Chip Bell

Chip Bell became pastor of FBCA in 1998 with a passion to help people discover God’s grace and grow in their faith. "I was led to FBCA by the contemporary worship, the emphasis on grace, and by the church’s commitment to follow the biblical directions about what a church should be, while allowing creative freedom in the way the church’s functions are expressed in our particular culture."

Chip received his Masters of Theology in Christian Education at Dallas Theological Seminary, where he also met his wife Julie . Additionally, Chip holds degrees in History and Social Science as well as Secondary Education from San Diego Christian College.

Before they came to FBCA, Chip and Julie served as missionaries in Yugoslavia for four years. The Bells lived in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, through the time of the international economic sanctions against Serbia and the height of the Yugoslav civil war. When their son was diagnosed with autism, they returned to America to live in Dallas. Chip became the Director of Operations for East-West Ministries, a Dallas-based mission focused on evangelism, pastor training and church planting in former communist countries.

Chip’s hobbies include handyman projects, archaeology, computers, Star Trek, motorcycles/Sea-doos, and travel. Chip and Julie have four children.

To contact Chip or any of our pastors or elders, click here.

Broc Jahnke

Broc is a graduate of Oral Roberts University with an undergraduate degree in New Testament Biblical Literature and a Master of Divinity. He has served churches in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas - we think he’s migrating. He is married to Alicia and they have three children. His hobbies include sports, reading, more sports, and coaching. His favorite teams are the Seattle Seahawks and the Kansas Jayhawks (he’ll tell you the story some time of why these two teams).

To contact Broc or any of our pastors, click here.

Nate Carter

Nate Carter is the Worship & Arts Pastor, leading worship on Sunday mornings and overseeing music, media, and the arts for FBCA. Nate holds a bachelor’s degree in Contemporary Christian Music Leadership from Indiana University, as well as a bachelor’s in piano performance from the Indiana University School of Music.

"Above all else," says Nate, "my goal and passion in ministry is to help people truly encounter God in the context of worship." He enjoys using creative techniques to give people a fresh perspective on God. "Don’t expect run-of-the-mill worship services at FBCA. We try to vary things up, making use of art, video, drama, and experiential elements to bring our worship to life."

In addition to his position at the church, Nate is a freelance jazz pianist. His combo, The Carter Jackson Trio , plays throughout the Dallas metroplex at various restaurants, parties, and other events.

Nate’s hobbies include biking, cooking, reading, watching movies, swimming, being outdoors, and spending time with his wife, Melanie. He also has a great weakness for electronics, gadgets, and cars.

Nate has been on staff with FBCA since February 2006. He and his wife have been married since 2001 and live in Plano with their dog, Louie.

To contact Nate or any of our pastors or elders, click here.

Jeff Jones

Jeff Jones is the Student Ministries Pastor at FBCA, where he oversees the Jr. High and High School groups. He has been working with students as a teacher, coach, or minister since 1996. "It is my desire that all who come to the FBCA Student Ministry are encouraged to find and follow Jesus, and that they might have encounters with Him that forever change them and the world."

Jeff has a passion for life and adventure. He loves to travel and has lived in Ohio, New Jersey, California, and Texas, and he has spent three memorable summers in the Netherlands. He has gone skydiving, snowboarding, and bungee jumping, has hiked across Europe, in Alaska, and in the slot canyons of Utah, and has competed in two marathons, an adventure race, and numerous flag football and 3-on-3 basketball tournaments. He still has yet to run with the bulls or give blood. He hopes to do both, but not at the same time.

In his spare time Jeff can be found playing, listening to, or watching sports and spending time with his new wife, Ashley. He passionately cheers for the Dallas Mavericks, Ohio State Buckeyes, and New York Mets. He also loves to listen to music and has been known to travel great distances to hear one of his favorite bands, U2.

Jeff has made numerous bad decisions that leave him perfectly qualified to be a student pastor (i.e. running with scissors). Above all else, Jeff loves Jesus and students. He wishes the same for everyone he encounters.

To contact Jeff or any of our pastors or elders, click here.

Angelia Thames

Angelia Thames is the Children’s Ministry Director at Fellowship Bible Church Arapaho where she coordinates the kid’s’ programming for ages birth through 6th grade. Angelia has been married to Marc since 1994 and they have three daughters. She has been a member and volunteer in children’s and women’s ministry at FBCA since 2003. Angelia’s full-time ministry reflects a love for kids and a passion to make a difference in the life of your child. Her goal of children’s ministry at FBCA is to help kids find and follow Jesus and to serve the families of our church body and community.

“I love working with children,” Angelia says, “especially individually or in small groups where you are able to make a personal connection and have true conversation. I believe the best way to show others, including children, how to find and follow Jesus is through example and action.”

Six things that get Angelia excited when they happen:

• to see and hear your child express their faith in Jesus Christ
• to listen to your child tell me what’s happening in their life
• to hear your child pray
• to watch your child serve in the church
• to watch your child worship God
• to watch friends supporting and loving one another using Christ’s example

To contact Angelia or any of our pastors or elders, click here.

Chip Bell

Chip Bell became pastor of FBCA in 1998 with a passion to help people discover God’s grace and grow in their faith. "I was led to FBCA by the contemporary worship, the emphasis on grace, and by the church’s commitment to follow the biblical directions about what a church should be, while allowing creative freedom in the way the church’s functions are expressed in our particular culture."

Chip received his Masters of Theology in Christian Education at Dallas Theological Seminary, where he also met his wife Julie . Additionally, Chip holds degrees in History and Social Science as well as Secondary Education from Christian Heritage College.

Before serving as pastor of FBCA, Chip and Julie served as missionaries to Yugoslavia for four years. The Bells lived in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, through the time of the international economic sanctions against Serbia and the height of the Yugoslav civil war. When their son was diagnosed with autism, they returned to America to live in Dallas. Chip became the Director of Operations for East-West Ministries, a Dallas-based mission focused on evangelism, pastor training and church planting in former communist countries.

Chip’s hobbies include handyman projects, archaeology, computers, Star Trek, motorcycles/Sea-doos, and travel. Chip and Julie have four children, Barclay, Sasha, Niki, and Rebekah.

To contact Chip or any of our pastors or elders, click here.

Bill Holston

He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God? — Micah 6:8 (NAS)

Bill Holston, elder since June 1997, is an attorney by profession, practicing business law in Dallas with a small firm, Sullivan and Holston . He has led men’s Bible studies and discipleship groups for several years and currently teaches on Tuesday nights. In addition, on Sunday mornings he teaches a discussion-oriented adult class. Bill preaches 4-5 times a year and enjoys taking trips to visit prisoners with the Prison Ministry.

When asked what he loves about FBCA, Bill replied, "The thing I really appreciate about our church is the emphasis on authenticity — that this is not a place where you have to pretend to have it all together, but that we are all redeemed sinners on a spiritual journey together. At the same time we’re dedicated to teaching and studying the truth about God revealed in the Bible."

Bill is personally dedicated to the study and teaching of God’s Word, and he particularly enjoys praying with others in the body. Bill is married to his wife, Jill, a teacher for Richardson Independent School District, and together they have two boys, Will and Fred. Bill loves the out-of-doors, especially the Big Bend region of West Texas. His other interests include reading non-fiction and writing a blog on local music and the arts. Since 1997, he has been privileged to do pro bono legal work with a local non profit Human Rights Initiative of North Texas , where he has represented refugees from 18 different countries in their applications for asylum here in the United States. Bill looks forward to the day when neckties are declared illegal in this country.

To contact Bill or any of our pastors or elders, click here.

Steve Joachims

Steve and his wife Claudia first began attending Fellowship Bible Church Arapaho in 1989, and Steve joined the elder board in 2006. In addition to his duties as an elder, Steve has also served with Claudia in the children’s and youth ministries for as many years as they have attended FBCA. In recent years they have been involved in teaching and sponsoring the senior high ministry, and they have participated in numerous youth mission trips to Mexico for more than ten years. In that same vein, they aspire to participate in Serbia missions as they enter into their "empty nest" years, and one of their goals for retirement includes world travel and global missions work.

Outside of the church, Steve is a marketing veteran with a career spanning more than two decades with hardware and software developers in the computer industry. He holds a B.S. degree in computer science from the University of Tulsa.

Steve and Claudia have been married since 1981 and have two college-age daughters. Both daughters grew up at FBCA and dedicated their lives to Christ there. Steve says, "FBCA has been our home over the past twenty-plus years. This is where Claudia and I have raised our family and grown in our spiritual walk. I can’t imagine a more loving or nurturing environment to raise our two girls, and their Christ-led lives are a testament to the teaching and love that we’ve received at FBCA."

To contact Steve or any of our pastors or elders, click here.

Gary Keep

"It’s exciting to see God use our church to help people grow while we show Christ’s love to those around us!"

Gary Keep first became an elder at FBCA when Lake Highlands Bible Fellowship merged with FBCA in 1985. Since that time, Gary and his wife Betsy have had the opportunity to lead various mini churches (small groups). They meet twice each month in homes as they enjoy meals, study the Bible, pray together, and care for one another. "This really doesn’t feel like a service because through this ministry we have built friendships that are closer than family!"

In addition to mini church leadership, Betsy and Gary taught in the learning center for several years, hosted an adult Sunday School class, and Gary served on the church building committee.

Gary is an architect for learning environments with SHW Group Architects in Dallas, and he and Betsy are the parents of three great boys, now all grown and married.

When speaking of Fellowship Bible Church Arapaho, Gary says, "I really appreciate FBCA because here it’s okay to be transparent. God accepts us as we are, and it is a beautiful thing to watch Him work in the lives of the people here!"

To contact Gary or any of our pastors or elders, click here.

David Nicholson

David and his wife Cindy have been members of FBCA since 1986, and David has been on the elder board since 1991. David’s ministry involvement at FBCA has primarily involved serving in the youth ministry, leading a men’s discipleship group and co-leading a mini church with Cindy. Using his professional knowledge as a clinical and consulting psychologist in Richardson, David has also led some marriage workshops for a couple’s class at FBCA. He considers his spiritual gifts to be teaching and exhortation and willingly uses those gifts to benefit the church.

David and Cindy have been married since 1983 and have three children. David is a life-long Texan and a former college cheerleader. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt college and holds a graduate degree from NTSU.

To contact David or any of our pastors or elders, click here.

Gary Noble

Gary Noble has been an elder at Fellowship Bible Church Arapaho since 2001 and has been attending FBCA since 1996. Over the years he has served on the Men’s Ministry committee, acted as the Men’s Ministry coordinator, served as a mini church leader, and has been the chairman of the church’s "The Future is Now" campaign.

Gary has been married to his wife Karey for the last 16 years. Their daughter Keitrah and her husband Matt also attend FBCA along with Keitrah and Matt’s full-of-life son. Gary and Karey also have a son and daughter-in-law, Kirk and Tiffanee, and two beautiful granddaughters who live in Allen.

In 1983, Gary opened a general and cosmetic dental practice for children and adults in northeast Richardson. He has also acted as a Smarttravel Independent Consultant and loves traveling the world (and getting paid to do it!). He says, "Karey and I enjoy movies and keeping our grandchildren. I like fantasy football and cheering for my Mavericks, Cowboys and Rangers. It is my privilege and honor to serve this fine church as an elder."

To contact Gary or any of our pastors or elders, click here.

Joe Spencer

Joe Spencer joined the elder board along with Bill Holston in June, 1997. Joe and his wife Pegi live in the north Dallas area and have attended FBCA since the fall of 1987. They have enjoyed being part of our small group ministry from the beginning and have led a mini church since 1990. The Spencers’ three sons also enjoy being part of the student and children’s ministries at FBCA.

Joe has worked as a sign designer at Chandler Signs since 1987. Prior to getting married and moving to Dallas, he served for four years in Texas with Campus Crusade for Christ at both Sam Houston State and Rice University. He graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 1983.

Besides involvement in mini church leadership, Joe has also been part of the teaching team for the church orientation and membership class, "FBC & Me," and he co-leads a class on the basics of Christian living. He has also enjoyed taking part in the FBCA prison ministry for over a decade.

"FBCA is home for me. We have chosen to commit ourselves to this body on this corner because God doesn’t just provide His local church to minister to us. But just as importantly, He uses the church to change us through our service here. This is a great place to grow and learn to depend more on God and less on the things of this world. God’s hope does not disappoint."

To contact Joe or any of our pastors or elders, click here.

Julie Bell

Julie Bell is the part-time bookkeeper/accountant at FBCA. She is a Certified Public Accountant but has not practiced professionally since 1989 when she left her job to have a baby and move to Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). Julie has a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary, where she met her husband, Pastor Chip Bell . She and Chip have four children.

Besides being a busy mom, Julie enjoys cooking (and, unfortunately, eating!), reading, music and riding her bicycle. She also teaches an occasional class in the FBCA Fellowship Community Classroom, and is involved in the Women’s Ministry and the summer mission trips to Serbia. Julie has been on staff since October 1999.

"While making sure the debits and credits are balanced is a fun job, I especially enjoy watching new believers grow in their faith and understanding of God and the Bible, and love challenging them to a life of obedience to Jesus," says Julie.

Barb Bickford

Barb Bickford is the Office Administrator at Fellowship Bible Church Arapaho. Her main responsibility is to help free up the senior pastor’s time so he can focus on his messages and other ministry priorities. This includes managing the office and overseeing the receptionist. "I love being in the work environment at FBCA. Each staff member here (former staff members included) has had an impact on my life. Hopefully they can say the same about me."

Not only is Barb an expert multi-tasker at work, but she also masters this skill at home. She has been married to her college sweetheart, Bob, since 1989 and has three precious children. Her favorite thing in the world to do is hang out with her family. Barb also enjoys playing and watching tennis, and she hopes to see Wimbledon and the US Open live some day.

Barb holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri. She has been on staff with FBCA since October, 2003. She and her family are very active in their church, Springcreek Community Church, where her husband is the Associate Pastor. They live in north Garland with their two dogs, Dash and Princess.

Tonya Estes

Tonya is the part-time receptionist at Fellowship Bible Church Arapaho. She is the "girl Friday" and handles various tasks for the staff, including answering the phones, working on media for Sunday worship, printing brochures, and more. She really enjoys working in a Christian environment and joined the staff in June, 2007, coming to FBCA from the Song of Solomon Conferences with Tommy Nelson.

Tonya attended Missouri Southern State College. She has been married to her husband, Kirk, for 23 years. They have two daughters, Lauren and Natalie. They love to travel and spend time together. She and her family have been members of Frisco Bible Church since 1998, where they are very involved. They live in Plano with their 2 dogs, Annie and Phoebe, and a cat named Bella.

Lalla Shackelford

Lalla Shackelford has been a member of FBCA since October 1983 with her husband John and their two children, Sarah and Wesley. Originally from Glen Rose, Texas, Lalla came to know Jesus and started her Christian life at the age of 8. She graduated from Baylor University in 1972 and from Loma Linda University in 1974. John and Lalla have been married since 1970. In addition to their two children who grew up at FBCA, they have a son-in-law, JR, and a new grandson.

At FBCA, the Shackelfords have been active in mini churches (small groups) throughout the years as well as team-teaching a couples’ class on marriage issues. Lalla has coordinated the church’s Women’s Ministry since 2001. She enjoys helping people get plugged in to ministry and outreach, planning and implementing special events, and mentoring women who want to develop a deeper faith in Christ. In 2006 the Shackelfords were part of the Serbia Mission Construction Team and hope that their trip was the first of many more to come.

To contact Lalla or any of our staff, click here.

John Simms

John Simms is the Facilities Coordinator for the church property, in charge of supervising all contractors involved with the upkeep of the grounds and buildings, as well as performing routine maintenance and repair of the facilities (plumbing, electrical or remodeling).

"I have been truly blessed to be able to serve my church and church family for a living. Since I am an extrovert and love being with people, I am energized by my involvement with my church family on a daily basis. God has given me not only an awesome opportunity to be discipled but to disciple others in my position here at the church."

John enjoys being outdoors with God’s creation, taking art lessons, spending time with his wife Chris and his grown children. He and Chris also enjoy going to see and listen to their favorite folk groups at local folk venues.

John has attended FBCA since 1993, and has been on staff since December 2004. The first wedding ceremony that Pastor Chip Bell officiated at FBCA was for John and Chris!