It is with great honor and anticipation that we introduce Dr. Stephen Van Horn to the Advisory Board of Channels of Christ Expositors Seminary. Dr. Van Horn’s vast experience in theological education, his commitment to biblical truth, and his heart for Africa make him a powerful asset to the seminary’s mission of training leaders who will faithfully contend for the gospel in a world increasingly filled with confusion and distortion. His contributions, both in the past and moving forward, will continue to shape the seminary’s vision for equipping leaders with the tools they need to stand firm in the faith.

Dr. Stephen Van Horn is the Founder and President of International Training & Equipping Ministries (ITEM), a ministry he founded in 2003 with the goal of providing theological training to untrained pastors across Africa. Dr. Van Horn’s passion for teaching and preserving the integrity of Scripture has led him to conduct Bible and theology seminars since the ministry’s inception, with a special emphasis on equipping local African leaders to continue this work long after his direct involvement. By 2018, Dr. Van Horn had succeeded in training a network of 50 trainers spread across 10 African countries, empowering them to conduct ITEM seminars independently. This initiative has exponentially increased the reach of biblical education, transforming the lives and ministries of countless pastors and church leaders across the continent.

Dr. Van Horn’s motivation comes from a deep concern about the growing misuse of Scripture, particularly in Africa, where false teachings—such as the prosperity-driven “health and wealth gospel”—have taken root and led many astray. His objectives are clear: to contend for the faith by providing a solid, biblical foundation for pastors and church leaders and to warn them against the dangerous false teachings that threaten the integrity of the gospel. This mission has been the cornerstone of his ministry, and it continues to fuel his work across the African continent.

In addition to his leadership at ITEM, Dr. Van Horn has a rich history of pastoral ministry. He served as Senior Pastor at Faith Bible Church in Aloha, Oregon, from 1981 to 1996, where he preached weekly, discipled men, led outreach efforts, and oversaw the church’s various ministries. His pastoral experience was further deepened during his time as Associate Pastor of Small Groups and Missions at Calvary Church in Hillsboro, Oregon, where he played a key role in planting churches in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and training pastors in various African nations.

Dr. Van Horn’s academic credentials are equally impressive. He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree in Leadership from Western Seminary, as well as a Master of Divinity in Exposition and Teaching from the International School of Theology. These qualifications, combined with his extensive field experience, provide a solid foundation for his work in equipping church leaders and training the next generation of pastors.