Officers and Board of Directors

Officers

Greg Pruett, PhD

Greg Pruett, PhD

President, Pioneer Bible Translators; Author, Extreme Prayer

Jeff Wilhoit

Jeff Wilhoit

Executive Vice President, Pioneer Bible Translators

JR Bucklew

JR Bucklew

Chief Advancement Officer, Pioneer Bible Translators

Scott Graves

Scott Graves

Personnel Officer, Pioneer Bible Translators

Anthony Parker, PhD

Anthony Parker, PhD

Global Partnerships Officer, Pioneer Bible Translators

Clare Smitham

Clare Smitham

Chief Legal Officer, Pioneer Bible Translators

Clint Stringer

Clint Stringer

Chief Financial Officer, Pioneer Bible Translators

Brad Willits, PhD

Brad Willits, PhD

Field Ministries Officer, Pioneer Bible Translators

Board Members

Mike Chambers, PhD

Mike Chambers, PhD

Acting Chairman of the Board

Mike joined the Board of Directors in 1994. He holds a B.A. in Missions from Lincoln Christian College, M.A. and M.Div. degrees from Lincoln Christian Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Ancient Philosophy from Warnborough University. Dr. Chambers first learned about Pioneer Bible from Rondal Smith, President Emeritus. He was compelled to be part of the board due to his interest in missions and biblical languages.

Janet Hayes

Janet Hayes

Corporate Secretary

Janet joined the Board of Directors in 1985. She holds a master’s degree from Johnson Bible College. She currently works for Home Healthcare in Tyler, TX.  

Dick Jorgensen

Dick Jorgensen

Corporate Treasurer

Dick joined the Board of Directors in 1982. He holds a B.A. from Lincoln Christian College and a B.D. from Lincoln Christian Seminary. Dick has served as a minister for several churches and an administrator for various Christian colleges.

Greg Pruett, PhD

Greg Pruett, PhD

President, Pioneer Bible Translators

Greg Pruett has been President of Pioneer Bible Translators since January 2007. He and his wife Rebecca, along with their three children, lived in West Africa for more than 12 years, where they completed a translation of the entire Bible into the Yalunka language. Greg holds a Masters and a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary and a degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University. Tyndale House published Greg’s first book, Extreme Prayer: The Impossible Prayers God Promises to Answer, in 2014.

Mike Armstrong

Mike Armstrong

Board Member

Mike joined the Board of Directors in 2015. He holds a B.A. in New Testament Theology from Ozark Christian College and a M.Ed. in Counseling from the University of Arkansas. He has worked primarily in campus ministry, including serving three terms as President of the Association of College Ministries. He admires Pioneer Bible’s “vision and commitment of the ministry and those who have given themselves to its purpose” and believes that this vision intersects with his life’s work.  

Bill Bourland

Bill Bourland

Board Member

Bill joined the Board of Directors in 2008. He holds a B.S. in Mass Communication and Business from Abilene Christian University. He has spent his career in broadcasting, marketing, and as a video writer and producer. Bill wanted to be part of the board due to his passion for Pioneer Bible’s mission as well as his personal connection to several staff members.  

Jerry Chubb

Jerry Chubb

Board Member

Clif Davis

Clif Davis

Board Member

Tom Ewald, PhD

Tom Ewald, PhD

Board Member

Tom joined the Board of Directors in 1984. He holds a B.A. from Lincoln Christian College, M.A. and M.Div. degrees from Lincoln Christian Seminary, and a M.S. in Educational Psychology from Indiana University. Upon his retirement from teaching career in 2010, he was granted a D.Div. from Lincoln Christian University. Dr. Ewald joined the board because he was impressed with Pioneer Bible’s commitment to “work on the cutting edge of world evangelism.”

Doyle Jennings

Doyle Jennings

Board Member

Doyle joined the Board of Directors in 2014. He holds degrees in physics and mathematics from Abilene Christian University. Doyle has worked for Unysis and Oak Hills Church, where he oversaw technology and facility management. 

Susan Jennings, PhD

Susan Jennings, PhD

Board Member

Susan joined the Board of Directors in 2014. She holds a B.A. from UTSA, a M.A. from Trinity University, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Texas.  Dr. Jennings has served as a licensed psychologist for over 30 years.

Patricia Magness, PhD

Patricia Magness, PhD

Board Member

Pat joined the Board of Directors in 1987. She holds a B.A. in English from Milligan, a M.A. in English from Vanderbilt in English, and a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies from Emory. She taught at numerous schools and colleges in her career.  Dr. Magness joined the board with “the desire that people have Scripture in their own heart language, their own mother tongue.”

Jonathan Ott

Jonathan Ott

Board Member

Jonathan joined the Board of Directors in 2018. He and his wife Stephanie have been married twenty-two years and have two children: daughter Elise and son Ian. His favorite verses are Galatians 2:20 and Colossians 1:29. Jonathan currently serves on the deacon board at Faith Bible Church in DeSoto, Texas, with Stephanie in their AWANA program, and in Bible Study Fellowship’s children’s program. After graduating from Texas A&M University, Jonathan’s work experience was in IT management until returning to his family’s electronics contract manufacturing business. After hours, Jonathan enjoys remodeling, spending time outdoors, tech, and listening to audiobooks.

Bridget Schnautz

Bridget Schnautz

Board Member

Bridget joined the Board of Directors in 1997. She holds a B.A. from Lincoln Christian University and has worked primarily in human resources. Bridget wanted to be part of the board because “Pioneer Bible’s mission has always been at the very heart of what God expects of us and I wanted to be a part of it.”  

Jack Straus

Jack Straus

Board Member

Paul Turner

Paul Turner

Board Member

Paul joined the board in November of 2020 after having been a friend of PBT for nearly 20 years.  Through personal relationships with institutions such as Atlanta Christian College (Point University), Milligan College, Savannah Christian Church, and Compass Christian Church, he learned of the work being done by PBT and became personally involved through Compass.  Paul holds a Business Management degree from Berry College, and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. He has worked in the Mortgage Industry with two major banks for over 25 years.  Paul has been married to his wife Jennifer since 2002. They have a son, Alexander (Xander).

Our Mission

Pioneer Bible Translators exists to disciple the Bibleless, mobilizing God’s people to provide enduring access to God’s Word.

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