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Christi Armstrong is the Executive Director of World Relief in Spokane, Washington. World Relief is committed to helping refugees from around the world who have either lost their homeland or fear for their lives to continue living there. A credentialed minister with Open Bible Churches, Christi has a heart of compassion for refugees and the agency she leads in Spokane helps to find housing, clothing, food, and jobs for newly arrived, displaced people. In the episode of Better Roads, Randall and Christi talk about how much refugees are just like us. They care about their kids. They want to best for their families. They want to maintain responsibility for caring for their families. And, they are so appreciative of this nation for opening its protective arms to them. They are not looking for handouts. That is why Christi emphasizes caring about their dignity and peace, two fundamentals of life for all human beings. The story of refugees is not a border crossings matter; it is an ongoing story of people who have been carefully vetted and receive some of the very limited number of acceptance notices that are provided by the government. You don’t hear much about this ministry, but it is a moving one. Pull up with your cup of coffee and learn about what God is doing through this.

Dan Powell worked his way up the corporate ladder as a CPA with a Fortune 500 company. But he walked away from that career ladder to become a pastor, while still retaining his CPA certification. In this edition of Better Roads Randall and Dan discuss what happened that caused Dan to take such a huge step. How did his wife and family receive that decision? Do his skills and experience as a CPA help him as a pastor? Does he ever long to return to working with numbers? Join Randall in learning more about Dan Powell, the CPA turned pastor, on Better Roads.

Chris Hansler is the executive director for Pacific Region Open Bible Churches. Before assuming the regional role, he and his wife, Lisa, to whom he had been married for 36 years, had been youth pastors and church planters while raising four children. Now empty nesters, this new role would be a wonderful opportunity for them. Instead the word cancer invaded their plans when Lisa received the diagnosis from her doctor. Every tool in medicine’s arsenal was applied to defeat the evil disease. Prayers were offered from around the world, and yet Lisa was transported to heaven even earlier than doctors had expected. How do you deal with such an immense loss of a beloved spouse? How do you carry on in ministry when it has always been the two of you doing everything together? Chris is still navigating through those questions and more as part of the grieving process. Nonetheless he transparently and vulnerably converses with Randall about his journey in this edition of Better Roads. If you are dealing with loss in your life or have ever been at that point, this conversation will minister to your heart.

LeAnna McIntyre faithfully served in multiple leadership roles at The Bridge Open Bible Church, in Springfield, Oregon, for twenty years. She did not realize it in the early years, but God was preparing her to assume the senior pastor role for the church. How did she transition from serving as a fellow member of the church, just one of several peer leaders, to becoming the leader and shepherd of the church? And, as important, how did other people process and work with that transition? In this edition of Better Roads LeAnna discusses with Randall her journey to becoming lead pastor. She also offers an insightful word of encouragement for other women who feel the Lord has prepared and called them to leadership but find that not many, if any, doors of opportunity are open. What should be their response? Leanna is a joyfully passionate and direct communicator and encourager. Men and women alike will respond to her winsomeness.

Bill Burchit and Natalie, his wife, were feeling stirred to plant a church. With their daughter entering her teen years and their son ready to head off to college, the Burchits had been prayerfully contemplating how God would use them at this new season of family life. Bill served as a staff pastor at Hope Church of Northwest Arkansas and Natalie was a realtor. Their lead pastor, Jim Brewer, and the church were ready and willing to sponsor the church plant with resources of people and funds. And then the surprising news came: there would be an unexpected addition to the Burchit family! Should they push forward on the church plant anyway, or should they hit the pause button while bringing another infant into this world and navigating the busyness that the newborn season brings? In this edition of Better Roads, Bill discusses with Randall the process that he and Natalie went through in their decision-making process about Canvas Church, the church plant they pastor today, and about the better roads Bill recognizes as providing an important doorway to how God is using the Burchits today.

Julie Cole is a gentle, soft-spoken advocate for women in ministry. She is not a campaigner, protester, or critic. Rather, God has opened doors of opportunity for influence and she humbly walks through them. In this episode of Better Roads, Randall and Julie discuss an issue that can cause much debate in some quarters today, the role of women in ministry. What about those passages of Scripture concerning women teaching or leading men? How should a woman respond when it appears she is being confined because of her gender? What about the husband/wife relationship and who leads in it? Grab your cup of coffee and listen in on this fascinating conversation.

Dr. David Cole is being used by God to interact and establish fellowship with a broad segment of Christendom. An ordained Open Bible minister, David is a professor at The King’s University. He is a passionate and gracious builder of bridges between evangelical denominations and other faith groups under the banner of Christianity, and also an ambassador for Open Bible Churches. In this episode of Better Roads, Randall and David converse about how to connect without compromising our understanding of biblical truth, how to do so without fear, and as a witness to the salvific power of Christ.

Nicole Miller, whose voice introduces our Better Roads podcast, is a busy wife, mom of four children, staff minister at her church, and high–D personality who organizes and keeps her “to-do” and other lists in order. Despite her driven nature, Nicole delights in loving life with family, church, and work and exhibits a bubbly, excited outlook on life. Her family knows few dull moments because Nicole and Matt, her husband, keep the ball of energy and laughter in the air. In this episode of Better Roads, Randall converses with Nicole about what makes her tick, her convictions and resolve, how she juggles all the packed parts of her life, and the better roads that have been pivotal in helping her arrive at who she is today.

Public schools have become a lightning rod for alarm and critical attention as recent issues involving issues such as school board policies, curriculum, and gender identity have come to light. What happens, however, when a Christian becomes a member of a public school board and even serves a term as president? How does that board member remain consistent with his or her values and convictions while working in concert with fellow board members? In this episode of Better Roads, Randall converses with Ryan Weldon, business man, Open Bible minister, and member of the Ankeny, Iowa, school board. Join us as we explore how Ryan makes it all work.

Gary Wyatt is the lead pastor of Sure House Open Bible Church in Tacoma, Washington, a recording artist, and a member of Open Bible’s Unity Commission, which is committed to racial reconciliation and healing. In this episode of Better Roads, Randall and Gary talk about racial issues and how Gary processes them as both a Christian and African American. Gary emphasizes, “I am not just a black man who is a Christian – I am a Christian who is a black man.” Gary’s joy, candor, and infectious humor will warm your heart. You can check out Gary’s music at gwconcepts.com. The Road to Racial Reconciliation, a free Bible study by the Unity Commission, can be downloaded at https://www.openbible.org/mission/multi-ethnic-focus/racial-unity/bible-study.

Nicole Kerr and her husband, Aaron, have two beautiful little boys. But the path to those delights was filled with five miscarriages. Five times Nicole was pregnant, only to experience loss again and again. It was not a road the Kerrs chose but it was theirs to travel. How does one deal with repeated loss and grieving? How do you keep hope alive when it has been dashed so many times? Randall and Nicole converse in this episode of Better Roads about God’s loving care coupled with personal, faith-filled resolve. If you are dealing with loss or evaporating hope, this conversation could be for you. You will also receive helpful insights from Nicole about how to be a friend to someone who is walking a painful journey.

Dave Bethany has traveled with MOVE ministries on 32 trips, constructing buildings around the world. For many of those trips he has served as the director of construction. A man who owns his own construction company and consulting service in Los Angeles, Dave gives anywhere from three to five weeks each year, investing not just in construction of buildings, but also in the building of men. In this episode of Better Roads, Dave converses with Randall about his experiences, the miracles God has performed, and the life-giving work God has been doing in the lives of men who join a MOVE team. To learn more about MOVE, apply to go on a construction trip, or contribute, go to https://www.openbible.org/mission/global-outreach/short-term-missions/move. Encourage someone else to go as well!

Pastor Deodath Mathai began his life journey in Trinidad. When he embraced Christ as Savior and Lord, Deodath’s people, of Hindu belief, shunned him. He faced a lonely journey, but he loved the Lord and was committed to Him. Deodath went to the Open Bible Institute, where he fell in love with and married Jean, and the two soon began pastoring. Partly in response to a prophetic word, the couple chose to migrate to the United States. God led them to pastor a church in West Palm Beach, Florida, with only four people in attendance. In the years since, God has blessed the Mathais, and today, New Horizon Worship Center is a thriving, multicultural church. In this episode of Better Roads Deodath talks about his journey, shares insights he has learned about growing a multicultural church, and celebrates the better roads he has taken in life that directly impact who he is and the ministry effectiveness he is experiencing today.

Jim Beaird has been a pastor and a regional executive director for Open Bible Churches. He is now flourishing in a post-retirement chapter of ministry as an author. From leadership and spiritual development books to novels, Jim’s keyboard has become prolific! In this episode of Better Roads Jim talks about how his writing began and continues to expand, what inspires him, and the discipline involved in writing and publishing books. Jim has prayed for the Lord to grant him more influence for God in this season of writing than in all of his earlier years of service. You can find his books on Amazon by searching for Jim Beaird under the books tab.

George Williams is the enthusiastic director for the RAM Network, the church planting arm of East Region Open Bible Churches. A church planter who turned over pastoral leadership of the church he planted to someone else so he could help other planters, George is passionate about serving God and loving people. He and his wife, Sarah (a former guest on Better Roads) minister together as they travel. Sarah has a prophetic anointing and George ministers from the Word of God. In this episode of Better Roads, George converses with Randall about his journey, about learning to hear from and follow the Lord.

Jolene Hodder, along with her husband, Kenneth, are commissioned with the Salvation Army. Kenneth was a successful corporate lawyer and Jolene was a successful retailer/designer. Then, God spoke to both of them about giving themselves to full time ministry. Years later, Kenneth is the commander over all of the Salvation Army and Jolene is also a national leader with the Salvation Army. How does one go from the “good life,” with money and material possessions, and change to a different life that includes missionary stints around the world, including eight in Africa, and to full time service? Randall explores Jolene’s journey, how God spoke to her, and how the Lord continues to adapt and employ all of her previous experience. This is a delightful testimony, filled with joy.

Randall refers to Ken and Nadine Groen as poster models for retirement. For 11 years they have done retirement exceedingly well. A former pastor and regional executive director, Ken has been successful wherever he has served, and continues to succeed at retirement. Randall explores with Ken what has kept Ken and Nadine vibrant and delighting in this chapter of life.

Savannah Marten is the Executive Director of the Pregnancy Center of Greater Toledo in Toledo, Ohio. Under her leadership the center is committed to providing limited medical care for women and families, after-abortion care, and Soul Purpose, a national ministry piloted and launched by Savannah and her team with a goal of raising up college-age women in their value, worth, and identity. Abortion is such a strongly divisive and emotional topic, but Savannah demonstrates a heart and spirit that lovingly disarms heated arguments. She is passionately in love with Jesus (and her husband, Ryan) and sees life as an opportunity to lead as many people to heaven as possible. In this episode of Better Roads, Savannah offers insightful coaching for people who care about the pre-born and who want to please the Lord in living out that care. To find a Pregnancy Center near you, go HERE. Read Savannah's article featured in The Message HERE.

Chris Cavan is a husband, father of six children elementary age and younger, pastor, and digital media manager for Open Bible Churches. How does he coordinate all of those responsibilities? In this edition of Better Roads Randall visits with Chris about his journey and its challenges and joys.

Betty Brown came to the U.S. from Costa Rica as a ten-year old girl. She learned a new language, obtained a college education, and met and married her husband. A strong, entrepreneurial leader, Betty became chief operations officer at a medical facility. But she stepped away from her successful career to direct the Portland Open Bible Church food pantry. Randall visits with Betty about her fascinating journey and reasons for the roads she has chosen.