The GDAB is a family of Flourishing churches who are led by healthy pastors, cooperating together to multiply gospel growth.
Our Staff
James Risner
Associational Missionary
Home Church: Dayton Avenue BC
James serves our churches by leading GDAB staff and volunteers to accomplish our vision of encouraging pastors and equipping churches for the sake of gospel growth. In addition to leading the association, he also leads the Encouragement Team, which supports pastors with biblical counseling and convenes pastor encouragement gatherings in the Greater Dayton quadrants.
Email: missionary@gdab.org
EDUCATION + EXPERIENCE
Associate of Arts in Character Development (2001)
BA in Humanities (2005)
Master of Divinity from Southern Seminary (2006)
PhD in Systematic Theology from Southern Seminary (2013)
Serving in vocational ministry since 1999.
Taught at Boyce College for 8 years.
Serves as Chair of the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders.
Certified Master Pathfinder and Pastoral Resiliency Coach with Corpus.
Pastor of Preaching and Strategy (Interim) at Dayton Avenue BC.
LIFE & LOVES
Wife Jenny, four kids: Elijah (14), Eliana (13), Josiah (12), Abby (7).
Loves preaching, playing sports and music, studying culture, being outdoors, spending time with family.
Cameron Braun
Director of Operations
Home Church: Veritas Church
Cameron serves our churches as a key member of the ministerial leadership team, responsible for the day-to-day administration and operational oversight of the Association, including financial stewardship, ministry initiatives, office management, communication strategies, and event coordination.
Email: operations@gdab.org
EDUCATION + EXPERIENCE
Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from Cedarville University (2007)
Seventeen years as the owner and operator of The Brauns, a photography studio operated alongside his wife Mindy.
Communications and Design Lead at Veritas Church.
LIFE & LOVES
Wife Mindy and four children: Holden (15), Finley (12), Niles (5), and Marlow (deceased).
Loves design, photography, vinyl records, sports, and a good conversation with a close friend.
Plays recreational hockey and enjoys snowboarding.
Erik Spohr
Pastoral development leader
Home Church: Centerville Christian Fellowship
Erik serves our churches by providing opportunities for pastors to grow in a multitude of areas. Examples of these opportunities are relevant seminars, learning cohorts, and other equipping opportunities to strengthen pastors in biblical faithfulness.
EDUCATION + EXPERIENCE
Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies and Pastoral Leadership from Cincinnati Christian University
Master of Theological Studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Doctor of Ministry in Applied Theology from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Lead pastor at Centerville Christian Fellowship since 2011.
LIFE & LOVES
Wife Tara and four children: Jack, Anderson, Eliza, and Isabel.
Enjoys cycling and exploring new places with his family
Corey Thomas
Software Support
Home Church: University BC
Corey’s work accelerates the pursuit of our vision to encourage and equip pastors and to grow the gospel in Greater Dayton churches and neighborhoods. He does this primarily by building and maintaining the GDAB app and, as additional time permits, by being available to consult with churches regarding software support for ministry.
EDUCATION + EXPERIENCE
Worked at and started several technology companies and consulting agencies, ranging from 1-person companies to larger brands (such as Tony Robbins, Dave Ramsey, Michael Hyatt, Zappos, and TV personalities from ABC, HGTV, and the Discovery Channel)
Served as an operations pastor at a local church
Deacon and group leader at University BC
Currently working on a Masters in Biblical Studies at Redemption Seminary
Recently built a member care app for University BC
LIFE & LOVES
His wife, Krisha, and 3 children, Roman, Galilee, and Hosanna
Creating technology solutions for local churches
Michaela Garcia
Ministry Assistant
Home Church: Koinos Church
Michaela serves our churches by providing administrative services at the GDAB office. She aids in the processes that keep things running smoothly behind the scenes, and she provides a smiling face at the office.
EDUCATION + EXPERIENCE
BS in Psychology from Grand Canyon University (2022)
Active ministry at Koinos Church in Troy, Ohio since 2021
LIFE & LOVES
She loves her husband, Daniel, and their two rescue cats (Milli and Ruble).
She was born and raised as a missionary kid in Bangkok, Thailand, and she hopes to one day move back overseas to do missions.
She is also passionate about the equine assisted activity place that she is an instructor at in Piqua, teaching students with special needs how to ride and care for horses.
Joe Hoyt
Associational Resource Manager (INTERIM)
Home Church: Dayton Avenue BC
Joe has joined the GDAB team as the interim Associational Resource Manager. He will be helping by fixing the trailers and making sure they are ready to be used by all of the GDAB churches.
EDUCATION + EXPERIENCE
Graduated from Mott Community College in Flint Michigan
Industrial Electrician for 37 years with General Motors (Retired now)
Faithfully attending Dayton Avenue BC since 2021
LIFE & LOVES
His wife Sheila, three daughters, and one dog (Sadie Pearl) are big parts of his life.
He also loves spending time with his five grandkids.
He also loves University of Michigan Football, hiking, and outdoors.
Matt Williams
Moderator
Home Church: Fairborn FBC
Rollie Rench
Chair of the Personnel committee
Home Church: The Ridge Church
REagan Wagoner
Planting Team Leader
Home Church: Grace Point Fellowship
Jim Corbin
Great Commission Connector
Home Church: University BC
Ryan abbott
Chair of the budget and finance committee
Home Church: Huber Heights FBC
diana medlock
Assistant Clerk
Home Church: Miami Valley BC for the Deaf
Our Leadership
John michael Larue
Chair of the Christian Life and resolutions committee
Home Church: The Bridge Church
Our goal is two fold. To strengthen existing churches and plant new churches.
Churches want to multiply. Whether you’re passionate about international or local missions, planting or replanting churches, or revitalizing, you want to obey the Great Commission to make disciples of Jesus. A flourishing church who multiplies is a church who is shaped by the gospel and shares the gospel. Flourishing churches are led by healthy pastors.
We aim to encourage pastors and equip churches for the purpose of multiplying gospel growth.