Dr. Paul S. Brown, President Minimize

Pastor Paul Brown is a graduate of Logos Bible School (Bible Certificate), Southern Oregon State College (B.A. in History), and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div). He also received an honorary  D.Div. from California Pacific School of Theology. He has served in various ministries including Youth Pastor at Ashland Bible Church, Campus Ministries Pastor at Grace Community Church, and Associate Pastor at Heartland Community Church prior to becoming Senior Pastor of Shepherd's Community Church in 1990.  In 2007, Shepherd's Community Church merged with Heart of the Valley to form The Bridge Bible Fellowship.  Paul married Diane in September of 1985 and they have four children: Jeremiah, Hannah, Rachel, and Aaron.

Ralph Evans, Secretary Minimize

Ralph Evans has been a member of the First Baptist Church in Reseda since 1950 and subsequently a member of The Bridge Bible Fellowship since its inception.  He is currently serving as the Elder over Missions and also serves as secretary on the Board of Directors for ‘Shepherding the Nations.’

Ralph’s educational history includes: graduating from Pepperdine University with a Masters of Public Administration, teaching at the University of Redlands, the University of Phoenix, Santa Monica College, Valley College, and Pasadena College.   His vocational history includes: Patrol Officer with the Los Angeles Police Department and then Department Chaplain with same.  He retired in 1981.  His lovely bride is Joyce and together they have 3 grown children - Gregory, Cheryl, and Erin.

Jerry Bruno, Jr. Minimize

Jerry has resided in the San Fernando Valley his entire life.  Raised in the Lutheran Church, he was saved in 1983 while attending Calvary Community Church of Westlake Village, California.  He began to attend Shepherds Evangelical Free Church, pastored by Paul Brown, in 1991.  He and his wife Cindy (of 22 years) are blessed with an adult daughter and two others in high school.  Jerry graduated from CSUN/Business Degree and from California Lutheran University/Masters in Business Administration.  His vocational calling has been in the real estate industry since 1984, and he is in the process of starting an international trading company.  He has served in different layperson ministries over the years and he went on his first mission trip to Baja California in 2007.  He now serves with the Missions Team at The Bridge Bible Fellowship.

Mark Clark

Bio coming soon...

Abraham Kumar Minimize
Born to Christian parents, Abraham had the opportunity to hear the Gospel at an early age. His mother read to him the Bible from Genesis to Revelation every day and by the age of 4 he was able to read through the Bible. Abraham was led to the Lord by his mother at the age of 2 ½ years. At the age of 10 he received the diploma in India Classical music. At the age of 14 he received a diploma in western classical music in Piano and Violin from Oxford. He was awarded as best musician child prodigy among the six South Asian Countries in 1993. He witnessed in the waters of baptism at the age of 14. With a clear leading from the Lord, Abraham migrated to the USA at the age of 19. It took a couple of years to complete his degree in Computer Information and Sciences and had the honor to speak at the graduation ceremony attended by 7,000 people. Along with his job as a CEO of a company, Abraham is the worship leader in his church and helps STN International as a board member. He has produced two CDs and two Cassettes. He has a wide experience in traveling around the world visiting over 20 countries and is expertise in the fields of administration, art, and music.
Ryder Kumar, International Director Minimize
Ryder was born in the city of Hyderabad (South India). At the age of 17 he received a clear call of God that led him to North India as a missionary. His initial training in ministry was with Operation Mobilization and the ship Logos I. His first opportunities to be a witness abroad came in several countries of South East Asia. After successfully completing the training, at the age of 21, Ryder received an invitation from a local church to join the pastoral ministry in North India. In 17 years of ministry there, he saw several churches planted in North India which are still growing and multiplying. He labored in nearly a dozen states of India, and he has preached and taught in England, Canada, the United States, South East Asia and the Middle East.  
 
Ryder holds two M.Div. degrees—one from India and one from the USA. He has vast experience preaching, teaching and church planting in cross-cultural, international and interracial environments. Ryder is currently pastor of East West Community Church San Fernando Valley in Southern California. His wife, Flory, is a member of his team in short-term missions abroad and is actively involved in the local church ministry. Ryder’s late wife, Enid, worked for a time at L’Abri with Francis Schaefer and labored as a vital part of church ministry in India and the USA. Their son, Abraham, is a gifted musician who serves in the ministry and is a senior executive for three companies.

 Ryder speaks in churches, conferences, and seminars.

Randy Leinen Minimize

Randy has served as a teacher, discipleship group leader and elder at The Bridge Bible Fellowship (formerly Shepherd's Community Church) since 1994. He currently serves as Pastor of Discipleship Ministries. Randy has traveled to India twice on Shepherding the Nations short term missions trips and has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to teach the Bible to native pastors there.

Randy received his Bachelors in Bible from Multnomah School of the Bible in Portland, OR and his Teaching Credential and Math Minor from Western Oregon State University in Monmouth, OR. He has worked in the technology field as a programmer and business software solutions web engineer for almost 20 years. He is currently working as a controller in a small surveying company. Randy married Susan in 1985 and they have two boys, Tim and Joe.

Duane Ulrich Minimize

Duane was Reborn in July 1942, into God's family and eternal life by God's grace alone, through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Raised on a farm in Kansas, he graduated from Washburn University, BS in 1953, in Physics and then served in the USAF as an Airborne Electronics Officer during the Korean War. He spent the next 44 years in various project management positions in aerospace engineering.

By God's grace, he has served in various Christian church and missions support ministries throughout his adult life. Now retired, he spends his time working with the Missions Team, Sunday School teaching, Discipleship Group leadership and the STN Board. Duane and his wife, Janet, have been married since June, 1956, and have four children, two of which went to be with the Lord as young adults.

Michael Vos Minimize

Mike grew up in the commercial printing and direct marketing service industry in a third-generation family firm, All Mailing Service, where his formal career began in 1971.  At the age of 21, he began to run the firm growing it from approximately 30 employees to over 200.  In 1986, he started his own direct marketing company, Mail-Pac, where he grew the company to well over 200 employees before selling it in 1995 with a vision to create a new service model in Synergy 2000, Inc.   

Mike has also served as

Western Region Board Chairman of Fellowship for Companies for Christ International (FCCI) ministries.

Introducing our Administrative Team
Diane Brown Minimize

Diane Brown is the wife of Pastor Paul Brown and has been his ministry partner and ‘good thing’ (Proverbs 18:22) for 23 years.  They have 4 great kids: Jeremiah 22, Hannah 20, Rachel 18, and Aaron 16.
 
In addition to her first priorities of wife and mommy, Diane has thoroughly enjoyed using her spiritual gifts of leadership and administration in a plethora of ministries throughout the church including women’s events, Vacation Bible School, banquets, all church events, and most recently as part of the Management Advisory Board of Shepherding the Nations.  
 
Over the years, Diane has had numerous and fantastic opportunities given by the Lord to travel overseas and share the gospel.  In her early twenties she traveled to the Philippines, England, and Brazil with a singing group called the ‘Certain Sounds.’  More recently she had the opportunity to return to the Philippines with her entire family.  A trip to India with Paul, Randy & Susan Leinen, and Ryder & Flory Kumar in 2007 sparked a love and burden for the Indian people.  Being a professional singer has also given her many occasions to cross culturally share the love of Jesus through song.
Susan Leinen Minimize

Susan serves alongside of Randy in ministry at The Bridge Bible Fellowship. She enjoys leading discipleship groups and helping with graphic design as needed. Susan traveled with Randy on two short-term mission trips to India with Shepherding the Nations. This life-changing experience has given Susan a whole new love for both teaching God's Word to the pastor's wives and reaching the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Susan homeschooled both of her boys, Tim and Joe for nine years. The family and home continue to be Susan's main ministry, focus and joy.  

Carrie Carmichael Minimize

Carrie has known Christ as her Lord and Savior since 1975. Over the years, Carrie has taught God’s Word to all different ages, children through adults, and has served in various areas pertaining to missions. In addition to discipling women, Carrie also currently serves on the college ministry staff. She has been a part of The Bridge Bible Fellowship administrative staff since 2001 (formerly Shepherd’s Community Church). Carrie currently provides administrative assistance to Pastor Paul Brown and Pastor Patrick Carmichael. She also provides administrative support for Shepherding the Nations, the church website and student ministries.


She loves spending time with her family, reading, listening to music, doing just about anything outdoors, and raising guide dogs for the blind. Carrie has two grown children, Courtney and Patrick. Courtney is an oncology nurse practitioner and serves in the Children's Ministry at her church in Simi Valley. Patrick is the Pastor of Student Ministries at TBBF. He is also a recent graduate of The Master's Seminary and is married to his lovely wife, Hannah.

Flory Kumar Minimize

Flory hails from the city of Mumbai in central India. She made a commitment to Christ in the year 1993 from a staunch Roman Catholic background. She was instrumental in establishing a school with biblical values and served as a supervisor for 11 years. She was actively involved in sharing the gospel among Naval families and civilians, adult literacy, and slums of Mumbai city. She ministered among the ladies in the hostels, bank staff and hospitals through Bible studies and prayers.

Married to Ryder in 2005 she moved to the USA and presently serves along with her husband in the local church among the ladies and children. She supports actively in the ministry of STN by being on the team with her husband and went to two short term mission trips. Among the other activities, she faithfully cares for her home and family responsibilities and  she is also a part of the ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship.

Tammy Werth Minimize

Tammy Werth was born here in sunny Southern California and has made the San Fernando Valley her home for the last 25 years. The Lord starting drawing Tammy into a relationship with Him as an adult.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Cor 5:17)  When Tammy stopped living for herself and asked Jesus to be her Savior the transformation into a new creature was completely evident.  In 1988, Tammy began working as a bookkeeper and then as office manager for the accounting firm Montgomery, Glick and Company. It was there she developed a love of numbers.  Tammy became a member of HVCC in 2000 and the Lord called her in 2002 from the secular world to serve the church full time, with her organizational and accounting skills. She is currently works in the Business Office at the Bridge Bible Fellowship and helps the staff with many technical issues. Her most important job is being mom to her wonderful daughter, Beverly.  She has a passion for God and loves and ministers in our youth group. Her favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.