The Context of Our Calling
Church Based Training (CBT) is the maturation process by which the local church provides for the establishing, equipping, and encouragement of a believer’s faith, hope, and love. It is driven by the biblical mandate to make disciples and send them into the “harvest field” as workers who will “not be ashamed”. While the church has remained strong in developing the heart of the disciple it has grown dependent (on “schools”) and weak where ministry skills and biblical education are concerned.
CCBT is committed to the idea that maturation (not education) should be the KEY Pass/Fail evaluation of ministry readiness and preparedness and that the church (not the school) is uniquely gifted and organized to do such development. Our belief is that if the Church would return to it’s rightful place at the center of the growth process and use it’s natural focus on mature service and spiritual vitality and would unite that focus with serious academic discipline.
Our Staff
Dave Stoner
Board Chairman
Dave has been involved in church based training at Christ Fellowship of McKinney Texas for over 25 years. He has led many groups through the CCBT Discovery Series and other CCBT course materials, and has seen the impact it can have on the lives of people in their group – and on them. The most fulfilling part is seeing many people growing to maturity, moving into leadership roles in the local church, and serving one another using the gifts God has given them.
Dave is retired from a successful career in engineering, operations, and executive management. He joined the CCBT board in 2013, and currently serves as Chairman.
Dave and his wife live in McKinney, where they raised their two children.
Dave and Judy Buckert
Publishing Director
Dave and Judy Buckert have been in ministry since 1978 in South America, Mexico and the US. Dave has trained facilitators across denominational lines, taught theological education via extension courses in Venezuela, taken part in planting several Hispanic churches in the US and was a member of the national EFCA church planting team. In the early 2000’s Dave and Judy founded El Puente, a ministry which encouraged church to church partnership and cross-cultural ministry between churches in the US and Mexico. Dave has worked extensively with pastors and lay leaders in Latin America and other countries, particularly focusing on church based training principles. He has served with CCBT since 2007 and Executive Director since 2010. Judy serves as Art Director for Confia Publishers, a ministry of CCBT. Dave and Judy have two grown children and five grandchildren.
Don and Deanne Closson
Catalyst Director
Don and Deanne Closson have been in ministry since 1986, first with Probe Ministries International, a Christian apologetics and biblical worldview ministry, and then joining CCBT in 2013. Don is the Director of Administration and a research associate with the Centers of Church Based Training. Deanne serves as the Office Administrator for CCBT. Don has taught apologetics throughout North America, in Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa. He has been an elder at Christ Fellowship church in McKinney, Texas since 2000 and has been the equipping pastor since 2013. Don has a Masters in Educational Administration from IL State and a Masters of Biblical Studies from DTS. He and Deanne have both led a small group ministry in their church since 1989. They have been married for 40 years and have two grown sons.
Gary Jones
Network Director
Gary Jones, lives in the Dominican Republic with his wife and son. He serves there as a catalyst with Centers of Church Based Training (CCBT) and is actively working towards a church plant, evangelism and training through local churches.