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Brian was raised in a Christian home and asked Jesus into his heart at five years old while riding in the tractor with his dad. His faith became much more personal when he went to college in Oklahoma. Brian states, “ I know that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, who died upon the cross for my sins, was buried, was resurrected from the dead on the 3rd day, ascended to the right hand of God in Majesty and Who is coming again for those who are His.”
Brian grew up on a farm in SW North Dakota, graduated from Scranton High School in Scranton, ND, and earned a B.S. in New Testament Theology from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK. He also received a two year certificate from Victory Bible Institute in Tulsa, OK . He taught and served as an administrator at Victory Bible Institute for 4 years. He has had 23 years of pastoral ministry, with 16 of those years in Iowa. He is currently the pastor at Word of Victory Church in Ankeny.
Brian has been married to Michele Ruggles for over 25 years. They have two children attending ACA, Seth and Ellianna, both adopted from Guatemala. He has a heart for Christian education and his children have been at ACA since preschool. His wife is also employed at ACA.
Brian had a general sense of God’s calling into ministry even in junior high and high school, but the Lord made that calling very sure between his freshman and sophomore year in college. His word was “Feed My Sheep” as he was called into pastoral ministry. He has sensed the importance of equipping God’s people to “…contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” (Jude 3) Brian says that he loves the Lord and he loves people. He enjoys teaching and preaching the Word of God. Next to loving the Lord, he loves his family and enjoys spending time with them.