Connectional Leadership Team

Dr. Michael Avery

Connectional Chairman
Dr. Michael R. Avery is the General Connectional Chairman of the Bible Methodist Connection of Churches. He is the President of Deeper Life Ministries and serves as Chancellor of God’s Bible School & College, where he previously served as President for 22 years. Dr. Avery is an ordained elder in the Bible Methodist Connection and has served the church as a pastor, Conference Vice-President, Missions Director, and General Missions Secretary. He maintains an active ministry of preaching and teaching in camp meetings, revivals, conventions, and conferences.

Rev. Richard Miles

Vice Chairman
Rev. Richard Miles is the Vice Chairman of the Bible Methodist Connection of Churches. He has served at God’s Bible School & College since 1997 and is presently Administrative Faculty and Vice President for Spiritual Life. He graduated from God’s Bible School & College with a BRE in Bible and Christian Ministry and earned an MA in Counseling from Liberty University. Rev. Miles has served the church through preaching, counseling, spiritual formation, and leadership, and is connected with the Southern Conference of the Bible Methodist Connection.

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).

Connectional Committee

Left-to-Right: Back Row: Mark Russell, Dewey Murray, Doug Eads, Bob Pickett, John Parker, David Armstrong, James Shiery.
Middle Row: Doug Derscheid, Chris Cravens, Deron Fourman, Leslie Crawford, Chris Hilling, Aaron Johnson.
Front Row: Chelle Durr, Darrell Stetler, Richard Miles, Michael Avery, Richard Hutchison, Bob Blankenship, David Ward.

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.