Pastors

Senior Pastor

Bret Laird became the Senior Pastor of Calvary Bible Church in December of 2017. He is a graduate of The Master's University (B.A. Biblical Counseling) and The Master's Seminary (M.Div. Expository Preaching). During seminary, he was mentored by Professor C.W. Smith as they served together at Arcadia Bible Church, and then became Interim Pastor after Dr. Smith was diagnosed with terminal cancer. After graduation, he served in Ukraine for 11 years as a missionary with Slavic Gospel Association, 2 years teaching courses at The Master’s University while also assisting with the development of The Master’s Academy International, and 2 years as the Executive Assistant to Dr. Robert Provost at SGA. Bret and Katey have four children: Aleithea, Timothy, Titus, and Anastasia. His passion is the “Vision of a 100 Visions”—mobilizing and equipping every member of Calvary Bible Church for maximum gospel impact for the glory of Christ.

Click here for sermons by Pastor Bret.

Senior Associate Pastor

David Kaneversky joined our staff as Senior Associate Pastor in 2023. He is a graduate of The Master’s University (B.A. Biblical Studies, 1988) and The Master’s Seminary (M.Div., 1993). He has almost 30 years of pastoral experience in serving churches in California and Indiana. David and his wife Erin were married in 1990, and the Lord has blessed them with four children – their oldest son Townsend and his wife Michaella live in Indiana and recently become parents to Kennedy, giving David and Erin their first grandchild. Colter and his wife Claire are working as athletic trainers in Texas. Their daughter McKenna recently graduated from Cedarville University and lives in Ohio. Clayton graduated from high school in December 2023 and plans to attend Cedarville University in the fall of 2024.

Member Care Pastor

Dan Johnson Shepherding and Member Care Director — **Dan Johnson**

Dan Johnson first joined the Calvary staff in 2005 as Executive Director. Dan and his wife, Beth, have four adult children and four grandchildren. Dan was saved at age 9 and began attending Calvary Bible Church in 1983. He most recently served as our Shepherding and Member Care Director, and has served as an usher, Sunday School Superintendent, teacher, Deacon, Elder, and in the jail ministry. Dan completed his Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Cornerstone University in 2016.

Click here for sermons by Pastor Dan.

Hispanic Ministry Pastor

Santiago Martínez Leal was born in Mexico City, and he was saved by the grace of God at the age of 18. He married his wife Jennifer in 2001, and they have four daughters: Abby, Ellie, Natalie, and Rebecca - who went to heaven to be with the Lord in 2016. Santiago and his family have been attending Calvary Bible Church since 2010. Santiago served as a youth leader and preached the Word of God in Mexico for ten years before he and Jennifer moved to the United States.

He was called by the grace of God to start a Hispanic bible study group and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the immigrant community around the Edison neighborhood of Kalamazoo. Over the last eight years God has established a Hispanic ministry at Calvary Bible Church – Leon de Juda. Prior to his call as an Associate Pastor, Santiago led this ministry as our Director of Hispanic Ministries. He is currently enrolled online at the Expositors Seminary in a program that equips pastors already ministering in the field to better serve their local churches.

Disciple Making Pastor

Jim West began serving at Calvary in June 2021 as our Director of Adult Equipping. Jim and his wife, Lora, have “four” children - two adult children and their spouses - Eric & Jessi O’Shea, and Jake & Brooke West; and three grandchildren. Jim was saved at age 15 and has been in pastoral ministry for the past 33 years. He graduated from Appalachian Bible College with a degree in Bible and Youth Ministry and completed his Master of Divinity with Liberty University.

Click here for sermons by Pastor Jim “PJ”

Associate Pastor of Global Ministries

Jeff Whitaker Senior Associate and Outreach Pastor — **Jeff Whitaker**

Jeff Whitaker joined the staff in 2007 to provide leadership in mobilizing the membership of Calvary to declare God’s glory among all nations. Jeff served 26 years with SEND International in church planting in Taiwan and in mission leadership. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Western Michigan University and an Master of Arts in Missions from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Jeff and his wife, Linda, have two sons: Ryan and Eric. Jeff’s hobbies include sailing, swimming and canoeing. One of his favorite passages of Scripture is Isaiah 6:1-8.

Click here for sermons by Pastor Jeff.

Directors

Les Batts Technical Director — **Les Batts**
Technical Director

**Hannah Haney**
Children’s Ministry Director

**Heather Schutz**
Ministry Support Director

Austin Dosh
Director of Outreach

Jake West Student Ministries Director — **Jake West**
Next Generation Ministries Director

Mark Duncan Worship Ministries Director — **Mark Duncan**
Worship Ministries Director

**Anna Matecun**
Executive Assistant and HR Director

Ryan Whitaker Director of Corporate Worship — **Ryan Whitaker**
Director of Corporate Worship

Todd Haner Facilities Director — **Todd Haner**
Facilities Director

**Nate Mumau**
Student Ministries Director

Support Staff

**Dan Beason**
Student Ministries Coordinator

Angela Haner Ministry Support Staff — **Angela Haner**
Ministry Support Staff

**Patrick Kurtz**
Ministry Support Staff

Kim Morrell Financial Administrator — **Kim Morrell**
Financial Administrator

Keith Manning Facilities Staff — **Keith Manning**
Facilities Staff

Tara Schober Facilities Staff — **Tara Schober**
Facilities Director Assistant

**Laura Studabaker**
Kitchen Coordinator

**Lora West**
Children’s Ministry Volunteer Coordinator

Elders & Deacons

“Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2–3)

Calvary Bible Church is led by biblically qualified Elders and Deacons. The New Testament makes it clear that Elders were appointed to lead and shepherd local churches. These men were to lead well, to lead the flock by example, and to meet the rigorous qualities and character of 1 Timothy 3:1–13 and Titus 1:5–9. Deacons carry out the various tasks allotted to them by the Elders and also provide leadership in various areas of service in order to free up the Elders to concentrate on their responsibilities.

Lay Elders

Josh Andrews
Dan Bowman
Marty Buffenbarger, Vice Chairman
Zach DeYoung
Bob Drenth
Steve Edwards
Brian Jacobs
Mark Kehlenbeck
Sam Logan
John O’Keefe
Santiago Martinez
Mike Ruiter
David Scranton
Phil Smith, Chairman
Jim Trombley

Treasurer

Jeff Long

Deacons

Justin Andrews
Matthew Bakhuyzen
Dan Beason
Travis Blok
Nate Bowen
Paul Carlson
Gary Cudney
Jason Eichorn
Skyler Herendeen
Jon Jones
Micah Klaassen
Peter Manring, Chairman
Austin McCollum
Neil McCormick, Vice Chairman
Larry Morrell
Evan Musial
Abe Nichols
Isaac Ruiz
Craig Rupp
Matt Scheffers
Adam Schutz
Ewing Tiong
Clay VanDussen
Luke Velderman
Andy Yetman