Home > Faculty & Staff

Administration & Academic Staff

Jon Pratt

Vice President of Academics
Professor of New Testament

John Cheek

Vice President of Advancement

Luke Forman

Vice President of Institutional Finance

L. Mark Bruffey

Registrar / Librarian

Stephen Davis

WCTS Station Manager

Full-time Faculty

Kevin Bauder

Research Professor of Systematic Theology

Preston Mayes

Professor of Old Testament
Assessment Coordinator

Matt Shrader

Director of Recruitment and Retention
Associate Professor of Church History

Visiting Professors

Nicolas Ellen

Biblical Counseling

B.A., Business Administration – University of Houston, TX
M.A., Christian Education – Dallas Theological Seminary
M.A., Biblical Counseling – Master’s University
D.Min., Biblical Counseling – Southern Baptist Seminary
Ph.D., Biblical Counseling – Southwestern Baptist Seminary

Dr. Ellen is certified counselor and fellow with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).
He is the founder of the Expository Counseling Center, LLC and senior member of the Biblical Counseling Framework.

Joshua Stephens

Biblical Counseling

B.A., Youth Ministries – Pillsbury Baptist Bible College
M.A.B.C., Central Baptist Theological Seminary
M.Div., Central Baptist Theological Seminary
D.Min., Southern Baptist Seminary

Dr. Stephens is certified with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) and is the Founder/Executive Director of the Biblical Counseling Alliance.

Seminary Staff

Ron Gotzman

Legacy Advisor

Debbie Bauder

Administrative Assistant

Diploma in Bible and Secretarial Skills, Faith Baptist Bible College

When Debbie met Kevin, she had no clue of the travels and places they would be experiencing. From childhood on the farm to adulthood with her husband in church ministries and education in Colorado, Iowa, and Texas, she feels very blessed in having met so many people along the way. She is thankful to have been a full-time mom during much of Kevin’s education years and pastorates. When not in the office, she still enjoys all things housework, playing piano, and thrifting. They have two adult children.

Bob Fuller

Announcer, WCTS Radio

B.A., Pillsbury Baptist Bible College
M.Div., Central Baptist Theological Seminary Th.M., Grace Theological Seminary D.Min., Central Baptist Theological Seminary

Dr. Fuller has served for over 40 years in pastoral ministry.

Sebastian Basaldua

Operations Manager, WCTS Radio

With a bachelor’s degree in Cross-Cultural Communication from Maranatha Baptist University, Sebastian has a passion for bringing ideas to life through media production. Sebastian helps operate, maintain, and produce programming for WCTS Radio.

Laura Glassel

Student Billing

A.A.S., Bob Jones University
B.S., Bob Jones University
B. S., Excelsior College
M.A., Bob Jones University

Laura grew up in the New England area, Germany, and Minnesota. She returned to Minnesota after graduate school. Beyond working at Central Seminary, Laura also teaches middle and high school science and history in various homeschool groups in the Twin Cities. In her spare time, she enjoys playing piano, writing, and reading.

Tim Kauffman

Internet Technology

B.S., Maranatha Baptist University

Joanna Harmon

Human Resources

B.S., Northland International University

Joanna has served as administrative support staff at Fourth Baptist Church and School and Central Baptist Theological Seminary since 2015. She desires to assist the next generation of servant leaders. Joanna grew up in the Netherlands as a missionary kid of CBTS alumnus Ralph Harmon and his wife Karla. She enjoys going on adventures abroad from the pyramids of Egypt, to swimming in Israel’s Dead Sea, to Austria’s salt mines. She cherishes tea time with friends and family.

Micah J. Tanis

Director of Communications

B.A., Maranatha Baptist University
M.Div., Central Baptist Theological Seminary

Micah has served as a pastor in Minnesota for ten years and enjoys shared family time with his wife, Ranae, and their four children.

Adjunct Faculty

Scott Aniol

Practical Theology

B.M., Bob Jones University, Music
M.M., Northern Illinois University
Th.M., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Scott Aniol, PhD, is President of G3 Ministries and Professor of Pastoral Theology at Grace Bible Theological Seminary. He also serves as an elder of Pray’s Mill Baptist Church in Douglasville, GA. He is a teacher of culture, worship, aesthetics, and church ministry philosophy, he lectures around the country in churches, conferences, colleges, and seminaries, and he has authored several books and dozens of articles.

Michael Riley

Systematic Theology

B.A., Bob Jones University, Bible
M.Div., Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary
Ph.D., Westminster Theological Seminary

Dr. Riley is the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Wakefield, MI.

Kirk Barger

Biblical Counseling

B.A., Grace College, Biblical Studies
M.A.M., Grace Theological Seminary
D.Min., Baptist Bible Seminary

Dr. Kirk Barger is deeply invested in both academic and practical aspects of counseling, with a particular interest in the interplay between the body, brain, and mind, especially as it relates to sanctification. He enjoys studying current issues in counseling, exploring biblical languages, and has been certified as a biblical counselor since 2002. Dr. Barger earned his Doctor of Ministry degree in biblical counseling in 2014 and has held various pastoral roles, including Equipping Pastor and Senior Pastor in Indiana, as well as serving as a missionary pastor in Norway for eight years.

Kirk has spent most of his life dedicated to ministry, which has fostered a passion for intercultural and multi-ethnic work. He and his wife Annette have been married for thirty-six years, have four married children, and three grandchildren. Outside of his professional life, Dr. Barger enjoys biking, hiking, camping, running, watching sports, and reading.

Steve Thomas

Practical Theology

B.A., Baptist Bible College, Biblical Studies
M.Div., Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary
Th.M., Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary
D.Min., Ligonier Academy

Steven Thomas has served as pastor of Huron Baptist Church in Flat Rock, Mi, since 1983. He holds the Master of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary and the Doctor of Ministry degree from Ligonier Academy.

He is a Bible expositor and displays a passion for the clear, accurate, and relevant communication of the word of God. He serves as an adjunct professor of homiletics at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Plymouth, Minnesota. He also travels annually to the Far East to help train pastors. Pastor Thomas and his wife Sheree have two daughters and six grandchildren.

Don Odens

Homiletics & Expository Preaching

B.A., Pillsbury Baptist Bible College
M.Div., Central Baptist Theological Seminary
Th.M., Central Baptist Theological Seminary
D.D., Central Baptist Theological Seminary

Dr. Odens is a retired pastor and police chaplain.

Charles McLain

Old Testament

B.A., Pillsbury Baptist Bible College
M.Div., Central Baptist Theological Seminary
Th.M., Central Baptist Theological Seminary
M.A., Dropsie College (research degree)
Ph.D., Westminster Theological Seminary

Brent Belford

Homiletics

B.A., Northland International University
M.A., Northland Graduate School
M.Div., Faith Baptist Theological Seminary
D.Min., Northland Graduate School
Ph.D., Ridley College

Dr. Belford serves as the Senior Pastor of Colonial Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, VA, and on faculty at Virginia Beach Theological Seminary.

Emmanuel Malone

Practical Theology

B.S., Southern University
M.B.S., Case Western Reserve University
M.Div., Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary
D.D., International Baptist College & Seminary

Pastor Malone was used by the Lord to plant and pastor three churches in Philadelphia and Chicago. After retiring as pastor of All Nations Baptist Church in Minneapolis, he relocated to Arizona to serve on the staff of International Baptist College & Seminary.

Jeff Brown

Missions

B.S., Ball State University
M.Div., Central Baptist Theological Seminary
Th.M., Central Baptist Theological Seminary
Ph.D., Central Baptist Theological Seminary

Dr. Brown served as a pastor and missionary church planter in Germany with Baptist Mid-Missions for over 30 years.

Bob Freiberg

Military and Civilian Chaplain Ministries

B.E.S., Saint Cloud University
M.Div., Central Baptist Theological Seminary
Th.M., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
D.Min., Talbot Seminary (BIOLA)
D.D., Central Baptist Theological Seminary

Dr. Freiberg (CDR, CHC, FMF, USN-ret.) served as a military Chaplain with the Navy, Coast Guard and Marines. His tour of duties include: Command Chaplain for the largest Chapel program in the Navy, Force Chaplain for the US Navy SEALs (SPECWARCOM), US Coast Guard, and 3 Marine tours (1 combat tour for Operation Iraqi Freedom). He has also served as an adjunct professor at Southern California Seminary for 25 years, as well as served as Administrative Dean for 3 years.

Venessa Ellen

Biblical Counseling

B.B.S., The College of Biblical Studies
M.A., The Master’s College
M.A., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Dr. Ellen is the President of Real Life Women’s Ministry, LLC. and Vice President of Expository Counseling Training Center and has been internationally recognized as a speaker, lecturer, and trainer in women’s ministry for over 25 years.

Mark Shaw

Biblical Counseling

B.A., University of South Alabama
M.A. Birmingham Theological Seminary
M.S., Florida State University
D.Min., Birmingham Theological Seminary

Dr. Mark E. Shaw serves as the Pastor of Counseling at First Baptist Church Jacksonville at Nocatee, and has been ACBC certified since 2002. He is the Founder of The Addiction Connection, a network of Commissioned Addictions Biblical Counselors (CABC) who offer the “Hope of the Gospel for the Heart of Addiction.” He has authored over twenty-five publications, including The Heart of Addiction and Understanding Temptation: The War Within Your Heart., and Destigmatizing Addiction: Hope through the Gospel.

Stuart Scott

Biblical Counseling

B.A., Columbia International University
M.Div., Grace Theological Seminary
Th.M., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
D.Min., Covenant Theological Seminary

Prior to joining the faculty at Bob Jones Seminary as Director of Biblical Counseling, Dr. Scott served on the faculty of Southern Seminary and The Master’s College and Seminary in the area of biblical counseling. He is a fellow and member of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) and serves as the executive director of the One-Eighty Counseling and Education ministry (a nonprofit ministry partnering with local churches to help equip them in soul care).

Mark Stuckey

Biblical Counseling

B.A., University of Minnesota
M.D., University of Minnesota

Dr. Stuckey served as a Staff Anesthesiologist and as Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota with 37 years of medical experience.

Rob Lillo

Missions

B.S., Western Baptist College
Th.M., Northwest Baptist Seminary
Ph.D., Central Baptist Theological Seminary

Dr. Lillo has served in Nigeria with Wycliffe Bible Translators and edited “Let’s Study NT Greek.”

Doug Bookman

Old Testament

B.A., Pillsbury Baptist Bible College
M.Div., Central Baptist Theological Seminary
Th.M., Central Baptist Theological Seminary
Th.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Dr. Bookman served on the faculty at Pillsbury, The Master’s University, and with the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry as their National Ministries Representative from 1998-2009. Currently, he is on the faculty at Shepherds Theological Seminary and serves as their Director of Public Relations.

Dr. Bookman and his wife Diane have three children and twelve grandchildren.

Daniel Berger

Biblical Counseling

B.A., Bob Jones University
M.S., Bob Jones University
M.A., Bob Jones University
D.Min., Bob Jones University

Dr. Daniel R. Berger II is the founder and director of Alethia International Ministries (AIM), where he continues to speak around the country at various conferences and ministries. He is also an experienced pastor, counselor, school administrator, and the author of numerous books on Christian counseling, practical theology, education, and the history and philosophy of the mental health construct. Daniel attended Bob Jones University and Florida International University, where he earned four degrees in counseling and theology. He is also a certified member of the International Association of Biblical Counselors (IABC). When he is not speaking, he and his wife Oriana live in Greenville, SC, with their three children.

Kraig Keck

Biblical Counseling

B.A., Northland Baptist Bible College
M.Div., Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary
D.Min. in Pastoral Counseling, Westminster Theological Seminary

Kraig has been married to his best friend, Laura, for 34 years, and they have four adult children, of whom three are married. They are Pop Pop and Grammy to one grandchild. Kraig was the editor at a Christian publishing house for almost seven years after he graduated from seminary. He pastored for 18 years in Colorado and Minnesota and then taught Biblical Counseling at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, IA for three years. Since August of 2023, he has been the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Colville, WA. He has been certified since 2005 by the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, and is presently a Fellow Candidate. Kraig is adjunct faculty at two seminaries: Central Baptist Theological Seminary since 2017 and Faith Baptist Theological Seminary since 2025.