Lake Bible Church - Meet Our Staff

Pastors - Directors - Administration

Jim Andrews, Senior Pastor

Jim Andrews After graduating from seminary, Jim served for seven years at small church in his home state of West Virginia. The next 21 years were spent teaching at Western Bible College (Denver) and Western Seminary (Portland) where he headed the divisions of ministerial studies at both schools. Jim received his B.A. in Journalism at West Virginia Tech, a Th.M in New Testament at Dallas Theological Seminary and an M.A. in Classics at the University of Colorado.

Jim accepted the responsibilities of Senior Pastor at Lake in 1990 when the church was then meeting at Wilsonville. He and his wife, Olsie, have two daughters, Kristi and Juli, both married.

Though some think of Jim as a cerebral preacher, he is not your typical academic. True to his down-to-earth "country roots," he comes to the pulpit with a dead-on, look-you-in-the-eye, tell-it-like-it is prophetic style that never hesitates to go toe-to-toe with the conscience. As he himself describes his preaching philosophy, he strives in the pulpit "to herd biblical truth and the issues of life into violent collision at the intersections of the mind and heart." Jim models that old adage that sees the preacher's job as "comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable." He candidly explains that his ministry is not for "navel gazers, but for star gazers."

"My pulpit" he emphasizes, "is for those who are seeking to look up, to study God, to know Him, to understand His ways and His will and then to do it."

Contact information: >503.699.9840 (ext. 202) or jima@lakebiblechurch.com.

John Dotson, Associate Senior Pastor

As Lake’s Associate Senior Pastor, John Dotson has a plethora of responsibilities supporting the various ministry of the church which center on church unity.

John has been married to Kristi since 1985. The Dotsons have two children, Alex and Ashley.

Like Jim Andrews, John is from West Virginia. He has received a Bachelor of Arts from Marshall University and Masters of Divinity from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, Portland Oregon.

John has served as a Pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Portland, Hillyard Baptist Church in Spokane, Washington, Administrator of Fourth Memorial Church, Spokane, Adjunct Professor of Moody Northwest, Spokane, Washington and Chaplain of Gonzaga University, Spokane all of which have spanned twenty-five years of serving Jesus Christ.

Contact information: 503.699.9840 (ext. 219) or johnd@lakebiblechurch.com

Joel Daniel Smith, Pastor of Children's Ministries

"It is my vision to have each child graduate from Lake Bible Church's fifth grade with a desire to know and love God."

In Deuteronomy 6:5-7, we are told to love God with all of our heart, soul and strength. We are to impress God's commandments upon our children and to talk about them when we sit at home. This continues to guide him as it was through the blessing of godly parents and a CEF five-day club that he placed his faith in Jesus Christ. These verses express his and the staff's desire in the Children's Education department as they recruit, encourage and train teachers. Along with planning programs for Sunday classes and special events, these verses uphold AWANA, Mom's Morning Out and the Nursery.

Joel was born in Maryland, but as a child of a military officer lived in six different states. He considers, since his last home was in Oklahoma, that he is an "Okie".

Since 1993, Joel has served full time in children's ministry which has ranged from youth-at-risk in Indianapolis to teaching and missionary service in Russia. His travels continued throughout North America with the Children's Institute as a team leader and logistics coordinator. He has also written curriculum designed to teach character in elementary schools.

Joel married our former Children’s Ministry Director, Melinda Reid. They have combined each of their heart’s desire for children’s ministry into one and now have five children of their own to minister to: Joel (“JD”), Milee-Kate, Avi, Tucker and Corban. If you would like to know more about our Children’s Ministry, please contact Joel at 503.699.9840 (ext. 205) or joels@lakebiblechurch.com

Jonathan Thompson, Pastor of Youth Ministries

Jonathon Thompson Jonathan pastors Lake’s Youth Ministries. Jonathan and his wife Kristin have a daughter, Susannah Joy, who was born in June of 2008.

Jonathan is graduate of Multnomah Bible College with a Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Theology. Jonathan has previously been an Associate Program Director for the Portland YMCA and has served as a Pastoral Intern at Sunset Presbyterian Church, Beaverton, Oregon for two years.

Jonathan accepted his calling to be a Pastor of Youth at Lake on November 1^st, 2006, and leads and disciples the youth of Lake to embrace a fervent following and commitment to Jesus Christ.

Contact information: 503.699.9840 (ext. 206) or jonathant@lakebiblechurch.com

Paul Featherstone, Pastor of Worship Ministries

Paul Featherstone was raised in Salem, Oregon and is married to Krista Featherstone, a native of Spokane, Washington. Paul and Krista have three children, Avery Rose (7), Claire Eileen (5) and Cole Patrick (3). The family enjoys fishing, hunting, camping and going to the park. Krista is a musician and enjoys singing and playing her trumpet. Their children “love being children and enjoy being chased by their parents.”

Paul has a BA from Western Washington University in musical composition and violin performance, with an emphasis in orchestral conducting, as well as a Masters in Music with a Major in musical composition from SUNY Stony Brook in New York. He did post graduate studies at The Julliard School in New York and is currently working on his Masters of Divinity at Western Seminary here in Portland.

Paul led worship as Music Director for Dix Hills Evangelical Free Church from 1996 until 2002. From 2002 to 2005 he was Pastor of Worship, Prayer and Assimilation at Trinity Bible Church, leaving there to be Pastor of Worship (2005-2007), Interim Senior Pastor (2007-2008) and Pastor of Worship and Administration (2008-2009) at Fourth Memorial Church in Spokane.