Pastor Jeff Ables and Family
Pastor Ables grew up in Eastern Tennessee and entered the United States Air Force in 1980. While stationed in Texas, he met his wife Robin and married her in July of that same year. Pastor Ables and Robin were saved and he surrendered to the call to preach in 1984 while still in the Air Force. He and his family moved to Springfield in December of 1985 after receiving an Honorable Discharge from the military.
Before coming back to Springfield he was Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church for 11 years in Knob Noster, Missouri outside of Whiteman AFB. Pastor Ables came to Springfield to attend Baptist Bible College and graduated in 1990. While in college, he and his family attended Berean Baptist Church.
Pastor Ables and Robin have 3 children: Heather, is married to David Sikes and has one son and one daughter. Brian, is in the United States Air Force and is stationed in Maryland. Brian has two sons. Their second daughter Marie is 15 years of age.
Pastor Jeff Ables has been the pastor of Berean Baptist Church since October of 2000.
The Knutsons
Tim and Dana Knutson came to Berean Baptist Church in June of 2005. Both Tim and his wife, Dana have felt the call to ministry since an early age. Tim was saved in 1977, and answered the call to preach at 15 years of age in 1987.
Tim was in evangelism with his parents from 1987 until 2000, when he moved to Oklahoma City, OK to attend Heartland Baptist Bible College. Tim worked at Heartland Baptist Bible College during his time there and continued working another year after his graduation in 2004.
Tim is the Assistant Pastor and Music Director, overseeing the Sunday School Administration, and teaches the Homebuilders’ Sunday School class. Tim and Dana have three children: Autumn Rose, age 15, Dakotah Seth, age 8 and Katrina Breanne, age 3.
The Kanes
TJ first came to Berean as a teenager in 1999. He is a lifetime resident of southwest Missouri. TJ was saved at our Annual Outdoor Revival Meeting in 2004, after making a false profession 4 years earlier.
Over the past 8 years he has been actively involved in many areas of ministry, including children’s church, Bus ministry, serving as an usher, and helping out in various Sunday school classes.
TJ and Kristen were the first couple to be married by Pastor Ables at Berean in 2003. They have two children, Addison 3, and Seth 1.
The Prices
Brother Al and Trish Price were sent out of Berean Baptist Church on February 19, 2012 to start a new church in Naples, FL. Bro. Al was saved in May of 1986 through the ministries of Lancaster Baptist Church and Trish came to know Christ as her Saviour as a little girl. Bro. Price surrendered to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ while stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster Missouri under the leadership of Pastor Jeff Ables.
Both Al and Trish graduated from West Coast Baptist College in Lancaster California. After twenty-two years of military service, they served for seven years as pastor and pastor’s wife at Shadow Mountain Baptist Church in Phoenix Arizona before coming to Springfield.
Brother Al and Trish have two children: Genet and Sean; and three grandchildren: Brogan 6, Doug 3, and Makenzie 3.