Bob Deffinbaugh
Bob Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. in 1971. While in seminary Bob and his family attended Believers Chapel, where New Testament church principles were introduced to them for the first time. Since then Bob has been committed to following these principles and communicating them to others. For 35 years Bob has served as a teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas. In years past Bob served as a national speaker for Prison Fellowship. He has traveled and taught abroad, primarily in Asia. Bob has served on several boards, including two mission boards. Bob and his wife Jeannette have been happily married for nearly 48 years. They have five grown daughters and ten grandchildren. Bob has written extensively and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use on bible.org.
David Anderson
David Anderson (Denver Seminary ’05) was born and raised in Minnesota in a godly household and saved at a Christian camp at an early age. At 21 he began pastoring Calvary Baptist Church in Englewood, Colorado, until returning to his home church in Colorado, Littleton Bible Chapel, as a teaching elder, where he now serves full time. In addition to the pulpit at Littleton Bible Chapel, David has spoken at conferences throughout the US and internationally. He resides in Littleton with his wife, Lonnalee, daughter Mollie, son Ryle Ironside, and daughter Georgia.
Chuck Gianotti
Chuck Gianotti, Th.M. Dallas Theological Seminary, has held elder and leadership roles in a variety of church and Christian organization contexts since becoming a Christian in 1972. He has been serving the Lord full time since 1983 in both the US and Canada, serving in various capacities, including as an elder for over 28 years, most recently with Crossroads Bible Fellowship in Rochester, New York, which he helped plant in 1995. Chuck has taught at Kawartha Lakes Bible College (Canada) and is the founder and former editor of Elders’ ShopNotes (an international bi-monthly ministry letter to elders). His books include A Cosmic Drama: Men, Women & the Church, The Formation of the New Testament, the Day by Day expositional-devotional series, the Elders’ ShopNotes book series (five volumes), The New Testament and the Mishnah, plus numerous pamphlets and blogs. Chuck is vitally interested in discipling men, and he speaks at camps, conferences, and other churches on a regular basis. He has been married to Mary for over 47 years, and together they have two adult children and three grandchildren.
Alexander Strauch
Alexander Strauch was raised in New Jersey and converted to Christ at a Bible camp in New York State. He received his undergraduate degree from Colorado Christian University and went on to earn his Master’s in Divinity degree from Denver Seminary. For over 40 years he has served as an elder at Littleton Bible Chapel near Denver, Colorado. Additionally, he has taught philosophy and New Testament literature at Colorado Christian University. A gifted Bible teacher and popular speaker, Alex has helped thousands of churches worldwide through his expository writing ministry. He is the author of Biblical Eldership, Paul’s Vision for the Deacon, Men and Women: Equal Yet Different, The Hospitality Commands, Agape Leadership (with Robert L. Peterson), Meetings That Work, Leading with Love, Love or Die: Christ’s Wake-up Call to the Church, and If You Bite and Devour One Another. Alex and his wife, Marilyn, reside in Littleton, Colorado, near their four adult daughters and 11 grandchildren.
Viji Roberts
Administration Team
Jay Brady
Jay Brady attended Emmaus Bible School and received his undergraduate degree from Barrington College. After college, he joined the staff at Camp Elim and has helped manage non-profit ministries for more than 30 years. He currently manages the day-to-day operations of Lewis & Roth Publishers and leads the children’s programs in his local church. He lives in Colorado Springs.
Erica Fitzgerald
Erica Fitzgerald joined BER in 2017 to build out the School of the Shepherds, manage the weekly Passing the Baton blog, and help manage the website content. The Lord brought her to BER from the financial services industry, where she worked in corporate communications for many years. Erica and her husband, Tim, live in the St. Louis, Missouri area, where she homeschools their four kids and teaches Sunday school in their local church.
Alexis Smelker
Alexis Smelker was born and raised in Littleton, CO where she attends Littleton Bible Chapel. Due to the influence of godly parents she had a passion for reading the Bible at a young age and a love for serving in her church. Before having children, she worked for Lewis and Roth Publishers (publisher of Biblical Eldership). She has served alongside her husband, Greg, in Sunday school, junior high ministry, and college ministry. She also teaches at her women’s bible study. She has a passion for studying the Word, hospitality, and always has an open door for anyone who needs to stop in. She stays home with her 3 sons and daughter.
Greg Smelker