Local Speakers Bios
Jim Bosler
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Jim Cookman
Jim Cookman became associated with Sabbath keeping Churches of God in 1961 after listening to the World Tomorrow Radio program for several months on a station in Phoenix. Mr. Cookman was baptized in 1963, and later ordained in the early 1970's as a deacon in the Worldwide Church of God. Mr. Cookman took years of leadership and Bible training as a member of Worldwide. In the 1990's he began fellowshipping with other independent churches of God. Mr. Cookman married Betty Scudder in 1964. They have 4 children and 11 grandchildren. In the late 1990's the Cookman's began to fellowship with the Greater Phoenix Church of God. Mr. Cookman was ordained an elder in 2002 at the Feast of Tabernacles.
Keith Hoeck
Mr. Hoeck and his eight siblings were raised in the Catholic Church. As Mr. Hoeck matured, he started listening to the sermons of Mr. Garner Ted Armstrong. This influenced him to prove all things and hold fast to the truth of God. He and his wife were baptized in 1993 in Waggoner, OK. They then were blessed with three lovely girls and continued with the Church of God International. Keith then went on to learn under longtime Minister Mr. Harld Cormany. This is where he spoke his first sermonette. He is happy to be back with the Greater Phoenix Church of God where he first joined the Church of God Sabbath-based Church.
With more than two decades biblical study experience, he hopes to bring all who seek God to the clearer picture the bible paints. As a representative of the kingdom he believes we should be subject to the Lord in all areas of life. Thru speaking he also empathetically wants to help other followers set priorities and create the balance they want betwen life and God.
Ron Kearney
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James Shortridge
He was the only son of 3 children. He attended traditional christian churches as he was growing up. But those churchs always left him longing for something more. He graduated high school in 1976 and enlisted in the United States Navy in 1979 and served his country until 1987. During his time in the service he was an instructor for 3 years, lead petty officer and he received 2 honorable discharges. While in the Navy, James felt his strongest pull from the Lord to begin to prove the things about what it meant to follow Jesus Christ. Inspired by Herbert Armstrong to prove "all things", he began to study and God began to open His truth to his eyes and heart. He married his wife of 20 years, Lois and has 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls and 4 grandchildren. After marrying, he began attending the Toldeo Church of God. While moving quite a bit in his early marriage, he was baptized in 1989 in Marion, Ohio while attending the Marion Church of God. He then moved to the east coast and worshipped with Albany COG and then moved to Mesa in 1997 where he has been worshipping with Greater Phoenix COG since. He teaches our youth classes, teaches YEA classes at the Feast of Tabernacles with CEM and has been involved with men's groups with other local churches. He also serves in a men's prison ministry. His passion is to follow Jesus and encourage men to follow Him.
Bob Simpson
Baptized in 1961 and attended Worldwide Church of God for 18 years. In 1979 joined Church of God International (CGI). Coordinated Phoenix CGI for 15 years. Instrumental in founding the independent Greater Phoenix Church of God in 1996. Ordained a minister of God by Dr. David Antion in 2001.
Ed Tatom
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John Vonderhaar
I was raised in Northwest Indiana in Crown Point, Indiana. After high school, I decided to attend a church affiliated college in Big Sandy, TX called Ambassador University. In November 1988, I committed my life to Jesus Christ and was baptized. My junior year, I met my future wife, Tonya, and she was from Phoenix, Arizona. In May 1991, I graduated from Ambassador with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. After graduation, we started our life together in Phoenix, and have been happily married for over 17 years. We have two teenage children, Jim and Joycelyn. In September 2002 at the Feast of Tabernacles, I was ordained an elder. I always knew that the Bible would teach me how to live, but I didn't expect that I would have the privilege to be the one teaching from it. I enjoy giving sermons on Christian living, and filling them with as much as God's word as possible. II Timothy 3:16-17 is the key to me, and that is what I try to remember when I speak. It is God's word that has the power to change, my words don't. II Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.