Maranatha Bible Missionary Conference, Vacation & Retreat Center

Mike Fabarez - Week Five
2026-07-25 - 2026-08-01 | Maranatha, 4759 Lake Harbor Road, Norton Shores, MI, 49441, United States
Dr. Mike Fabarez is the founding pastor of Compass Bible Church in Aliso Viejo, California and has been in pastoral ministry for over 40 years. He is committed to clearly communicating God’s word verse-by-verse and encourages his listeners to apply what they have learned to their daily lives. He is also the President of Compass Bible Institute, at which he is also a professor, and recently launched Compass Press.
Mike and his wife Carlynn grew up in Long Beach, California, attending high school together and then the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Pastor Mike graduated from Moody with a Bachelor’s degree in Bible and Theology. Mike and Carlynn also attended the University of Arizona with Carlynn receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Education. Pastor Mike earned his Master’s Degree from Talbot School of Theology and a Doctorate from Westminster Theological Seminary in California.
Mike is heard on hundreds of radio programs across the country on the Focal Point radio program and has authored several books, including Envy, 10 Mistakes People Make About Heaven, Hell and the Afterlife, Raising Men Not Boys, Lifelines for Tough Times, Preaching That Changes Lives, Getting It Right, Praying for Sunday, and Why the Bible?
Carlynn and Mike have three adult children – Matthew, John and Stephanie, and have six grandchildren.

Mission of the week:

Crossroads Prison Ministry
Crossroads connects people in prisons with mentors from churches to develop Christ-centered relationships as they study God’s Word together.

Brent and Janet Aucoin - Week Five
2026-07-25 - 2026-08-01
Dr. Brent Aucoin serves as President of Faith Bible Seminary in Lafayette, Indiana, where he also chairs the Master of Divinity program and teaches in the areas of pastoral ministry, theology, and biblical counseling. He is the Pastor of Seminary and Soul Care Ministries at Faith Church, an ACBC-certified counselor, and a longtime instructor with Faith Biblical Counseling Ministries. Brent joined the pastoral staff in 1998 and regularly speaks at conferences, retreats, and training events. His academic background includes degrees from Oklahoma State University (B.S.), Purdue University (M.S.), Central Seminary (M.Div.), Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Th.M.), and Baptist Bible Seminary (Ph.D.).
Janet Aucoin serves alongside Brent as the Director of Women’s Ministries at Faith Church and is also ACBC certified. She leads the Faith Bible Seminary wives’ fellowship and hosts the Joyful Journey Podcast, which encourages women to pursue joy through biblical truth. Janet teaches and speaks at retreats, counseling conferences, and women’s events.
Together, Brent and Janet travel to support churches and ministries through marriage, parenting, and discipleship training. They have two adult children—Joshua (married to Noelle) and Karis—and are the thankful grandparents of Arielle and Elsie. Their shared passion is helping believers grow through Christ-centered, Scripture-focused ministry.

Mission of the week:

Crossroads Prison Ministry
Crossroads connects people in prisons with mentors from churches to develop Christ-centered relationships as they study God’s Word together.

Rod VanSolkema - Week Six
2026-08-01 - 2026-08-08
Rod VanSolkema is the founding and senior pastor of Crossroads Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the founder of Ancient Path Study Tours. He is deeply committed to the local church and its mission, and is passionate about helping people encounter Scripture in its historical and cultural setting. Rod’s desire is that by studying the biblical story in community and understanding its context, people will grow in their love for the text and gain a deeper vision for discipleship.
Rod leads study trips to Israel as well as tours through Turkey, Greece, and Rome. He holds an undergraduate degree from Wheaton College (Wheaton, Illinois) and completed his seminary training at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, Illinois). He also studied in Israel, completing graduate work at Jerusalem University College.
Rod lives in Grand Rapids with his wife, Libby, and they are the proud parents of three adult children: Gabe (married to Ally), Bennett (married to Ryli), and their daughter, Cate.

Mission of the week:

Mission Eurasia
Mission Eurasia’s mission is to train, equip, and mobilize Christian leadership throughout Eurasia and Israel, who will engage in indigenous evangelism, church-planting, holistic ministries, and church growth by developing creative and strategic ministries and by facilitating partnerships between nationals and Western Christians.

Phil Tuttle - Week Six
2026-08-01 - 2026-08-08
Phil Tuttle has served with Walk Thru the Bible for more than three decades and has been its President and CEO since 2007. He began teaching Walk Thru the Bible live events in 1988 while pastoring in central Illinois and went on to serve as Dean of Faculty, Senior Vice President for International Ministries, and Global Teaching Pastor.
A native of Normal, Illinois, Phil earned his Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education and Bible from Wheaton College and his Master of Theology in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary.
As President, Phil continues to teach around the world in churches, conferences, and leadership gatherings. He is the author of several books, including Detour, Chosen, Crucible, Chiseled, and Rescue. Known for combining biblical clarity with practical stories and warm humor, Phil helps people engage Scripture in fresh and memorable ways.
Phil and his wife, Ellen, have two adult children and four grandchildren.
Mission of the week:

Mission Eurasia
Mission Eurasia’s mission is to train, equip, and mobilize Christian leadership throughout Eurasia and Israel, who will engage in indigenous evangelism, church-planting, holistic ministries, and church growth by developing creative and strategic ministries and by facilitating partnerships between nationals and Western Christians.

Ron Hutchcraft - Week Seven
2026-08-08 - 2026-08-15
Ron Hutchcraft is a speaker, author, and radio host, and serves as Chairman of Hutchcraft Ministries, where he and his team develop authentic and creative ways to share the hope of Jesus. He is committed to communicating the Gospel in clear, understandable ways and equipping believers to share Christ in their own circles of influence. His ministry reaches people through radio, online content, public events, printed resources, indigenous outreach, and more.
Ron’s daily radio feature, A Word With You, airs on more than 1,000 outlets and is broadcast internationally in six major languages. Along with his late wife, Karen, he co-founded On Eagles’ Wings™, a ministry and leadership program for Native American, First Nations, and Alaska Native young people, including the annual Warrior Leadership Summit.
A frequent speaker at conferences and evangelistic events across North America and around the world, Ron continues to encourage “movements of rescue” among churches, leaders, and everyday believers. He has three children and nine grandchildren.
Mission of the week:

On Eagles’ Wings
On Eagles’ Wings seeks to empower young people to share the hope they’ve found in Jesus with their own people and equipping them to make a difference in their communities.

Philip Miller - Week Seven
2026-08-08 - 2026-08-15
Philip Miller serves as the 17th Senior Pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago. He and his wife, Krista, are graduates of Cedarville University and both hold Th.M. degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary as well as Doctor of Ministry degrees from Wheaton College. They live in Chicago with their four children—Claire, Violet, Cora, and Jude.
He is passionate about proclaiming God’s Word, cultivating healthy ministry, and investing in future leaders. He can be heard weekly on the Moody Church Hour, broadcast on more than 700 stations nationwide. Outside of ministry, he enjoys cycling along the lakefront, Lou Malnati’s deep-dish pizza, Garrett’s Carmel Crisp popcorn, and Henry Weinhard’s root beer.
He believes people flourish as followers of Jesus when they live deeply in the gospel, experience healing community, and join Christ on mission. Philip is committed to fostering a gospel-centered church marked by clarity, hospitality, vibrant worship, deep discipleship, and a multiplying vision for global gospel renewal.
Mission of the week:

On Eagles’ Wings
On Eagles’ Wings seeks to empower young people to share the hope they’ve found in Jesus with their own people and equipping them to make a difference in their communities.

Ray Pritchard - Week Eight
2026-08-15 - 2026-08-22
Dr. Ray Pritchard serves as president of Keep Believing Ministries. He ministers extensively across the US and in South Korea, Ukraine, Uganda, Kenya, China, and the Philippines. He has written 34 books, including Finding Wisdom in Proverbs, Finding Peace in the Psalms, Stealth Attack, The Healing Power of Forgiveness, and An Anchor for the Soul. He is a co-host of Today’s Issues on American Family Radio. He has been married to Marlene for 52 years. Their eleven grandchildren can be found in Kansas, Illinois, and Montana. Dr. Pritchard’s hobbies include biking, surfing the Internet, and anything related to the Civil War. He recently hit the 50,000 mile mark on his bicycle riding.

Mission of the week:

SonSet Solutions
SonSet Solutions provides technology-based solutions to advance the Gospel worldwide.

George Murray - Week Eight
2026-08-15 - 2026-08-22
George Murray is a lifelong missionary with a passion for taking the gospel to the nations. He and his wife, Annette, spent 13 years in pioneer evangelism and church planting in Italy before George went on to lead two major mission organizations: Bible Christian Union, serving 14 European countries, and The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM), with more than 1,100 missionaries in 42 countries worldwide.
Following decades of ministry leadership, George became President of Columbia International University (CIU) in Columbia, South Carolina, serving from 2000 to 2007 and later as Chancellor until 2017. CIU is known for its strong commitment to Great Commission training and global missions engagement.
George has ministered throughout the United States and in 83 countries. He and Annette have been happily married since 1969 and are blessed with four married children and nine grandchildren. George holds degrees from CIU and Trinity International University. He enjoys music, reading, hiking, fishing, and playing tennis.

Mission of the week:

SonSet Solutions
SonSet Solutions provides technology-based solutions to advance the Gospel worldwide.

Brad Bigney - Labor Day Weekend
2026-09-04 - 2026-09-08
Brad Bigney is a pastor with the Evangelical Free Church of America and holds an MDiv. from Columbia Biblical Seminary. He’s a certified ACBC counselor, conference speaker, Lead Pastor of Grace Fellowship since 1996, author of Gospel Treason, and host of a weekly marriage podcast called ‘Thrive.’ He and his wife, Vicki, have been married 40 yrs. and have five adult children and four grandchildren.

Mission of the week:

Fellowship of Christian Athletes
To lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church.
