Faculty and Staff

Instructors

Forest Antemesaris has been the minister for the Orange Street church of Christ in Auburndale, Florida, since January 2022. Before this, he served as the associate minister at Orange Street and prior to that as the university minister for the Finger (Tennessee) church of Christ. He received formal education from Florida School of Preaching (2016 graduate), Freed-Hardeman University (BS, 2019), and is presently working toward a master’s degree in apologetics from Liberty University. He was a professed atheist before meeting Lori, who was instrumental in his conversion and later became his wife in 2018. He speaks at youth events and lectureships and also participates in several podcasts and social media events promoting God’s word. He teaches Bible and Bible related subjects.

Stephen C. Atnip earned a BA, an MA, an MDiv in Bible, and completed his PhD in New Testament (August 2021) from Amridge University. He also graduated from the Bear Valley Bible Institute (1975). He has served as Principal, Black Creek Christian School and is the current preacher for the Black Creek church of Christ in Middleburg, FL. He teaches Bible and Bible related subjects.

Bob Bauer has attended both the University of Cincinnati and the Florida School of Preaching. He has preached for congregations in Florida for the past ten years and is currently working with the Orange Street congregation in Auburndale. Bob has been involved in mission campaigns to Ghana, West Africa since 1990 and has also done radio work. He currently writes a religious column for the local newspaper. He teaches Bible and Bible-related subject.

George Beals received formal education from Northeastern University (associate in electronic engineering technology), University of New Hampshire (BA in ancient Greek and Latin), University of Michigan (MA in Near Eastern studies), and Preston Road School of Preaching (1971 graduate). He has served churches of Christ as an evangelist and Bible teacher in Texas, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Massachusetts. He has directed the Michigan Bible Lectureship since it began and cofounded the Michigan Bible School. He has written books dealing with hermeneutics and Christian evidences, and he has held public debates. He teaches hermeneutics and logic.

Bruce Daugherty has been preaching for the Beville Road church of Christ in Daytona Beach, Florida, since November 2011. He previously worked with this congregation from 1990 to 2000, having preached for the Tenth Street and Clairmont Avenue church of Christ in Cam-bridge, Ohio, between his two tenures at Beville Road. He served as a missionary in Cervignano, Italy, from 1983 to 1990. He received his formal education from Freed-Hardeman University (BA, 1981) and Harding Graduate School of Religion (MA in church history, 2006). He also served on the faculty of the West Virginia School of Preaching from 2001 to 2011. He teaches Bible and Bible related subjects.

Steven Ford is a native of Detroit, Michigan. He began preaching in 2004 and worked with two congregations in Detroit both with youth and in the pulpit. Steven is a 2013 graduate of the Memphis School of Preaching. Upon graduation, he began preaching for the Highway church of Christ in Benton, Arkansas, where he served for 11 years. In July 2024, the Ford family moved to Florida and began working with the South Florida Avenue congregation. Steven and his wife Carlisa have been married nearly 20 years and have two daughters: Savannah and Summer.

Mike Elledge has been preaching for the church of Christ at Highway 30 in Guyton, Georgia, since 2019. Prior to this he served churches of Christ in California and Florida. He attended Central Michigan University (1980-1981) and Santa Fe Community College (1997-1998). He is a 1995 graduate of the Florida School of Preaching. He taught with FSOP from 2002-2016 and returned to teach again in Fall 2023. He also taught with Georgia School of Preaching (Warner Robbins campus) from 2021-2023. He has done radio preaching and has conducted gospel meetings. He also worked extensively with a local church in Central Florida to unify brethren of different ethnicities. His passion is sharing the gospel with the addicted community, which he has done for thirty years. He and his wife, Nicole, have two children.

Hiram Kemp has been preaching for the Lehman Avenue church of Christ in Bowling Green, Kentucky, since September 2021. Before this, he served with the South Florida Avenue church of Christ in Lakeland, Florida. He received formal education from Bethune Cookman University (BS in criminal justice, 2011), Nova Southeastern University (MS in reading education, 2014), the Florida School of Preaching (2016 graduate), Freed-Hardeman University Graduate School of Theology (MA, 2019), and is currently working on a PhD in Old Testament from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He teaches Bible and Bible related subjects.

Brian R. Kenyon is a graduate of the Florida School of Preaching, 1991, and has an A.S. degree from the Florida Institute of Technology, 1984. He has three degrees from Freed-Hardeman University. In 1993, he received an M.A. in New Testament. Brian has worked with churches in New Iberia, LA, North Jackson Church of Christ, Bartow, FL, Enville Church of Christ, Enville, TN and Friendship Church of Christ, TN. Brian has also worked on Campaigns in Scotland, Ghana and Jamaica. He teaches Bible, Greek and Bible-related subjects.

Kevin Patterson has been preaching for the Sebring Parkway church of Christ in Sebring, Florida since 2012. He has served churches of Christ in Texas, Kansas, Missouri, and Florida. He received formal education from Abilene Christian University (BA, 1991) and has done graduate studies at Oklahoma Christian University. He taught at the Great Plains Bible College in Wichita, Kansas, and served as an instructor for the Bible Institute of Missouri, a two-year preacher training school in Springfield. He teaches English, Bible, and Bible related subjects.

Jason E. Ridgeway has been preaching for the Wesconnett church of Christ since 2019. Since 1991, he has served churches of Christ in Tennessee, Ohio, and West Virginia. He received formal education from West Virginia School of Preaching (1996 graduate) and University of Rio Grande, Ohio (BA in economics, 2006). He has been on several mission trips to Costa Rica and he has worked with Christian Bible camps in Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Tennessee, and Georgia. He and his wife, Cynthia, have two children. He teaches Bible and Bible related subjects.

Daniel Stearsman is a graduate of Hillsborough Community College (AA), Amridge University (BA in Biblical Studies), University of South Florida College of Medicine (MA in Bioethics and Medical Humanities), Bear Valley Bible Institute (Master of Biblical Studies), and the University of Florida College of Pharmacy (Doctor of Pharmacy). Daniel currently preaches for the Warner Robbins (Georgia) church of Christ. He has also served Florida churches of Christ in Okeechobee, Zephyrhills, and Auburndale (Orange Street). He has been on multiple campaigns to Ghana, West Africa. He has taught Clinical Ethics in the College of Medicine at the University of South Florida, Tampa. He teaches Bible-related subjects.

Susan Stearsman has been teaching Bible classes in the churches of Christ since she was fifteen. She holds a BA in Music from the University of Michigan (1993), and an MBA in Finance from Babson Graduate School (1995). She has worked for more than 25 years in the research enterprise of universities and academic medical centers, and is currently the Associate Vice Provost for Research at Baylor University. She teaches the FSOP Ladies’ Class.

Ted Wheeler graduated from the Florida School of Preaching in 1984. Following graduation, Ted and his family moved to Ghana, West Africa, where worked for the next five years. During this time they were involved in building up existing congregations, establishing new congregations in rural areas, and Ted also served as an instructor at the National Bible Institute, a preacher training school, in Accra. Since 1989, Ted has served as the minister for the church in Venice and has continued to conduct annual campaigns to Ghana. Ted has also helped in Costa Rica, Haiti, Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal, Togo and Tanzania. He teaches Missions, Computers and Bible related subjects. Ted also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors.