Compassionate Leaders, Principle Professionals & Agents of Positive Change
I grew up on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, went to high school in Carson City, Nevada, and lived in Reno, Nevada for nearly 10 years. My family and I lived in St. Andrews, Scotland for 3 years and currently serve as the Lead Pastor at New Life Church, Incline Village, NV. I enjoy spending time with my family, playing acoustic guitar, basketball, hiking, and being by Lake Tahoe. I thoroughly enjoy reading and learning. I also enjoy arts such as film and music. I am passionate about teaching, writing, and mentoring students in community. I am also passionate about the spiritual formation of young adults.
Dr. Tim Allen
I am excited for this opportunity to work and teach this year at Nevada Christian College. I moved to the Sparks/Reno area so that I could be closer to my family in 2010 and I feel the Lord has more than blessed this transition and I am looking forward to this next year.
Christine Dahir
Ministry:
- Senior Pastor of Bethel AME Church since September 10, 2020
- Short Term Missionary: Mexico, Haiti, Jamaica (25 Years)
Education:
- B. S. Christian Leadership: William Jessup University
- B. S. Biblical Theology: William Jessup University
- Masters of Divinity: Fuller Theological Seminary
- DMin: Executive Leadership:
San Francisco Theological Seminary 2023
Spiritual Gifting:
- Leadership
- Evangelism
- Teaching
Career: (20+ Years)
- Corporate Application and Network Training
- SAP Senior Consultant
Rev. Dr. Debra Whitlock-Lax, Pastor
Doug Vaughan was born in Fort Worth, Texas in 1962. Doug grew up in the farming community of Grapevine, located midway between Dallas and Fort Worth. In order to pursue God’s call to ministry, Doug continued his education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He completed a master of theology degree in 1990 and finished a master of religious education degree in 1993. He completed a doctor of ministry degree from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in 2000.
Doug and his family moved to Reno, Nevada in 1994 so he could serve on staff with Steamboat Baptist Church. Then, in 1996, he helped launch Crosspoint Community Church. He first served as associate pastor with Crosspoint, but in 2001 he began serving as the lead pastor, a place in ministry he once resisted, but now thoroughly loves.
Best friends, Doug and Debbie have thrilled to be married. They enjoy being parents. They have two incredible sons. In this current season of life, Doug and Debbie are also enjoying being grandparents.
Doug has varied interests and involvements outside of family and church. He teaches with Nevada Christian College in Reno. He is a substitute teacher with the school district. He is constantly reading and learning. He plays disc golf. He likes classic movies with classic movie stars, especially Jimmy Stewart. He also likes to bake cheesecakes, take frequent walks, and devour chips and salsa.
Dr. Doug Vaughan
Education:
- Ed.D., Ph.D. Biola University, Talbot School of Theology, Major: Character Education 1990, 1999
- Th.M. Dallas Theological Seminary, Major: Historical Theology 1978
- B.A. California State University, Fresno, Major: History 1973
- A.A. Santa Barbara City College, Major: History 1971
Teaching Experience:
• Instructor, Nevada Christian College 2020
• Instructor, Multnomah University, Reno, NV Campus 2019
• Adjunct Professor, Biola University 1988-1989
• Instructor, Dallas Theological Seminary Evening Bible Institute
1978
Teacher Training and Research Experience:
• Director, Educational Diagnostics 1990-2005
Publications
• How to Change a Rotten Attitude, Sage Publications, Corwin
Press 1998
• Egoless Elders, WestBow Press 2012
• James: A Reader's Companion, WestBow Press 2015
• Porch Talk with Gramps on Parenting, WestBow Press 2015
• Hebrews: A Reader's Companion, WestBow Press 2016
• Larger than Life, WestBow Press 2017
• Revelation: A Reader’s Companion, WestBow Press 2018
• Peter: A Reader’s Companion, WestBow Press 2020 Military
Service and Awards
Military Service:
- United States Marine Corps 1967-1969
- Vietnam Veteran 1967-1968
- Purple Heart 1968
- Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V 1968
- Presidential Unit Citation, Siege of Khe Sanh 1968
- Honorable Discharge 1973
- Life Memberships: Khe Sanh Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars
Family
• Married to Paula M. Lawhead (Children: 10; Grandchildren: 15)
July 31, 1971 - Present
Dr. Michael Loehrer
Joseph (Joey) Bock is the Associate Pastor at Faith Alive Christian Center in Reno, NV. He has been on staff with Pastors David and Frances Oberg since 1997. After a miraculous conversion in 1990, God proceeded to deliver him from severe family trauma and the grip of addictions. He answered the call to ministry in 1991 as the children’s pastor at Harvest Time Church in Bay City, Texas. He spent the next six years developing children’s curriculum, overseeing outreaches into underprivileged neighborhoods, bus ministry, puppet teams, and summer Vacation Bible School; leading a team of dedicated and creative servants to children.
His philosophy of ministry as an associate pastor is “being #1 at being #2”. He has worked in many areas of ministry, but primarily enjoys leadership training, administrating, event planning, and facility remodeling. Helping to establish FACC’s vision in the area of media outreach includes producing a local television program on NBC since 2001, as well as gospel billboard & mailing outreaches which have blanketed Washoe County. Graphic, web design, and video editing are all a passion. He also spent ten years as the youth pastor of FACC and developed an outreach-based college-age ministry named “Retrofire”.
In 2006, Joey worked alongside Pastor Oberg in establishing “Faith Alive School of Ministry”, a two-year Bible School, which included developing administrative policies and procedures, syllabi, and writing curricula for all the classes that he instructed. In 2008, FACC took on its 1st “Night to Honor Israel” under the auspices of Christians United for Israel. Since then, FACC has hosted four more NTHI events with thousands in attendance and worked to rally the leaders in our region to support of the Nation of Israel.
Joey considers his greatest accomplishment to have stayed in love with the wife of his youth, Lynette, for 31 years. They raised three beautiful daughters: Kayla Elaine, Kate-Lynn Renee, and Kamille Lauren. He likes to spend his free time cooking, building hotrods and motorcycles, being a pawpaw to Levi, and ruminating on how wonderful the Great Nation of Texas is.
Pastor Joseph L. Bock
Jay Hull, father of four, grandfather of thirteen and husband of one, is the pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Reno, Nevada. He also serves as chair of the Presbytery of the Pacific Southwest’s Candidates Care Committee. He has studied at New College in Edinburgh, Scotland, at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California, and at UCLA where he received a BA in Music, sang in the UCLA Madrigal Singers and A’capella Choir, and played horn in the Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra & Westwood Brass Quintet.
He has also played horn for the Reno Philharmonic. For several years, Pastor Jay has been an adjunct professor at Nevada Christian Institute (aka Meadows Bible Institute & Multnomah University, Reno-Tahoe) teaching courses in Old Testament, New Testament, Homiletics (Preaching) and Hermeneutics (Biblical Interpretation). When he is not preparing lessons and sermons about the holy magnificence, foundational truth and astounding love of God, he enjoys reading mystery stories, writing songs, composing music and hanging out with his wife and family.
Pastor Jay Hull
