Faculty Profiles

Ron Cannon

• D.Min. – Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
• M.A.T.S. – World Evangelism Theological Seminary
• B.Th. – Jimmy Swaggart Bible College

Ron was raised in a solid Christian, Pentecostal home in Greenville, NC. He graduated from Jimmy Swaggart Bible College of Baton Rouge, LA in 1991 with a B.A. in World Missions. He enrolled in the M.A.T.S. program in August of 1991. While completing his master’s degree, he also served there as the Dean of Student Affairs.

After receiving his master’s degree, Ron married the former Kimberly Fenske of Paynesville, MN. Ron and Kimberly lived and ministered in Leyte, Philippines from 1994-1997. Ron served as the Chief Academic Officer at World Evangelism Bible College of the Philippines as well as the President of the Dulag Family Worship Center Foundation, Inc. Their first son, Andrew, was born in Manila in 1996.

In September of 1997, Ron and Kimberly assumed the position of senior pastors at Baywood Pentecostal Holiness Church in Fayetteville, NC. Their second son, Stephen, was born in 1998.

After serving as pastors for four years, Ron assumed the position of Vice President of Student Affairs at Messenger College in January of 2002 where he served for a year and a half. He then assumed the role of Vice President of Academic Affairs, the position which he presently holds. Ron and Kimberly’s first daughter, Rebekah, was born in 2002, and Sarah joined the family in 2004.

Ron finished his coursework toward his doctorate in February of 2005. He is currently completing his doctoral project.

Aaron Wilson

Laverna Westbay

Laverna Westbay - Associate Professor

• M.A.O.M. – University of Phoenix
• B.S. – California State University-Fresno
• B.A. – Messenger College

She has worked in the accounting profession for more than 30 years in the private and non-profit sectors.  She worked in two different CPA offices.  She worked 18½ years in accounting with a non-profit organization before relocating to Joplin to attend Messenger College.  She has worked at Messenger for three years as an accountant and for the last year and one-half as the Vice President of Business Affairs.

Laverna has taught several classes while attending Messenger, including Mathematics, College Algebra, and Introduction to Business.  She has worked with students on several business classes on an Independent Study basis, including Introduction to Business, Economics, Accounting, Business Finance, Information Systems, and Marketing.  She has also worked with students on an Independent Study basis with Children’s Ministry.

Laverna is unmarried and has no children.  She attends and is a member of a local Pentecostal Church of God.  She has been interested in Missions and has always supported Missions. 

She has often said the last place in the world she ever expected to be was Joplin, MO (where it snows!), but God brought her here and until He changes her place, here she is.  She is happy to be assisting Messenger in training and equipping students to change their world.

Keith Hendrie - Professor

• Th. D., World Evangelism Bible College & Seminary
• M.A.T.S., World Evangelism Bible College & Seminary
• M.A., (Australia)
• B.A., (Australia)
• A.A., (Australia)

Keith Hendrie was born in Australia and began his teaching career as a high school science/math teacher. He came to North America in 1975 to pursue PhD studies in science and environmental studies. While doing research in a forested area of northern Canada, God began revealing Himself to him, showing the truth of His creation using His creatures. This delivered him of his evolutionary thinking, led to his return to the Lord, and the beginning of a great thirst for Jesus.

Various roles in lay ministry and leadership include assistant pastorship, professor, leading missions trips, and a radio program. 

Keith and his wife, Maggie, have three grown children.

Andy Stump

• M.A., Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
• B.A., Messenger College

Andy was born and raised in the Joplin area and is a fourth generation Pentecostal. He is a licensed minister with the Southern Missouri District of the Pentecostal Church of God. His undergraduate studies include Crowder College which facilitated the opportunity of studying abroad at Canterbury Christ Church University in Canterbury, England for a semester in 1997.

Andy also attended Messenger College and graduated with a B.A. in Biblical Studies in 2004. Graduate level studies include Nazarene Theological Seminary and Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. While attending Messenger, Andy met his wonderful wife, Tiffanny, former Director of Admissions and 2003 graduate from Messenger College with a B.A. in Biblical Studies. On June 26, 2006, the Lord blessed them with their first child Elizabeth Anne.

Andy has been and continues to be heavily involved in his local church filling roles such as Sunday School teacher, youth minister and worship leader. Andy’s desire is to see the students that attend Messenger College come alive with a passion for God’s Word. It is his hope and prayer that students allow the Bible to shape their lives into tried and true ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Tom Tinker

• D.Min., Nazarene Theological Seminary
• C.P.E., Bethany Medical Center
• M.R.E., Nazarene Theological Seminary
• M.Div., Nazarene Theological Seminary
• B.D., Nazarene Theological Seminary
• B.A., Southern Nazarene University

Tom is from Kansas City, Kansas. He went to college in Oklahoma City where he lettered in tennis and received Bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and theology. Attending graduate school in Kansas City, Missouri, he received four more degrees in theology, education, and counseling. He also received a certificate in medical and crisis counseling.

He has written two major works in his field. First was a case study to determine the factors that attract young adults to a systematic spiritual education. The second project was a case study to determine the factors that lead a person to a particular style and place of worship, addressing elements that would cause a person to remain in this type of fellowship and not depart to worship in a different way or place.

Tom has pastored four churches in Missouri and Kansas since 1972 while being involved in many extra-curricular activities: a police chaplain, hospital chaplain, marriage and family counselor, and taught for two colleges.

He has been married for 40 years. His wife is from Orange, Texas, and is an accountant and CPA. They have two daughters who are special education teachers, both with master’s degrees. They also have a son who is a restaurant manager and insurance agent in Overland, Kansas.

Jason Bryant

·         BA American Indian Bible College, A/G

·         M.A.T. Fuller Theological Seminary

·         D.Min (Candidate) Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Jason Bryant was raised in Southern California.  He was saved at age four and filled with the Holy Spirit at age five, making him a fourth generation Pentecostal.  Along with his wife, Demetria, he has served as a missionary, staff pastor, senior pastor, and also planted a church.  His ministry has taken him as far as India and the Persian Gulf.  Jason is currently working on his D.Min degree at Gordon-Conwell Seminary, and serving as a faculty member at Messenger College.  He was ordained with the Pentecostal Church of God in October of 2008.  Jason & Demetria, along with their children live in Webb City, Missouri.

Jason has published one book, And Then the End Shall Come, which can be found at www.PublishAmerica.com.

You can read his blog at http://jeremiah2329.blogspot.com/

Lisa Qualls