BIBLE CENTER CHURCH - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Pastor of Worship Ministries
Caleb has been a part of the Bible Center family since he joined the staff in 2007. As a worship pastor, his desire is to grow a culture of Christ-centered worship that is founded in doctrine and expressed with passion. One of his greatest joys is equipping others use their gifts and talents to worship Jesus and serve others. Caleb and his wife, Tiffany, have been married for 16 years and have 3 amazing children: Emma, Jack, and Hailey. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, woodworking, and reminiscing about being on the curling team in high school.
Job Titles:
- Pastor of Sports Ministries
Pastor Richard Riffe (or Dickie, as he's affectionately known to most of us) has been attending Bible Center since 1965. In the early years, he taught Sunday School and worked in AWANA, each for 18 years. In addition, he has served as a Deacon, Elder, and Maintenance Chairman. Pastor Richard, also known as "Coach" to many, has lead church-league sports and currently coaches Bible Center School basketball. He has also assisted with the church Care Ministries for many years. A graduate of Liberty University (Biblical Studies), Pastor Richard is licensed in the state of West Virginia. He and his wife, Anna, have been married for 48 years and have two grown children.
Job Titles:
- Director of Special Needs Ministries
Emily grew up in Columbus, Ohio. She attended Word of Life Bible Institute and then graduated from Appalachian Bible College where she met her husband, John. They have served with ministries in Argentina, Florida, Ohio, and California. It was during their 5 years in California that Emily fell in love with the Special Needs Ministry. While there, she was able to serve as the volunteer coordinator/ administrative assistant for the ministry. At Bible Center, Emily previously served as the administrative assistant for Family Ministries and as the Director of our Special Needs Ministry at Bible Center Church. Emily and John have 3 girls: Allison, Alana, and Abigail.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Maker 's Center
Job Titles:
- Director of Strategy & Communications
After studying aviation, Jessica completed a Bachelor's degree at Piedmont Bible College and a Master's degree at Liberty University. She grew up in Charleston and at Bible Center and first joined the Bible Center staff team in 2001. She's passionate about using art, language, and technology to connect people to Jesus, church, and one another. Jessica and her husband, Carl, have one daughter and love traveling and having fun together.
John grew up in West Virginia, attended Bible Center School, Cross Lanes Christian School, and was a whitewater rafting guide on the New River through college. After graduating from Appalachian Bible College, he served on church staffs in Florida and Ohio, and most recently on the Executive Team as the Family Ministries/Worship Arts Pastor at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, California. John and his wife, Emily, have three daughters: Allison, Alana, and Abigail.
Job Titles:
- Director of Early Childhood Ministries
Katie attended Bible Center School and has a bachelor's degree from West Virginia University. She is a wife and a mom of two and loves traveling and spending time with her family. She has served in children's ministry from a young age and looks forward to serving the children and families at Bible Center.
Pastor Matt Garrison holds a B.S. in Youth Ministry from Liberty University and a Master of Arts and Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He previously served for nine years as the Youth Pastor at New Life Baptist Church in Pennsylvania. He served for 9 years in student ministry here at Bible Center before transitioning to his current role. He and his wife, Andrea, are the parents of Sydney, Tyler, Sierra, and Troy.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Outreach
Michelle has served on the staff at Bible Center since 2002. She has a Bachelor's degree in Theology and Christian Education from Andersonville Theological Seminary and a Master of Arts degree in Christian Counseling & Psychology from Southwest Bible College and Seminary. Michelle is passionate about Jesus and the difference a relationship with Him makes in people's lives. She also enjoys all-things-leadership and the study of personalities. She and her husband, Richard, have seven children and three grandchildren.
Michelle oversees both local and global outreach.
Job Titles:
- Pastor of Discipleship & Multiplication
Pastor Mike Graham has a Master of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and has served as an international missionary, church planter and pastor over the past 20 years. Mike brings years of discipleship, outreach and small group ministry experience. He and his wife, Jennifer, are the parents of Luke and Lexi.
Paula has been welcoming guests to Bible Center since joining the staff in 2004. From first-time guests, regular attenders, and members, to community guests who use our facilities, it is Paula's joy to share the love of Jesus through the gift of hospitality. While she grew up in the Beckley, WV area, she now travels to Richmond, VA, to visit her family.
Job Titles:
- Pastor of Care Ministries
Pastor Thompson has received training from Moody Bible Institute and Liberty University and holds a B.S. in Church Ministry from Andersonville Baptist Seminary. He previously served as Assistant Pastor and Children's Minister at Lyona Bible Church in Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Michelle, are the parents of seven children.
Job Titles:
- Pastor of High School Ministries
Before coming to Bible Center in 2020, Pastor Ryan served at Twin City Bible Church in Nitro, WV as the Student Pastor and a Teaching Pastor for over six years. His passion is found in people and leveraging relationships for the sake of the gospel.
He has been married to his wife, Stephanie, a native of Michigan, for 10 years. They have one child, Annalise, and they love traveling, trying new restaurants and coffee shops, spending time outdoors, and boating. Ryan is a graduate of MBI and also studied at Reformed Theological Seminary.
Job Titles:
- Principal, Bible Center School
Stephanie Schafer joined the BCS staff in 2018 as the Head of School. She spent her entire life in sunny Southwest Florida. After much prayer, her family knew that God was calling them to Charleston, West Virginia to be part of Bible Center School and Church. Stephanie received her B.A. in Communication from Palm Beach Atlantic University and her M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision from Liberty University. She has been part of Christian education for 18 years as both teacher and administrator. She has been married to her husband, Joey, for 17 years and they have a son, Dylan, and daughter, Halle.
Stephanie serves as the visionary instructional leader and implementer at BCS. It is her joy and passion to lead the staff and students at Bible Center School as they seek God's will for their lives.
Job Titles:
- Pastor of Children 's Ministries
Steve's greatest passion is not only to see girls and boys come to know Jesus Christ but also to be a life coach for moms and dads, assisting them in navigating these different phases of their children's lives. Each phase of shaping these creative young minds to live and love like Jesus has its own set of tools and questions to be answered. His desire is to encourage parents, and to teach children to have a passion to love others, to love God, and to discover what it means to live a full life in Jesus.
Steven grew up in Charleston and holds a Bachelor's degree from Marshall University. With a wide and diverse background of live production and touring, Steven brings an interesting set of skills and experience to the team. He's passionate about seeing creatives empowered and creating environments where people feel loved, welcomed, and can experience God in a new way. Outside of Bible Center, Steven enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors.
Troy and his family have been a part of Bible Center for over 12 years. His wife, Stephanie, has been involved in many ways serving and being a part of the BCC community. Their children, Caleb and Kyleigh (now grown and residing in Southern California), were very involved in student ministry at Bible Center and both came to know Jesus through the children's ministry. For most of those 12 years Troy was a volunteer, serving on the board and in many other areas of ministry at Bible Center. He also served on the Pastoral Staff for 3 years.
In 2016 the Thornton family move to Southern California. Troy served on the staff at Calvary Community Church as the Pastor of Development and Operations. Troy and Stephanie returned to WV and to Bible Center in late 2023 and are excited to again be a part of this wonderful community and church.
Troy's background includes military service, business management, and pastoral ministry. His education includes a BA in Bible and Theology and a Masters in Process Management.
Troy's responsibilities include: