Preston Dobbins

Unite Minister

Member Since 2008

Favorites

Books: Bible, Calvin & Hobbes
Food: Pozole (a great mexican dish my Mom makes)
Movie: IP Man
TV Show: The Bachelor (Just kidding!: 24)
Musical Artist: The National
Time of day: morning
Season: Arizona’s non-existent winder!
Place in the world: New York City & any beach
Place to pray: my room
Recreational: movies, writing, basketball
Scripture: Psalm 51
Sports Team: AZ Cardinals, Phoenix Suns
Sport: basketball, football, UFC

Least Favorites

Food: Seafood
Snack food: celery
Time of day: early afternoon (2-4p)
Season: super hot summer days
Place in the world: dark alleys
Sports team: Lakers

The best thing someone said to me: it’s a boy!
My life motto: God’s my best friend, so life is great!
Three people I’d like to meet: my wife, my wife, my wife!
My Hero: Jesus
One of my greatest experiences with God: God declaring freedom over me!
One thing most people don’t know about me: Spanish was my first language

Tiffany Baker

Children’s Director

Member Since 2011

Family: Adam (Husband), Children: Zeke and Reese
When I was saved: I was saved at a very young age and always in church. It wasn’t until my early 30s that I recommitted my life to Christ and decided to do life His way.  
Formal education: Assoc. in Accounting and BS in Business Management
Previous lines of work: Automotive Accounting for 17 years and currently represent several commercial photographers. I also am an account rep for a local commercial photographer.
One of the things I find most fascinating: How the darkest of times can be so bright with God by my side.
Books: The Bible, The Shack, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren (Love the first sentence)
Food: Any form of potato, livermush (you southerners know what I’m talking about), crab cakes
Snack Food: Coffee
Movie: The Blind Side
TV Show: House Hunters
Musical Artist: Jesus Culture, Mercy Me, Casting Crowns, Tess Howie
Actor: Don’t have a favorite
Time of Day: Early morning when I have time to read and pray
Season: Winter
Place in the World: Wyoming mountains on 4-wheelers with my husband and kids
Place to Pray: My patio
Recreational Activities: Camping, swimming, biking, 4-wheeling
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17
Sports Team(s): Don’t have one
Sport: Boxing

Least Favorites
Food: Asparagus
Snack Food: Sunflower Seeds
Season: Summers
Place in the World: Las Vegas
Sports Team: Don’t Care

The best thing someone said to me: I’m proud of you and the woman you have become.
My life motto: Serve others and love as Christ does
Three people I’d Like to meet: Jesus, My Great Grandparents, An Uncle that died before I was born
My hero: My Dad! He has always been such an amazing earthly father and I have always been amazed at his unconditional love for me. If he loves me that way, WOW, how my heavenly Father must love me. I have never questioned God’s love for me because of my dad’s example.
One of my greatest experiences with God: At a worship night with a bunch of my sisters in Christ. One of my sisters has cancer and we stood around her in prayer. God’s arm was around us all as we prayed. She is now healed!
One thing most people don’t know about me: I grew up working in a shop on chassis with my dad, love to shoot guns, and ride motorcycles.

Mike Gowans

Lead Pastor

Founding Staff Member

Family: Julie (wife) and three children, Isabella, Olivia, & Michael, Jr.
When I was saved: June 1987 in Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan
Formal education: BA in Accounting, BA in Hospitality/Business & a minor in Religious Studies from Michigan State University, Victory Leadership Institute, Covenant Leadership Institute
Previous lines of work: Youth Pastor in Michigan, Lead Pastor – Every Nation, Assc Pastor – Scottsdale, Wresting Coach Hamilton High School
One of the things I find most fascinating:  My wife

Favorites

Books: The Bible, books by Ed Cole
Food: Anything home-cooked made with love
Snack Food: Fruit
Movie: Braveheart
TV Show: Fox News, 24
Musical Artist: U2
Actor: Mel Gibson
Time of Day: Anytime with my whole family
Season: Spring
Place in the World: The beach, watching sunsets
Place to Pray: My casita
Recreational Activities: Exercising, golfing
Scripture: Ephesians 3:20
Sports Team(s): Michigan State Athletics
Sport: Football and UFC

Least Favorites

Food: Fast food
Snack Food: Rice cakes
Time of Day: Any boring meeting
Season: Cloudy
Place in the World: Dirty hotel rooms
Sports Team: LA Lakers

The best thing someone said to me: I do! (Julie, my wife)
My life motto: Never stop believing!
Three people I’d Like to meet: William Wilberforce, Bono
My hero: Jesus
One of my greatest experiences with God: Having all my children
One thing most people don’t know about me: I don’t need to be the life of the party!

Israel Nelson

Executive Pastor

Staff Since: January 2011

Family: Wife and seven children
When I was saved: As early as I can remember
Formal education: None to speak of
Previous lines of work: Executive at a multi-national kingdom business that manufactured electronics and electronics components
One of the things I find most fascinating: The gospel

Favorites

Books: the red letters in the Bible:0); Mere Christianity; Mastering Change; Les Miserables; Economics in One Lesson
Food: Hot
Snack Food: Honey mustard pretzels
Movie: Chariots of Fire
TV Show: Last 5 minutes of a close game
Musical Artist: Bach
Actor: Not sure
Time of Day: Mid morning and Mid afternoon
Season: Fall and Spring
Place in the World: the Galilee
Place to Pray: the car
Recreational Activities: basketball
Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3-11
Sports Team(s): Pistons, Cardinals
Sport: Basketball

Least Favorites

Food: bland
Snack Food: pretzels (that aren’t honey-mustard)
Time of Day: 1-6AM: if I’m awake
Season: Really cold winters and really hot summers
Place in the World: The highways in China
Sports Team: Lakers

Other

The best thing someone said to me: You are a man after God’s own heart
My life motto: For me to live is Christ and to die is gain
Three people I’d Like to meet: Paul, Abraham, Moses
My hero: Jesus
One of my greatest experiences with God: When He told me He loved me
One thing most people don’t know about me: I used to write a lot of poetry (really manly stuff)

Julie Gowans

Worship Pastor

Founding Staff Member

Family: Mike (husband) and three children, Isabella, Olivia & Michael, Jr.
When I was saved: Mother’s Day, May 1980
Formal education: BA in Music from Belmont University, Studied Bible and Church Music at Johnson Bible College for 3 years, Victory Leadership Institute
Previous lines of work: Retail, marketing assistant, administrator, college minister
One of the things I find most fascinating: The perfect way God loves me and His immeasurable patience with me.

Favorites

Books: The Bible (I would be declared insane without it!), The Shack by William P. Young, Exploring Worship by Bob Sorge, anything by or about Smith Wigglesworth, Crazy Love by Francis Chan
Food: The pork chop, green beans, baby carrots with cornbread country dinner with sweet tea from Cracker Barrel, especially when I’m feeling homesick for the south!
Snack Food: Chocolate covered strawberries, Chocolate dipped pretzels
Movie: End of the Spear, Count of Monte Cristo
TV Show: Divine Design, The Office, 24
Musical Artist: Darlene Zschech
Actor: not really a movie person
Time of Day: When my husband and children hug and kiss me
Season: Spring
Place in the World: Vail, Colorado
Place to Pray: On the floor in my closet
Recreational Activities: Music, cooking, reading, interior decorating
Scripture: II Chronicles 16:9
Sports Team(s): Kentucky Wildcats basketball
Sport: Any sport my son plays!

Least Favorites

Food: Mushrooms
Snack Food: Hot dog
Time of Day: Whenever I’m running late
Season: Rainy
Place in the World: Wherever scorpions and tarantulas live
Sports Team: Louisville Cardinals

The best thing someone said to me: I forgive you.
My life motto: Live Loved.
Three people I’d Like to meet: Elisabeth Elliot, Lisa Bevere, Candice Olsen
My hero: Jesus
One of my greatest experiences with God: Missions trip to Asia in 1996.
One thing most people don’t know about me: I was held at gunpoint by a robber at a clothing store where I worked when I was 18 years old.

Eric Falkner

Director of Technology Arts

Founding Staff Member

Family: Misty (wife, married Sept 16, 2000); Christine (10), Benjamin (6), and Amie (5)
When I was saved: Saved at 8 years old but fully committed to the Lord at 21
Formal education: BS in Music Industry from Minnesota State University Moorhead
Previous lines of work: While in college I worked at a TV station doing all areas of production. After college we moved to Nashville, TN where I worked at an audio technician and then for TBN as an Engineer. In 2004 I went full time freelance doing video production for various networks (ESPN, FSN, TNT, etc) which I still do today. I split time between my church duties, video production and my website design company.
One of the things I find most fascinating: I find great fascination with any theories or thesis based in very large surveys and data.

Favorites

Books: 5000 Year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen, How to win Friends and Influence People, Strengths Based Leadership
Food: Banana Creme Pie
Snack Food: Saltines
Movie: The origitnal Star Wars trilogy, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
TV Show: 24, Chuck, Heroes, Mythbusters
Musical Artist: Lincoln Brewster, Hillsong United, New Life Worship, Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams
Actor: Nicolas Cage
Time of Day: 7pm .. That’s when I usually go on the air.
Season: Spring (Baseball)
Place in the World: The Western Montana hills, my own bed
Place to Pray: Any prayer meeting started with worship
Recreational Activities: Model Trains, Mountain Biking, Video Games
Scripture: Psalm 95:6
Sports Team(s): San Francisco Giants (World Champs baby!), San Francisco 49ers, Nashville Predators
Sport: Hockey

Least Favorites

Food: Anything with “Caserole” in the name
Snack Food: Rice Cakes
Time of Day: 3am to 10am
Season: Autumn
Place in the World: Mexico City, Mexico
Sports Team: Oakland Raiders, San Jose Sharks

The best thing someone said to me: I do.
My life motto: Do or do not, there is no try.
Three people I’d Like to meet: Glenn Beck, Joel Houston, The Apostle Peter
My hero: Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin and Thomas Paine
One of my greatest experiences with God: At a conference when He confirmed to me His purpose for worship and expanded my understanding of His desire for my worship and song writing.
One thing most people don’t know about me: When I was an early teen, I got involved with some hackers and found myself on a watch list. I thank God that I’m redeemed and can use my knowledge for good.

Our mission is to reach the Phoenix Metro area to touch the world. We look beyond our church and city so we can touch the rest of the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through:

Devotion. We value worship, prayer and the Word. Our foundation is Jesus Christ alone.

Diversity. We are a multi-ethnic, multi-generational church. Being part of Bethel is like getting a little taste of heaven on earth.

Discipleship. We are a spiritual family. As we follow Christ, we help others follow Him too. As we know Him, we make Him known.