Meet the Team
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Senior PastorPastor Pursley draws upon his 45+ years of pastoral experience to lead and disciple the staff of Maranatha Bible Church. Under Butch’s leadership, Maranatha has planted 5 daughter churches in neighboring communities. He serves with the elders in providing vision and direction for Maranatha Bible Church. As the senior and founding pastor for over 25 years, he is passionate about the church remaining true to biblical principles. He regularly leads courses on doctrine, keys to the establishment and expansion of the local church, and Biblical leadership. He is an effective communicator of God’s Word and is committed to an expository style of preaching.
God has used Pastor Pursley to consult with and help other churches. He currently meets monthly, one-on-one, with pastors to mentor them.
He has traveled to help train pastors in China, South Africa, India, Nepal, Mexico, Papua, Myanmar, and Brazil.
He is a graduate of Baptist Bible College and Seminary.
Pastor Pursley is very happily married for over 45 years to his best friend, Barb, an elementary teacher at Green Local Schools. Butch and Barb are the proud parents of two children and six grandchildren.
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Associate PastorBruce has been on the ministry staff at Maranatha since July 2008. He currently serves as our Associate Pastor and as an Elder.
Bruce is passionate about preaching God’s Word and mobilizing believers with the Gospel.
He is the husband to his high school sweetheart, Shoshanna, and dad to four beautiful daughters. He loves to talk theology, sports, and politics! He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Pastoral Ministry from Baptist Bible College and a master's degree in Leadership from Liberty Theological Seminary.
Bruce and his family reside in Hartville, Ohio.
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Pastor Brian Araujo, High School
Brian and his wife, Jackie, moved to Ohio in June of 2021. Brian desires to see students develop a genuine relationship with Jesus and that they would make their faith their own.
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Pastor Steve Bogran, Discipleship
Steve’s passion is to see lives changed by the gospel and to help people grow in their relationship with Jesus. He’s excited to serve as the Discipleship Pastor to help create a culture in Maranatha that equips disciples to make disciples for the glory of God.
Steve is married to his beautiful wife Jess, and they have three children: Levi, Avery, Isaiah. He loves to watch movies, play sports (especially soccer), talk/read about history, and eat great food!
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Pastor Sean Colelli, Worship
While born and raised here in Akron, Ohio, Sean comes to Maranatha from Phoenix, Arizona, along with his wife Emily and two daughters, Lilah Rose and Evangeline Grace. Sean is thrilled to be a part of the ministry here at Maranatha and desires to see people grow in their knowledge and love for Jesus through the good news of the Gospel.
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Pastor Erick Gil, Young Adult
Erick is passionate about the gospel and seeing people come to know Jesus as their savior. As the Young Adult Pastor, Erick desires to help young adults actively participate in community with each other and grow deeper in their relationship with God. Erick is married to the love of his life, Jenny, and they have two amazing daughters, Emerson and Elessi.
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Pastor Bryan Jones, Outreach and Evangelism
Bryan is passionate about serving and equipping others to take the life-changing news of the Gospel to family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. He’s excited to serve as the Outreach and Evangelism Pastor to help further develop a culture of evangelism at Maranatha that is engaging with the community to share and show the love of Christ in practical ways.
Bryan is married to his beautiful wife, Heidi, and they have three children: Jacee, Malachi, and Addie. He is passionate about the Bible, foster care, and woodworking. He loves to watch/play sports, try new foods, watch movies, and travel!
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Krista Kurcsak, Women's Ministry Director
Krista was born and raised in northeast Ohio. She and her husband, Mark, have three children, Landon, Lauren, and Lucas. Krista has attended Maranatha Bible Church since 1999 and is happy to serve as the Women’s Ministry Director. She has a passion for helping women find their place serving in the church and helping them discover God’s purpose in their lives. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family and looks forward to traveling when possible.
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Nathan K., Missions
Nathan is thankful to serve as the Pastor of Missions to help Maranatha obey the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. He strives to create a culture of missions at the church where members understand the part they play in showing the love of Christ, sharing the Gospel, making disciples, and planting churches. He is happily married to Erica, and they have four children: Arabelle, Eliza, Samuel, and Annelise.
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Pastor Stephen Poindexter, Administration
Pastor of Administration
Stephen has had the opportunity to serve in full-time ministry since 2008. Stephen and his family served overseas as missionaries on two different continents for about ten years. During their years serving in global missions, Stephen was able to be involved in a variety of church planting, disciple-making, theological education, and pastoral ministries. In 2019, the Lord led Stephen and his family to transition to pastoral ministry in the US. In 2022, God provided the opportunity for Stephen to come on staff at Maranatha. Stephen currently serves as the Director of Operations and serves the church body and staff by overseeing many of the administrative aspects of ministry at Maranatha. Stephen has a passion for preaching and teaching God’s Word, multiplying disciples, and missions, as well as equipping God’s people for more effective ministry.
Stephen has been happily married to Veronica, his beautiful bride of 20 years. God has blessed them with 4 wonderful children.
Stephen holds a Bachelor’s degree from Clarks Summit University as well as a Master’s degree from Bible Baptist Seminary.
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Shoshanna Rosa, Director of Children's Ministry
Shoshanna is passionate about impacting kids with the gospel and shepherding their young hearts to further their relationship with Christ. She has experience teaching in both public and private schools and serving, leading, and teaching in various children’s ministry roles.
She is married to her high school sweetheart, Bruce, and together they have four precious daughters – Ella, Sophia, Lydia, and Lia and one fur baby named Toto! Shoshanna enjoys spending time with her family, shopping, campfires, and the beach!
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Pastor Rob Stopp, Assimilation
Rob has been on the ministry staff since 1995 and serves as the Assimilation Pastor, helping people connect with the Maranatha family. He enjoys equipping people with the truth of God’s Word so they might grow in their faith and serve others in their time of need.
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Pastor Jacob VanEssendelft, Middle School
Coming from Long Island New York, Jacob has a passion for seeing students reach an understanding of their relationship with Christ. Jacob strives to create a fun environment where students feel safe and loved. Working with Middle Schoolers, as they are in a moldable time in their life, he wants to show them what it means to be a follower of Christ and how their faith is their own.
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Dr. Bob Weiss, Care Pastor
Bob is the Care Pastor at Maranatha Bible Church. His desire is to minister to people within a hospital context, to those who are shut-ins, within a nursing home or hospice setting, or to anyone in this troubled world searching for biblical hope for the future and for an eternal perspective based on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He finds it satisfying to remind people of God’s faithfulness to keep His promises, of His love for them, and of His gracious provision for them, both now and forever. After serving as a hospice chaplain for 12 years in IN and TX, he finds his ministry as Care Pastor at MBC extremely gratifying.