Linda Jackson is the Connections Pastor at Crosswalk Community Church in Sunnyvale, CA. She has a passion for mobilizing people in short and long term missions work in the kingdom of God. Linda is a graduate of William Jessup University. She also holds a Masters degree in Christian Leadership from A.W. Tozer Seminary. Linda has a rich history in the field of missions having taken over 30 missions trips over the past 18 years. Missions trips have included trips to India, Dominican Republic, Ukraine, Paraguay and the Philippines. Works in these areas include leadership training, healthcare clinics, clean water wells and evangelical crusades - all in partnership with national pastors. Linda especially has a heart for the Philippines. In 2011 she co-founded Doorway of Hope, a mission compound with a church plant and bible college (Cornerstone School of Ministry) in the Philippines. In addition to her passion for missions, she is an amazing woman of God, a gifted musician and loves to disciple people in the things of God. Linda will be focusing on a number of missions topics during her time with us.
Jim Thomas is a treasure to the Redwood Coast and a good friend to Arcata First Baptist Church. Jim was born in Queens, NY. and he studied at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ where he received a degree in Aviation Computer Science. After graduation, Jim stayed in his college town and ended up serving there as an associate pastor for 14 years. His areas of ministry leadership included Children's, Jr High, College and Media ministries. He has also taught at bible college and led youth mission trips to Mexico. Currently Jim serves as the Lead Pastor of Telios Church which is part of the Calvary Chapel movement. Jim's growing church and his solid bible teaching is a refreshing voice to our area. His church also has a dynamic radio ministry known as K-Chapel that provides Christian music and biblical teaching to the Redwood Coast via radio and the world via the internet. Jim will be teaching a class entitled Jessus in the Gospels focusing on the four protraits of Christ and how it relates to missions and ministry.
Steve Mason - Steve has a rich history in both ministry and missions. Steve has served as a Pastor for over 40 years and helped plant a church in Southern CA that began as a bible study out of his home. This church also planted four other churches over the years impacting hundreds of lives in five different cities. Currently he serves as an Associate Pastor at Sanctuary Church, a growing and vibrant fellowship in Southern CA. While serving as a Lead Pastor for 38 years Steve was the Founder and Director of Oasis International, a missions ministry to the Persecuted Church in Eastern Europe. Oasis International sent gospel teams that brought medical supplies and other humanitarian aid to suffering believers in that region of the world, encouraging them in both word and deed.
Steve has taken a number of missions trips, including to the former Soviet Union, Romania, Bulgaria and Poland ministering to the Persecuted Church and smuggling in thousands of bibles to persecuted believers. Steve has also helped Christians under Communist regimes escape the tyranny of communist oppression and helped them resettle in the United States, Canada and Australia. During his time with us he will be teaching on The Persecuted Church, Adventures in Missions and Living a Missional Life.
Alexandra Carter - Alexandra is a member and former Intern of Arcata First Baptist Church. She is a graduate of Humboldt State University in Wildlife Management and is presently pursing her Masters Degree in Kinesiology, while also pursuing her teaching credential. Alexandra has been involved with RCSM in both an administrative role and as a student. At a young age Alexandra has a significant missions background. Missions is part of her DNA. Trips have included a number of trips to Wales where she was involved in a Christian camp in counseling, discipleship and evangelism. She has also gone to Mexico working in an orphanage, men's rehabilitation center, VBS and various building projects. Along with this she has also been involved in Medical Missions in Nicaragua. In addition Alexandra has been to Morocco prayer walking, along with relational evangelism, as well as helping to organize a Women's Conference which is quite unique in that area of the world. She has also been to Tunisia involved in prayer walking. Alexandra will be teaching on Living A Missional Lifestyle focusing on "What I Have Learned About Missions As A Young Adult."
Tom Throssel has a long and rich relationship with AFBC and RCSM. Few people have had the impact in Humboldt County CA as Tom Throssel. Tom is the Pastor and Executive Director of Redwood Adult & Teen Challenge. Redwood Adult & Teen Challenge is a faith based residential recovery program for men and women that provides assistance to individuals that are struggling with life-controlling problems such as drugs and/or alcohol. Teen Challenge teaches individuals how to regain control of their lives and become productive members of their community while maintaining biblical standards. Tom and RATC also involve themselves is community service and are often asked to minister at various local churches here in the area ministering in song, testimony and the Word. Tom holds a Bachelors degree from Moody Bible Institute in Missionary Aviation Science. Tom and his family also served as missionaries to Bolivia for about 10 years where he served as the Director of SamAir Bolivia. Missions is part of Tom's DNA and Tom in well known along the Redwood Coast for living a missional lifestyle and is a loved and highly respected leader in our area. Tom will be teaching on: Living a Missional Life.
Linda McGuire serves on staff at Arcata First Baptist Church as our Director of Children's Ministry. Linda graduated from William Jessup University with a Bachelor's Degree in Bible and Theology with a minor in Christian Education also having an emphasis in Missions. She is also a graduate of Precepts Ministries levels I and II. Linda has taken missions trips behind the Iron Curtain to Hungary, East Germany and Czechoslovakia during the height of those communist regimes with a ministry called TCM (Taking Christ to the Millions). Having done missions work in these areas that were under such great oppression, she especially has a burden for the Persecuted Church. Linda has also taught at Women's Conferences and Women's bible studies over the years. Linda is the wife of Pastor Dennis and has been a staple of our Redwood Coast School of Missions since it's inception. Linda is addicted to God's Word and will be teaching a class called How To Study The Bible by asking and answering simple questions.
Dennis McGuire is the Lead Pastor of Arcata First Baptist Church and the founder and director of Redwood Coast School of Missions. Dennis has over 35 years of ministry experience and has served at a large church in the Bay Area as their Global Outreach Pastor leading a very large missions ministry that impacted 30 different countries. He also taught for about a decade at Calvary Missions Training School helping to equip hundreds of students in things pertaining to missions and ministry. Dennis has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Bible and Theology from William Jessup University and a Masters Degree in Ministry with a emphasis in Leadership from Hope International University. He also serves as an Instructor for Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course and is honored to have a weekly radio/internet program called "Fresh Oil" that reaches into many nations of the world. In addition he also serves on the faculty of North Coast Bible Institute. Dennis has taken short term missions trips to Japan, Chile, Liberia, Senegal and India, mostly training and equipping leaders in the things of God. He will be teaching this year on The Book of Acts & Missions.