Leadership
Adam Garber
Pastor, NorthSide Baptist Church
Founder and President, Baptist Ministry Training Center
Master of Ministry, Crown College — Powell, TN
Pastor Garber serves as pastor of NorthSide Baptist Church, with a ministry rooted in Acts 5:42—“They ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Called to preach at age 16, he received his theological training from Crown College and Crown Seminary. Adam and his wife Andrea began their ministry journey together in 2002 and have served faithfully across multiple churches. They now have joyfully ministered to families near Fort Hood for more than a decade.
Dan Knickerbocker
Executive Vice President, Baptist Ministry Training Center
Doctorate of Divinity — Crown College, Powell, TN
Dr. Dan Knickerbocker has served 23 years as a pastor and 25 years as an evangelist, with roles in institutions such as Crown Southwest, Norris Seminary, Fort Worth School of the Bible, and Lake Texoma Baptist Youth Camp. He now serves as Executive Vice President of the Baptist Ministry Training Center. Dan and his wife, Anne Marie, have celebrated nearly 50 years of marriage, joyfully laboring together in the work of the Lord.
Nick Leopper
Vice President, Baptist Ministry Training Center
Head of School, NorthSide Baptist Academy
Master of Biblical Studies, Education — Crown College, Powell, TN
Mr. Leopper serves as Head of School at NorthSide Baptist Academy and supports church administration and finance. He and his wife Sarah, along with their three children, joyfully serve the Lord as a family. Anchored by Deuteronomy 6:6–8, Nick is committed to teaching God's Word to the next generation.
Faculty
Jacob Balakitsis
Instructor, Baptist Ministry Training Center
Student Ministries Director, NorthSide Baptist Church
Master of Ministry — Crown College, Powell, TN
Since 2017, Jacob and his wife Darlene have joyfully served at NorthSide. As Student Ministries Director, Jacob oversees programs for ages 5–18, including Sunday School, youth group, VBS, Bible Clubs, and the Children’s Bible Broadcasts. Jacob also directs the media ministry of NorthSide Baptist Church and it’s ministries.
Clay Garber
Instructor, Baptist Ministry Training Center
Music/Assistant to the Pastor, NorthSide Baptist Church
Bachelors of Biblical Studies, Pastoral Theology — Crown College, Powell, TN
Clay serves as Assistant to the Pastor at NorthSide Baptist Church, where he directs church music, leads the secondary choir at NorthSide Baptist Academy, and oversees the Bus and youth ministries. Clay and his wife Jessica, a first-grade teacher at the Academy, are grateful to serve the Lord together.
Mrs. Andrea Garber
Instructor, Baptist Ministry Training Center
Music Coordinator, NorthSide Baptist Church
Bachelor's of Biblical Studies, Secondary Education – Crown College, Powell, TN
Andrea Garber serves as Music Coordinator at NorthSide Baptist Church, where she invests her 23 years of full-time ministry experience into leading with both depth and heart. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Biblical Studies with a focus on Secondary Education. As the wife of Pastor Adam Garber and mother to Clay, Elijah, Esther, and Riley, Andrea joyfully pours herself into the church and its music ministry.
Mrs. Anne Marie Knickerbocker
Instructor, Baptist Ministry Training Center
Ladies Ministry, NorthSide Baptist Church
Anne Marie Knickerbocker serves in the Ladies Ministry at NorthSide Baptist Church. She is the wife of Dr. Dan Knickerbocker, mother to Rebecca and Joshua, and grandmother to four. Her ministry reflects a legacy of faith and heartfelt encouragement, especially to women seeking to grow in grace and walk with Christ.
Mrs. Sarah Leopper
Instructor, Baptist Ministry Training Center
Associate Head of School, NorthSide Baptist Academy
Master of Biblical Studies, Education – Crown College, Powell, TN
Sarah Leopper serves as Associate Head of School at NorthSide Baptist Academy. She holds a Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies with a concentration in Education and brings a deep passion for nurturing young hearts. As the wife of Mr. Nick Leopper and mother to Lauren, Adam, and Henry, Sarah’s life and work are rooted in a strong commitment to Christ-centered education.
Brian Yeager
Instructor, Baptist Ministry Training Center
Central Texas Church Planting Director, NorthSide Baptist Church
Bachelor of Biblical Studies, Youth Ministry - Crown College, Powell, TN
Brian serves...
Regional Partners and Classroom Contributors
Angel Ortiz
Pastor
Pastor Angel Ortiz has led Iglesia Hispana Bautista del Norte in Killeen, Texas for over 18 years. His unique background blends 22 years of distinguished military service—including deployments in the Gulf War and the Global War on Terror—with pastoral leadership. He retired honorably as a Sergeant First Class (SFC) and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Sumit University in Louisiana. After his military career, he pursued theological studies through Faith Bible Institute and earned both a Master of Theology (Th.M.) and a Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) from Andersonville Theological Seminary in Georgia.
Archie Davis
Evangelist
Evangelist Archie L. Davis, Jr., a retired Command Sergeant Major, draws deeply from his military experience to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. He holds an Associate’s Degree in General Studies and a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology, and has committed his life to sharing the hope of Christ through evangelism.
Art George
Pastor/Church Planter
With 67 years of ministry experience—56 of those in full-time service—Art George has faithfully pastored four churches, including two successful church plants that continue to thrive today.
Dennis Terry
State Prison Outreach Director
Bro. Dennis Terry has served faithfully in ministry for many years and currently leads as the Director of Texas Prisons for Rock of Ages Prison Ministry, bringing hope and spiritual guidance to incarcerated individuals across the state.
Dr. John Collier
Pastor
Dr. John Collier served as Senior Pastor of Parkview Baptist Church in Waco, Texas for 40 years and now holds the title of Pastor Emeritus. With 63 years in ministry, he continues to serve as an evangelist, sharing the gospel across communities.
Dr. Jose Rodriguez Rivera, Th.D.
Music Minister/Assistant Church Planter
Dr. Jose Rodriguez Rivera began his ministry journey in 1987 by helping plant a church while serving in the military in Germany. Over the years, he has served as a pianist, treasurer, Sunday school teacher, assistant pastor, and missionary. In 2000, he co-founded a church in Bryan–College Station, and in 2003, he surrendered to full-time missions in Mexico, where he established five churches. In 2006, he founded the Baptist Biblical Institute Voz de Cristo, training hundreds of pastors and lay leaders. After pastoring a Hispanic church in Killeen until 2023, he now assists churches with music ministry and theological education.
Harold Pierce
Military Missionary/Church Planter
Dr. Harold Pierce holds degrees in Pastoral Theology, Religion and Counseling, and a Doctorate of Theology. He and his family have served in full-time ministry for many years, with experience in every aspect of local church life. For the past 28 years, he has focused on Military Missions—planting churches, directing a missions agency, and helping churches reach their military communities.
James Kyte
Church Planter
Following a 15-year career in the federal government, James Kyte responded to God’s call to full-time ministry. He now serves as a church planter in Leander, Texas, bringing valuable leadership and ministry experience to his work.
Kerby Campbell
Pastor/Church Planter
In 1996, Pastor Kerby Campbell founded Northwest Baptist Church in Marysville, Washington, which experienced remarkable growth over 15 years. After enduring a severe medical condition that caused years of debilitating pain, he and his wife launched Treasured Trials, a ministry born from their journey. After eight years, God miraculously healed him and called him to plant LoneStar Baptist Church in Hutto, Texas.