christ living in me” (Gal. 2:20).

Leadership

Regional Conference Presidents

Rev. Aaron Johnson

Southwest Conference President

Rev. Aaron Johnson was elected President of the Southwest Bible Methodist Conference in July 2024. He also serves as the pastor of Wesleyan Bible Church in Lakewood, Colorado, where he leads a vibrant and growing congregation. In his role as Conference President, Rev. Johnson provides leadership and oversight to churches across the Southwest region, which spans multiple states including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, and Kentucky. He is known for his pastoral heart, clear vision, and commitment to strengthening local churches through discipleship, outreach, and shared mission. Rev. Johnson continues to invest in the lives of both his local congregation and the wider conference family through initiatives such as Family Camp, Youth Challenge, and ministerial support.

Rev. Chris Cravens

Heartland Conference President

Rev. Chris D. Cravens serves as the President of the Heartland Conference, providing spiritual leadership for churches across Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Virginia, and West Virginia. He also pastored at Findlay Bible Methodist Church in Ohio. A passionate advocate for Scriptural holiness and community, Rev. Cravens leads key Heartland ministries, including the annual family camp, youth camp, and the "Men of Integrity" retreat. He supports pastoral care and spiritual growth across the conference region.

Rev. David Ward

Great Lakes Conference President

Rev. David N. Ward is the President of the Great Lakes Conference of the Bible Methodist Connection of Churches, providing pastoral leadership and administrative oversight across churches in Michigan, Indiana, and Ontario. He also serves as the pastor of Pilgrim Bible Church in Cedar Springs, Michigan, where he and his wife, Ruth, faithfully shepherd their congregation. Known for his commitment to scriptural holiness, community engagement, and family ministries, Rev. Ward supports a variety of conference initiatives, including family and youth camps, retreats, and pastoral care events.

Rev. Doug Eads

Southern Conference President

Rev. Doug Eads has been the Southern Conference President since 2023, following 28 years of pastoral service at three churches. He previously served as Conference Vice-President and Youth President for 9 years each and has led the Pell City Campmeeting since 2017. Doug holds master's degrees from God's Bible School and College and Wesley Biblical Seminary. He and his wife Judy have been married for 33 years and have two adult children and four grandchildren. His passion is for everyone to pray and live in a way that honors the Lord, and he aims to see the Southern Conference grow in grace and knowledge of God.