We’d like to introduce six couples who are in the process of being hired as ministerial trainees for the Church. We have hired a number of elders over the past five years to pastor churches, who have helped to stabilize the local congregations. Their service is greatly appreciated. As we look to the future, we see a great need for younger men to be trained for the ministry.

Read Victor Kubik’s Forward column To the Leaders of the Church's Future for a little more about how we’re going about training them. You can also read a short biography of each of the couples below.

We hope to continue this program on a yearly basis. We will learn as we go along and fine-tune our approach. Your prayers for these couples and their spiritual development will be deeply appreciated. Please continue to pray that God with send laborers into the harvest. 

Aaron and Whitney Creech are members of the Cincinnati East, Ohio, congregation. Mr. Creech was most recently a high school science teacher with Northwest Local Schools in Cincinnati. He has taken classes towards a masters of transformative education degree and holds bachelors degrees in chemistry and education. He is a graduate of the Ambassador Bible College class of 2013. Mrs. Creech works part-time as the Portuguese content editor for the United Church of God, and she is a graduate of the ABC class of 2010.

Nathan and Jacqueline Ekama are members of the Phoenix, Arizona, congregation where Nathan serves as a deacon. They serve together as directors for the Southwest preteen camp. Nathan is a graduate of the Ambassador Bible College class of 2002 and holds a bachelor of arts in sociology and psychology from Kent State University. He is currently pursuing a masters degree in sociology and has worked in the education and energy efficiency fields for the past 10 years.

Josh and Rebecca Lamoureux are members of the Seabrook, New Hampshire, congregation. Mr. Lamoureux is a compensation information and project coordinator for the human resources department of Dartmouth College. He holds a master of science degree in leadership and a bachelor of arts degree in communication. He and his wife Rebecca are both graduates of the Ambassador Bible College class of 2012.

Jay and Jennifer Ledbetter are members of the Sherman, Texas, congregation. Mr. Ledbetter was most recently a fulfillment team leader in a mortgage finance department for Bank of America. He studied finance at Austin Community College. He and his wife Jennifer serve as deacon and deaconess in the local congregation.

Dan and Kim Preston are members of the Cincinnati East, Ohio, congregation. Mr. Preston was most recently an engineering manager for EXAIR Corporation. He holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Cincinnati and is a graduate of the leadership development institute there. He serves as a deacon in the local congregation. Mrs. Preston works part-time as a mail fulfillment clerk at the home office of the United Church of God.

Lewis and Lena VanAusdle are members of the Cincinnati East, Ohio, congregation. Mr. VanAusdle was most recently a speech and language pathologist working primarily with grade school students. He holds a master of arts degree in communication sciences and disorders and a bachelor of science degree in industrial technology. He is a graduate of the Ambassador Bible College class of 2007. Mrs. VanAusdle works part-time as a personal correspondence proofreader for the United Church of God and coordinator for United Youth Corps and Good Works; she is a graduate of the ABC class of 2003, has a bachelor of arts degree in English, and a master of science degree in clinical counseling.