Ministry Team:

Pastor Derek Elkins, Lead Pastor

Greeting and welcome to Bethel Church.
My name is Derek and I’m glad you’re taking a moment to become acquainted with us on our staff page.
Here’s a little about my family and myself. We’re originally from North Carolina and my wife and I have been serving in ministry since 2003. We have five beautiful girls; three of which are living with us here in Nampa.
A bit about me, I was saved at a young age, and answered the call to ministry in 2003 while attending a small independent church. In response to the call, I began attending Liberty University, where I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Religion and Biblical Counseling in 2010. Later I was ordained as an Elder in the Church of the Nazarene on the N.C. District in 2012 and have pastored churches in North Carolina, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Wyoming. I am passionate about preaching God’s word, reaching the lost, discipling God’s people, helping people in need, and seeing lives transformed by the Word of God; resulting in fully-developed followers of Christ. Here are a few things I enjoys doing: Reading, writing, hunting, hiking, kayaking, and spending time with my family and friends. I also love coffee. One of my favorite Bible passages is “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

Pastor Josh Potter, Associate

Hello I am Pastor Josh and I am thrilled to be the Associate & Mid-High Youth Pastor at Bethel Church of the Nazarene.  My wife and I have lived in Nampa since 1999, which also happens to be how long we have been married.  We have a larger family than most and our kids are awesome.  I started out in youth ministry as a volunteer at Bethel from 2000 to 2010.  I continued as the Youth Pastor at Lakeview Church of the Nazarene from 2010 to 2020.  God has proven over and over again that when we put our trust in him he will provide.  That is why I have chosen Proverbs 3:5-6 as my life scripture.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Pastor Kym Slater, Family Ministry

I am Pastor Kym. I am married to my wonderful husband, Scott, and we have two adult daughters and one finishing high school this year.  I have been on staff at Bethel Church since 2008, serving as the Early Childhood Pastor, and now the Family Ministry Pastor.  Family ministry’s purpose at Bethel Church is forming, strengthening, and discipling our church community.  Together, as the Body of Christ, we are family.  Healthy families do not happen without intentional focus and attention.  As the Family Ministry pastor, I desire to help families, whether raising their kids, the empty-nesters, the single adults, or those widowed.  My passion for families began in my first career as a social worker.  I desire to be used by God to help families be instruments of his love and grace in our world today.  Through families, we have the opportunity to share Jesus in our neighborhoods and communities.  So, here at Bethel Church, we want to invest in the health of all our families and to encourage interactions between the generations.  That we can be family together, spurring each other on to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus, bringing His hope to the world.  “Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.  My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.”  Psalm 73:26 NLT

Pastor Kaleb Harper, Children’s Ministry

Hello, my name is Pastor Kaleb and I serve as the Children’s Pastor here at Bethel. I received both my undergraduate and masters degrees from Northwest Nazarene University in Children, Youth, and Family Ministry. I love playing basketball, being outside, playing board games, and watching Disney movies. I met my beautiful wife Courtney while we served together on various mission trips, and I am so excited to have married my best friend in May of 2021! It was on these same trips where I met my wife that I accepted my call to ministry, feeling deeply burdened to serve, teach, and love children and their families. I believe children are capable of truly owning their faith, knowing they are loved by God, and being an example of Christlike love to the world. One of my favorite verses is 1 John 4:7: “Dear friends, let’s love each other, because love is from God, and everyone who loves is born from God and knows God.” 

Pastor Bob Cruthirds, Associate

Pastor Weldon Shuman, Senior Adults