Joel Liechty is a Director of Education and Clergy Development for The Wesleyan Church and has a great passion for the quality ministerial education and formation of local church leaders. He’s serves through advancing leadership, residencies, learning communities and experiential learning.  He currently oversees several educational and formational opportunities for pastors and leaders which includes, but not limited to FLAME, FLAMA, The Wesleyan Seminary Foundation, the Early Ministry Initiative and more. Joel lives in Flagstaff, Arizona with his wife Stephanie and two boys Eli and Paxton.

Director, Clergy Development

La Reverenda Johanna Chacón Rugh es una ministra ordenada de La Iglesia Wesleyana. Ella actualmente sirve como Superintendente Asistente del Distrito Hispano del Suroeste de La IW. Como Superintendente Asistente ella ha podido desarrollar una serie de proyectos para el avance de la JDDM y ha podido proveer apoyo a las iglesias y pastores dentro del distrito. Por su labor en el desarrollo de Estudiantes Ministeriales dentro del distrito, se le pidió servir como Directora Asociada del DBMD y Formación Profesional junto con un equipo de líderes hispanos bajo la División de Educación y Desarrollo del Clero en la IW y de esta forma poder ayudar a otros Estudiantes Ministeriales Hispanos fuera de su distrito. Su pasión es servir al Señor en cualquier área posible como una líder que anima a cada miembro a dar lo mejor para el Reino, especialmente el continuar promoviendo el ministerio de la mujer en todas las áreas de la iglesia.

Rev. Johanna Chacon Rugh is an ordained minister of The Wesleyan Church. She currently serves as the Assistant to the District Superintendent of the Distrito Hispano del Suroeste of TWC.  As ADS she has been able to develop several projects for the advancement of the DBMD and she has been able to provide support to the churches and pastors within the district. Because of her work in the development of Ministerial Students within the district, she has been asked to serve as the Associate Chair of DBMD and Professional Formation along with a team of Hispanic leaders under the Division of Education and Clergy Development of TWC. In this way, she can provide help to other Hispanic Ministerial Students outside her district. Her passion is to serve the Lord in any way possible as an encouraging leader to each member, especially to continue promoting the ministry of women in all the areas of the church.

Associate Endorser, Military Chaplains

864-633-8994

Dr. Gary Carr is the new Associate Chaplain Endorser for the Wesleyan Church. Carr was a highly decorated military chaplain (COMMANDER, USN) endorsed by The Wesleyan Church. Originally from Lansing Faith Wesleyan Church, he pastored at Diamond Springs W. C. in Michigan, then embarked upon active duty military chaplain service in 1987 and retired from the Navy at the end of 2007.

• Carr’s service as a navy chaplain are marked by extrodinary achievements such as: Division Chaplain for 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC from 2004-2006, managed 22 ministry teams, serving 25,000 personnel plus their families.
• Senior Naval Officer for the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, coordinating crisis ministry during evacuation of 14,000 US Citizens from Beirut, Lebanon in 2006. President, Fleet Marine Force Qualification Board.
• Battle Force Chaplain of the 7th Fleet and Command Chaplain of USS KITTY HAWK from 2002-2004, supervising ministry to 8,000 personnel and families during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
• National Director of Navy Chaplain Corps Recruiting from 1999-2002. The successful strategic changes that were put in place then remain the practices today.
• Command Chaplain for the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Pensacola, FL from 1996-1999. Established new programs including the Core Values Academy providing spiritual readiness for 18,000 students per year. Also trained US Navy vocal team.
• Group Chaplain for the Navy Seals and the first chaplain ever assigned to the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (Seals). Trained with Seals in all aspects, except weaponry. Deployed in numerous covert operations globally, including austere environments. Established the Navy Special Warfare Critical Incident Stress Team.

Since then he has served with the International Bible Society and as Vice President at Southern Wesleyan University. His 20 years of service as a navy chaplain are marked by extraordinary achievement. Dr. Carr graduated from the University of Michigan with high distinction in English and comparative linguistics and was the James B. Angell scholar. He holds the M.Div. from Asbury Seminary, a Th.M. in preaching from Duke, and the Doctor in Ministry in leadership (with distinction) from Fuller Seminary. He has had numerous service-related publications and papers, and has also been an Adjunct Professor in World Religions for Central Texas College. Dr. Carr is married (wife, Karen) with three children. He enjoys scuba diving, guitar and piano, cycling, reading. His primary gift is developing leadership in others.

Dr. Gary Carr es el nuevo Capellán de La Iglesia Wesleyana que sea transferido. Carr fue un capellán militar altamente condecorado (Comandar, USN) endorsado por La Iglesia Wesleyana. Originalmente de Lansing Faith Wesleyan Church, pastoreó en Diamond Springs W.C. en Michigan, y luego se enroló en servicio como capellán militar activo hasta 1987 y se retiró de la Armada en los finales del 2007.

Associate Endorser, Military Chaplains

702-904-0730

USAF Chaplain, Lt Col (retired) Michael Rash serves The Wesleyan Church as an Associate Chaplain Endorser.  As a native of Lincolnton, North Carolina, he initially joined the United States Air Force in 1978 and completed a four-year enlistment as an E3-A AWACS Radio Operator.  In 1995, after graduation from college and seminary, he re-entered the air force as an active duty chaplain endorsed by The Wesleyan Church.  Culminating a 28-year military career, he retired from the air force in June, 2018.

Chaplain Rash and his wife, Kathy, ministered to air force families in North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Nevada, Colorado, England, Germany and Korea.  His education includes degrees from Southern Wesleyan University, Asbury Theological Seminary, Columbus State University, and the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences.  He is a board-certified counselor credentialed by the National Board for Certified Counselors.  Mike and Kathy have two adult daughters and enjoy the adventures of travel.

Thrive Financial Initiative

Dr. Rennaker has pastored for 3 decades and served as project director from 2007 to 2015 for The Wesleyan Church’s pilot project in Lilly Endowment’s initiative to address the economic challenges facing Indiana pastors. He led the denomination’s 2015 national research effort to learn about pastors’ economic challenges from ministers, their spouses, and key lay leaders. He is denominational director of the Thrive Financial Initiative, The Wesleyan Church’s Education and Clergy Development Division program in Lilly Endowment’s national initiative to address economic challenges facing pastoral leaders.

Jerolyn Bogear is the chair of the Wesleyan Coaching Network. She is a Commissioned Ministry Coach, Coach Mentor, and Coach Trainer and has served on the leadership team for about 5 years. She is certified with International Coaching Federation (ACC) and with John Maxwell Teams and has completed over 450 hours of coaching across a variety of industries. Jerolyn and her husband, Jim, formed Legacy C3, coaching, training, and speaking on leadership and relationships. They are also co-authors on marriage and family. Jerolyn and Jim have 3 adult children, 2 children-in-law, and 3 adorable granddaughters. They make their home in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Shannon Bradford is well acquainted with the high’s and lows of ministry.  She loves her pastor husband, Brian, and her 3 kids, Halle, Lily, and Titus.  Shannon has served on leadership at the district and local church level. She loves being organized, planning ahead, shopping, and Chicago-style pizza.

Ministerial Education and Formation

Michelle is an Indianapolis native. She is married with four children: ages ranging from 10 to 23. She loves rollerblading, reading, camping, traveling, time with her kids, and outdoor activities.

Phone: 317-774-7939

Luska Natali is originally from Brazil, but has lived in the United States since 1988, so this is home for her. Luska first came to the U.S. as a Rotary Exchange Student when she was a senior in High School, and she joined the Yearbook Club at her school in Northern California, where she also wrote for the school newsletter.

Luska has always had a passion for writing and when she is not writing, she is scribbling. There is always something that can be translated into words and she loves doing that. She also writes in her native tongue, Portuguese, and in Spanish.  Luska writes devotionals and short stories and for about 6 years, she contributed to different newspapers, both in Indiana and Georgia, as a freelance correspondent.

Luska loves meeting people and networking is more than a hobby, it is a way of life for her. She enjoys traveling, reading, going to the movies and to the theater, as well as attending orchestra concerts; she loves Bible study, prayer, praise and worship. She also enjoys acting and has been an extra in three movies.

Luska has both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Business Management from Indiana Wesleyan University and an Education Specialist degree from Liberty University. She considers herself a lifelong learner and will always search for opportunities to learn new things.

Luska asked Jesus Christ into her heart on June 13, 1982 in Brasilia, Brazil, at the largest Charismatic Baptist church there. That was by far the BEST decision she has ever made in her life. She loves the Lord with all her heart, mind and soul. While in Marion, Indiana, she attended both Lakeview Wesleyan Church and College Wesleyan Church.

Luska has three sons and six grandsons, with another grandbaby on the way (due in November, 2018) and her family is by far her best treasure on this earth.

Phone: 317-774-3913

Spanish Ministerial Education & Formation

Jasmin is our bilingual administrative assistant here at ECD, working alongside Rev. Johanna Rugh to serve our hispanic ministry students, instructors, and coordinators.

Jasmin was born and raised in sunny Orange County, California. She enjoys writing, reading, trying new food, and traveling with her husband. Jasmin is passionate about worship, the Word, and seeing people walk in the reality of God’s Kingdom!

Phone: 317-774-3915