Dan Jones
Elder, pastor
BIO . . .
Dan and his beautiful wife Soiky, from Venezuela, have been married for almsot twenty years. They moved from to New York’s Capital District in 2009. Dan loves his wife and four kids, and all those that the Lord has called together in covenant at Arise Church. As less than the least of all saints and saved by the blood of the Lamb, his greatest ambition and only desire is to be a faithful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.
BACKGROUND . . .
Growing up, my family attended a small Baptist church in Denver before moving to the mountains of Colorado where our church attendance dwindled. Without a church home or Christian mentor, I walked my own path in life without God from middle school years and though college. My mom convinced me to bring a Bible to my final year of college, which God used to draw me near to Him. After college I found a church home, where I began learning of God’s great love for me that caused Him to send His Son Jesus Christ to save me from the power, the practice, and the penalty of my sin. Having attended Dallas Seminary and graduated from Regent University (M.Div., ’08), the Lord has graciously brought me to greener pastures of true doctrine. Specifically, I love to walk in the old paths. I preach the same glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ in the same vein as JC Ryle, Charles Spurgeon, George Whitfield, and Jonathan Edwards, and I love the hymns as having good doctrine which can be trusted.
FAVORITE SCRIPTURE . . .
Behold! The Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world! –John 1:29
Randy Burgholzer
ELDER, Assistant Pastor
BIO . . .
Randy is grateful to God for 29 wonderful years of marriage to his beautiful wife Sheila. He is also overjoyed with his two grown daughters, Rachel and Anna, both of whom are serving the Lord in ministry, and his 3 year old grandson Aiden. Although just a little guy, Aiden is Randy’s best friend! Randy is a minister at heart and enjoys staying busy by serving others. In addition to Arise, you will find him leading worship services at assisted living homes, and teaching the Bible on weekly radio broadcasts. From time to time, Randy also plays drums with the Travelling Talley’s Christian band when in the Albany area.
BACKGROUND . . .
My mother brought me to church from the time I was born. At 10 years old I made the decision to give my life to the Lord Jesus Christ and to be water baptized. At age 15 I began to play the drums, as my first instrument, at the Sandy Cove Bible Conference in northeast Maryland. Music has been a constant theme in my spiritual walk and ministry to the Lord. By 1985 my music career began when I started traveling with a Christian band as bass guitarist and drummer. During that wonderful season I was baptized in the Holy Spirit and received power to serve God and live a truly victorious life. What an amazing Gift from God! Before Arise, I helped plant two churches and a Christian school. I am thankful that God is now fulfilling another dream of mine - to help plant Arise. I am excited for all the amazing things that God has planned for this new church in Albany! May God’s perfect will be done!
FAVORITE SCRIPTURE . . .
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” –Matthew 28:19-20 (Jesus Christ)