Jim Brooks, Teaching Elder

  • I was raised in a Christian home but did not come to know Christ as Lord and Savior until my early twenties.
  • After Christ got a hold of my soul, He gave me a great gift as I married Aileen. We were still in college (Central Washington University) and were active members of Campus Crusade for Christ.
  • The Lord used our involvement with Campus Crusade to give us a desire to go into fulltime ministry. We were involved in campus ministry with Campus Crusade at Boise State University for six years.
  • While still with Campus Crusade, I attended Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, OR and completed a ThM degree in 1993.
  • The Lord called me out of Campus Crusade into the pastoral ministry. I was the solo pastor of a church in Washington for several years, then became the Teaching Elder of Fremont Evangelical Church in 2007.
  • The greatest joys I have in ministry is having the privilege to study, teach, and minister the Word of God and Christ in people’s lives. I love it when people come face-to-face with Christ in His Word and He uses it to grow and mature them in Him.
  • Some of my favorite authors are C.H. Spurgeon, Thomas Watson, Mark Dever, D.A. Carson, John MacArthur, Jerry Bridges, and Don Whitney.
  • Aileen and I have two sons: One graduated from The Master’s College and is currently serving as a pastoral intern at a church in California. He plans to attend seminary to become a pastor. The other son is currently attending the University of Nebraska (Lincoln) and is planning to major in Political Science.
  • I enjoy reading, taking drives in the country, painting (although I am not very good at it), racquetball, football (watching, not playing), and cheesy science fiction movies. I have learned a lot about farming since living here! The farmers in the church graciously humor me and let me ride with them in their big machines sometimes.
  • The one passage of Scripture that is uppermost in my mind is 2 Timothy 4:7: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. When it is all said and done, I want to look back on my life and say that I have been a faithful minister of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Chad Knudson, Leadership Development Elder

  • Chad was raised in a Christian home, but did not come to know the Lord until his early twenties.
  •  After his conversion Chad entered college at Colorado Christian University and graduated in 1999.  During his time in college God began to direct Chad toward pastoral ministry.  After college Chad enrolled at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky to continue his training as a pastor.  Chad completed his MDiv degree in 2002 and then went on and completed a ThM degree in 2004.
  • Some of Chad’s favorite authors include Tim Keller, Geerhardus Vos, Graeme Goldsworthy, Don Carson, Greg Beale, John Frame, Herman Bavinck, Cornelius Van Til and Francis Schaeffer.
  • Chad is married to Roberta and they have four sons. 

Steave Harmon, Elder

  • I am 50 years old and have been married to my wife, Ginny, for 26 years.  We met when we were both working in campus ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ.  We have four children, 2 of whom are in college and 2 still at home in high school and junior high.  I manage my family’s farm and feed cattle near Fontanelle. 
  • One of the things I enjoy most about being an elder is leading a small group Bible Study.  It’s a privilege to study God’s Word and see others grow through the study of God’s Word and their relationships with one another.  I also enjoy keeping world missions before our body.  It has been fun to see the generosity of our body as we have “adopted” 2 other congregations over the past 10 years – one in Ukraine and one in Uganda.
  • One of the most important commitments that I have is that of a personal time with the Lord every morning.  This has been what God has used to cause me to love and trust Him, as I read His Word and fellowship with Him in prayer.  I also enjoy keeping abreast of world issues by reading WORLD Magazine on a monthly basis. Please pray for us as we seek to trust in the Lord in all things and to lead well.
  • My favorite passage of Scripture is Psalm 73:25-28 as the Psalmist exalts God and shows his utter dependence on Him. “Whom have I in heaven but Thee?  And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth.  My flesh and my heart may fail;  but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  For, behold, those who are far from Thee will perish; Thou has destroyed all those who are unfaithful to Thee.  But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;  I have made the Lord God my refuge that I may tell of all Thy works.”

Larry Rasmussen, Elder

  • I was raised in a Christian home.  I accepted the Lord in my early teens at a missionary revival meeting at our country church.
  • My wife, Melinda, and I have been married for 33 years and we have 4 children. 3 are married and our youngest, Adam, is a senior at Chadron State College. Melinda was the girl next door out in the country and we married after college graduation.
  • My daily work is farming with my brother and nephew and my oldest son, Matt.
  • Through our second son’s (Mark) kidney transplant, which I donated one of my kidneys in 1981, the Lord has taught me  to trust, serve and give praise to Him who makes all things possible.  The power of prayer and the strength of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ cannot be overstated. It is a part of each day when we focus on Him.
  • I enjoy attending events of my children and their spouses and especially events of our 3 grandchildren Cade, Ava, and Julia.
  • I enjoy leading a small group where we study God’s Word and develop deeper relationships with the Lord and each other.
  • My favorite verses from the Bible are Proverbs 3:5, 6  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”