Board of Directors

Jeff Bibler, President

Jeff is a lifelong Lutheran from Valparaiso, IN and a graduate of Valparaiso University. He has been an active member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (Houston, TX) since 1974 and has worked for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans since 2000. Jeff brings a wealth of leadership skills, wise insight, and superb organizational experience to the Board. In Jeff's words, "CALMS is an exciting avenue for direct, tangible participation in world missions and carrying out the Great Commission."

David Little, Legal Counsel

David has been a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (Houston, TX) for about 13 years. He has also been involved with CALMS since its inception, helping to organize it as a 501C3 organization and providing valuable legal advice throughout the past four years of growth. David writes: "God has blessed me and my family graciously, and being involved with CALMS is my way of giving something back to God. I feel that handling the legal and tax matters for CALMS allows other members to focus on the real purpose - growing the Lutheran Church in Central and Latin America."

David Reed, Board Member

David is a member of Carmel Lutheran Church (Carmel, IN). Not only is he actively involved in missions within his congregation, he also serves as a missions representative for his District. David brings a lot of experience and incredible passion to our Board. In David's words, "The primary reason that our church supports CALMS is because of the concept of missionaries training student pastors who in turn share the good news of Jesus Christ in their communities. Our church can also provide support to the pastors and churches through funding and mission visits." He goes on to say: "I enjoy serving on the Board of Directors because of the challenges involved with growing CALMS, involving other congregations, and expanding the reach of CALMS to other countries in Central America and the Caribbean.

Lori Newhouse

Lori is a member of first Immanuel Lutheran Church (Cedarburg, WI). She currently serves the congregation and its day school as development director. In addition to the funding concerns of the congregation and school, Lori's ministry area has recently been expanded to offering short-term mission opportunities to the congregation. Lori is eager to expand her congregation's partnership with CALMS to the mutual benefit of both CALMS and the members of First Immanual. "It's so important for Lutherans to participate in carrying out the Great Commission. I'm blessed to be part of extending God's kingdom in Central America."

Sue Dick

Sue Dick is a member of St John Lutheran Church (Ellisville, MO). She currently serves the congregation as a member of the board of directors and as the mission leader for the congregation's mission work in Belize. Sue owns her own medical equipment company. She has worked with CALMS' executive director, Rev. Steve Hughey, on five different research projects in the past three years. Sue leads several short-term trips to Belize every year and has a great love for the people of Belize.

Bruce Collet

Bruce is director of outreach for Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas. He has been involved with CALMS since its inception and has a wonderful outreach heart. He most recently traveled to Guatemala with CALMS to plan a mission outreach event for the summer of 2008. In the past Bruce has organized equipping events for Panama pastors to help them see new mission models in Houston. He is a great encourager and helps link his congregation's members to the many mission opportunities provided by CALMS.

Pastor Ron D Biel

Graduate from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis MO in 1969, received an MST from Iliff School of Theology in Denver CO in 1975 for Adult Christian Education. Interestingly, Pastor Biel worked as an LCMS Evangelistic Missionary in the Philippines from 1969-1978. Currently Pastor Biel is the senior Pastor at Marco Lutheran, Marco Island Florida and married with 5 adult children and 5 grandchildren. Pastor Biel has been the Director of Theological Education by Extention (TEE) for Lutheran Church in the Philippines, served twice as Circuit Counselor, once District Stewardship Board Chairman and Circuit Youth Adviser. Pastor Biel has most recently been involved with supervisory mission teams to Dominican Republic for the past two year since mission inception there. Currently, Pastor Biel holds the Circuit Outreach Chairman position with Marco congregation involved with 3 missions in circuit, and supporting of new congregation in NE Naples. When he has some free time, he enjoys golf, exercise, singing, beach and pool. His plans are to retire in May 2008.