Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
Pastoral Resident for Church Planting
Campus: All Campuses
Erik was raised in a non-Christian home in Southern California. He came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ at the age of 19 through the gospel witness of a church college group. Growing up in a multi-ethnic school and neighborhood, Erik believes that the Lord prepared him, even before his conversion, to be involved in cross-cultural ministry. His parents rented several rooms in their home to foreign students attending UCLA. Erik has always had friendships with and an interest in people from various ethnic backgrounds.
Erik has a B.A. in Christian Ministries from University of the Nations in Kona, Hawaii, and an M.Div. in Intercultural Studies from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He served with Youth With A Mission (1986-1991) as a missionary/student —ministering in several different countries in SE Asia and the South Pacific. While he was with YWAM, he met Charlotte, who became his wife in 1993. As part of his seminary training, Erik & Charlotte lived in southern India for six months, training rural pastors and researching the Gujarati people through Hindustan Bible Institute in Chennai.
Erik came to Bethlehem in 2002 with seven years of pastoral experience. He served as a youth pastor for several years in Salem, Oregon (1991-93), and he also served at Village Baptist Church in Beaverton, Oregon, as the Associate Pastor of Missions & Young Adults (1995-2000). At Village, Erik was involved in missions education, mobilization, and the leadership of two annual short-term missions trips to unreached people groups. He also offered support to the five ethnic fellowships and an International Students ministry at the church.
Before coming to Bethlehem, Erik was on staff with Delta Ministries International (Portland, Oregon). At Delta, Erik provided logistical coordination and training for church-based short-term teams ministering internationally. He has helped develop missions curriculum for both short-term teams (10 days to three months) and mid-term missionaries (four months to two years). Erik has been a Coordinator and Lecturer for the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Course.. He is currently a Doctoral candidate at Fuller Seminary. Erik & Charlotte have three daughters (Anna, Kathryn, and Clara) and live in Roseville, MN.