Servant-Leadership
Executive Director, Bible Institute of Hawaii
Rodney (& Miki) Wong serves at the 10th Executive Director of BIH’s long and rich history in Hawaii.
Rodney’s educational background includes a B.A., M.A., M.Div., and Th.M. earned from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and the International Graduate School of Theology. He also serves as the Lead Pastor of CrossCurrent Fellowship Manoa, where he plays a vital role in the spiritual leadership of the church.
In addition to his role at BIH, Rodney is responsible for overseeing the BIH Prison Ministry courses and serves as the BIH Student and Faculty Administrator.
Rodney’s career has been marked by a diverse range of ministry experiences, including work with Hawaii Youth For Christ, serving as an Associate Pastor and Youth Pastor in both Boston and Hawaii, Adjunct Faculty at Pacific Rim Christian University, and working as a Pediatric Mental Health Counselor at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA. His well-rounded skill set and extensive experience make him a valuable member of the BIH.
In his personal life, Rodney is married to Miki and has three young adult children Elijah, Josiah, and Mikayla. Rodney has been an Adjunct Faculty member at BIH since 2010 and assumed the role of Executive Director in July 2021. His leadership and commitment contribute significantly to BIH’s mission of providing theological education and guidance.
Board of Directors, Bible Institute of Hawaii
Rev. Ken Humphries, President
Cynthia Lai, Vice President
Rev. Kendal Fong, Secretary
Greig Porter, Treasurer
Pastor Curtis Fong
Cheyne Rippey
Vernelle Oku
Staff, Bible Institute of Hawaii
Rodney (& Miki) Wong serves as both the Executive Director and Faculty/Student Administrator of BIH (See above for bio)
Randy (& Lenora) Stone, Volunteer Office Manager
Francis Miyazawa, Volunteer Bookkeeper
Providing more than 2,000 classes over 50 years requires a highly dedicated fellowship. We are here to serve Him! We are so grateful for many volunteers too and if you want to join our merry band, please call our office to offer YOUR service! 808-595-4708
Adjunct Faculty, Bible Institute of Hawaii
The late Emerita Ms. Ada Lum, recipient of the “Lifetime Achievement” Award, was a distinguished educator and author who made a significant impact on the Christian community worldwide. Born and raised in Honolulu, she was a dedicated member of Kalihi Union Church for over eight decades. She earned her B.A. in History from Wheaton College and her M.A. in Biblical Literature from Wheaton Graduate School.
Ada’s passion for scripture led her to missionary work in 115 countries, focusing primarily on university students. With over four decades of ministry experience, she joined the Bible Institute of Hawaii (BIH) faculty in 1984 and contributed extensively to the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students.
As an accomplished author, Ada penned influential books and Bible studies, including Jesus the Disciplemaker and How to Begin an Evangelistic Bible Study. Her unique teaching style and profound insights earned her global admiration. Locally, she served on the Adult Christian Education Committee at KUC and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award during BIH’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. Her remarkable life and ministry continue to be celebrated with deep gratitude by the global Christian community.
Emerita Dr. Rebecca “Ruby” S. Ovitt, the recipient of the “Love in Action” Award at BIH’s 50-year Anniversary Celebration, is a distinguished and long-serving member of the faculty.
Dr. Ovitt’s educational journey has taken her through various prestigious institutions, including Philippine Normal University, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and Stanford University, where she earned her master’s degrees in educational administration and policy analysis. She furthered her academic pursuits by attaining a D.Min. from Hawaii Theological Seminary. With a background in education, she served as the retired principal of Hawaii Baptist Academy’s Elementary Division.
As an East-West Center Grantee, Dr. Ovitt pursued higher education in the United States from 1969-71, which marked the beginning of her remarkable career. Her outstanding service in administration and leadership has garnered recognition from numerous organizations, including the State of Hawaii Senate and House of Representatives, City and County of Honolulu, United Filipino Council, and the American Heart Association, among others. She has also received prestigious awards such as the Faculty Tribute Award from the Bible Institute of Hawaii, the Christian Service Award from Hawaii Theological Seminary, and many more.
Dr. Ovitt’s dedication extends beyond her impressive list of awards. She is a sought-after speaker at churches and organizations, sharing her insights on how God’s love can heal the broken-hearted. As an active member of University Avenue Baptist Church, she finds joy in teaching at BIH, where her knowledge and experience inspire the next generation of leaders. Her commitment to education, community service, and spiritual guidance makes her a remarkable and influential figure at BIH.
Mr. Thomas Rulon, Esq.
J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law and a fellow of the prestigious American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). Tom has practiced estate planning, trust, and elder law in Hawaii for over 40 years. He is committed to integrating faith and professional stewardship, Tom serves as the President of the National Christian Foundation (NCF) Hawaii and was a founder of the River of Life Christian Legal Aid Clinic for the homeless. He is a frequent lecturer, co-author of numerous professional manuals, a Vietnam veteran (U.S. Marine Corps), and a long-time resident of Kailua.
Rev. Todd A. Capen and his wife, Mary Ann Capen, are valued members of the BIH community.
Rev. Capen holds a B.A. from Biola University and an M.Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. He brings a wealth of experience to his role as an adjunct faculty member at BIH, having served as a pastor in various churches across California, Michigan, and Florida. Currently, he holds the position of Senior Pastor at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Kailua.
With his extensive teaching and pastoral leadership background, Rev. Capen has been a dedicated and knowledgeable contributor to the Bible Institute of Hawaii since 2008. His presence on the faculty enhances the educational experience for students, and his pastoral expertise undoubtedly enriches the BIH community.
Dr. Elaine Eng
M.D., M.A. Biblical Studies was professor of mental health counseling at the Alliance
Graduate School of Counseling Nyack, N.Y. She is a graduate of Princeton University and the Albert
Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Eng practiced psychiatry for 30years and retired from practice to
devote more time to training future counselors. She teaches and writes on the interface
between faith, counseling and the challenges Christians face.
Her books include No Worries: Spiritual and Mental Health Counseling for Anxiety,
Resolve: How Faith Becomes Sight and co-authored with David Biebel, The Transforming Power
of Story. She is an active member of the Christian Medical and Dental Association teaching and
counseling global workers in many countries.
She is married to Clifford, has two grown children, Brian and Genevieve and is blessed with two
grandsons, Luka and Ronan.
Rev. Yoshitaka Fujinami
Reverend Yoshitaka Fujinami earned his BA in Pastoral Studies and a post-graduate Certificate in Jewish Studies from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and later completed a Th.M. at Dallas Theological Seminary. He currently serves as Pastor of the Japanese Ministry at Makiki Christian Church in Honolulu, a role he has held since April 2018. Originally from Osaka, Japan, Yoshi came to know the Lord as a youth at Kishiwada Bible Church, a congregation planted by missionaries from Makiki Christian Church. After completing his studies at Moody, he moved to Hawaii in 1994 to serve as Director of Older Adults Ministry at Makiki Christian Church, where he met Yumi, the church’s worship pianist, who later became his wife in 1996. Following the birth of their first son, the Fujinamis moved to Texas, where Yoshi pursued his seminary studies and graduated in 2003. Upon graduation, he was called to Kalihi Union Church to serve as pastor to their Japanese fellowship. After raising their three sons, Yoshi and Yumi returned to Makiki Christian Church, where he now continues to shepherd and teach within the Japanese congregation.
Dr. Randall “Randy” Furushima and his wife, Jeanie Furushima are distinguished figures within Hawaii’s Christian community.
Dr. Furushima holds a notable educational background, including a B.A. from the University of Hawaii, an M.Ed. from Boston College, and an Ed.D. from Columbia University in New York. He has made significant contributions to the field of biblical and practical theology and is well-regarded as the co-founder and President Emeritus of BIH. Additionally, he has served as the Dean of the Graduate School and Co-chair of the Bible and Practical Theology group of the Society of Biblical Literature.
Dr. Furushima founded the Emmaus Center for Biblical Teaching, where he imparts his knowledge of Bible and theology to students in churches and seminaries across the USA, Canada, and Japan. His commitment to education and theological studies extends beyond BIH, making a positive impact on a global scale.
Dr. Furushima’s service to BIH is further highlighted by his role as the 9th Executive Director from July 2018 to June 2021, during which he played a crucial part in advancing the institution’s mission and vision. His leadership and expertise have left a lasting mark on the BIH community and its mission to provide quality theological education
Dr. James Kwong
Dr. James Kwong’s extensive background is in a variety of educational and Christian ministries. He holds a B.A. in Mathematics from The University of Hawaii at Manoa and has furthered his studies with an M.Div. in Pastoral/General and a D.Min. from Talbot School of Theology.
Dr. Kwong has a wealth of experience in ministry, having served with organizations such as Kalihi Union Church, Hawaii Youth For Christ, and the Chinese Baptist Church of Central Orange County. He also took on the role of Pastor of Administration at Faith Christian Fellowship.
Currently, Dr. Kwong is engaged in education as he works at Kaimuki Christian School in the Student Services department and athletic coaching. His background in mathematics and theological studies, coupled with his extensive experience in ministry, brings a unique perspective to his current role. He and his family attend Kalihi Union Church where he also conducts Sunday School classes.
Pastor Earl Morihara
B.Ed in Secondary English & M.A ESL University of Hawaii at Manoa, M.A Christian Ministry Pacific Rim Christian College, Mililani Campus Pastor at New Hope Central Oahu, Lead Translator for the Hawaii Pidgin Bible and proud Hawaii Pidgin speaker with roots in Waipahu.
Dr. Bong R. (Alma) Ro
B.A. Bible, Columbia International University; B.A. History, Wheaton College; M.Div. Covenant Theological Seminary; S.T.M. & Th.D. Concordia Lutheran Seminary; OMF Missionary: Singapore (1970-74), Taiwan (1975-89), Korea (1990-2000); Hawaii Theological Seminary (2000-2009), Director of Korean Program; Hawaii Theological Seminary, President. BIH adjunct faculty since 2009.
Bong and Alma Ro have served with Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF) for 30 years: Singapore (1970-74), Taiwan (1975-89); Korea (1990-2000). Bong has taught at different seminaries in these countries. Bong also served as the Executive Secretary of Asia Theological Association (1970-90) and the International Director of the Theological Commission of WEA (1990-96). Since 2000 Bong has taught at Hawaii Theological Seminary (former International College and Graduate School) and Pacific Rim Christian College.
Dr. Martha Stinton
B.F.A. Art History, Northern Arizona University; M.A., Biblical Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary; D.Min., Gordon- Conwell Theological Seminary. Vice President for Academic Affairs, Pacific Rim Christian University. Co-pastor New Hope Kailua. A women’s conference speaker in Xouzou, China; Brisbane, Australia; Langley, British Columbia, and Nuku’alofa, Tonga.
Dr. Rick Stinton
B.S. and B.Ed., University of Calgary; Th.M.; D.Min., Dallas Theological Seminary. Senior Pastor at New Hope Kailua, which was planted in 2007 along with his wife, Dr. Martha Stinton. He is also on the faculty at Pacific Rim Christian University and BIH adjunct faculty.
Dr. Rick Bartosik
D.Min. and Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary; B.A., Trinity International University; and Diploma, Moody Bible Institute. Pastor Rick has served the Lord in Hawaii for over 40 years. During that time, he has also ministered God’s Word in 12 countries of Europe and Asia. He has served as Chaplain of Hawaii State Prison, Professor and Academic Dean of International College, Interim Pastor of three local churches: and for 21 years, Senior Pastor of Mililani Community Church. Most recently he established the Myanmar Church Planter Training Partnership” in collaboration with national leaders in Myanmar (Burma), training church planters throughout the nation. He and his wife Diane met in Hawaii. Their son, David, is lead pastor of a local church in Madison, Wisconsin. One of Pastor Rick’s favorite hobbies is fly-fishing.
Dr. Matt Sanders
M.A. in Theology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; Ph.D. in Theology, University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Lead Pastor at Waialae Baptist Church and is adjunct faculty with The Bible Institute of Hawaii and Pacific Rim Christian University. Former professor at The College at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Ms. Nanette Williams
BA., Physics, Cornell University; Master of Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; Master of Air Mobility, Air Force Institute of Technology; and MA., Christian Ministry, Pacific Rim Christian University. Retired U.S. Air Force. She currently serves on the faculty at Pacific Rim Christian University, while working to earn her M.Div. degree.
State Representative Elijah Pierick, House District 39, Chaplain
BA., Christian Ministry, MA, Christian Studies, M.Div.(Chaplaincy Concentration) from Pacific Rim Christian University. He is currently earning his
Doctorate of Ministry: Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University.
He has earned 4 Units of Clinical Pastoral Education and became a Board-Certified Chaplain with the Spiritual Care Association. He is an Ordained Pastor and Endorsed Chaplain with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. He holds membership with the Association of ClinicalPastoral Education, Clinical Pastoral Education International, American Association of Christian Counselors, and with the Foursquare Scholars Fellowship. He has served as a University Chaplain, Counselor, University Instructor, Religious Education Director, Bible Teacher, and Multi-church Council President. He currently serves as an Assisting Pastor with Encounter Church Honolulu, Teaching Pastor with the Floor Church, Chaplain with Bristol Hospice Hawaii, and is an Air Force Chaplain Candidate.
Dr. Gary Manning
B.Ed., University of Hawaii: M.Div., Talbot School of Theology; Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary; Dr. Manning is the Director of the Master of Divinity program Professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He is passionate about helping leaders in the church interpret and teach the Scriptures more faithfully and more powerfully. His research studies included the Gospel of John, the Synoptic Gospels, literary approaches to interpretation, and the use of the Old Testament in the New Testament. He is the author of Hippocratic Oath: An Illustrated Greek-English Reader’s Edition (GlossaHouse, 2021). Peter Rabbit and Other Stories in Koine Greek (GlossaHouse, 2020), and Echoes of a Prophet: The Use of Ezekiel in the Gospel of John and in Literature of the Second Temple Period (T&T Clark, 2004). Member and Presenter at the Evangelical Theological Society and the Society of Biblical Literature. Dr. Manning has been involved in various kinds of Christian ministry for over thirty years, including youth ministry, church planting, and teaching ministry, and still maintains active ministry in the church. He taught for BIH in 2010. Gary and his wife Barbara have ten children and two grandchildren.
Pastor Spencer Tang
B.A. in Economics from UCLA (1985) and an M.A. in New Testament
Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary (1995). He currently serves as the lead pastor of
HOME Honolulu, a church community he pioneered in 2017.
With 43 years of seasoned experience bridging formal and marketplace ministry, Spencer’s
pastoral background includes serving as an associate pastor at Vineyard Christian Fellowship in
Santa Monica, California, and playing a foundational role in planting and pastoring Hope Chapel
Manoa on Oahu. He has also provided leadership over small group oversight and marriage
ministries at Metro Christian Fellowship in Kansas City and Bethel Church in Redding,
California. Parallel to his ministry, Spencer spent years in the IT industry, owned and operated a
successful bakery and restaurant enterprise employing over 95 people, and continues to run a
small business he founded in 2002. While his leadership covers decades, his most significant
spiritual transformation occurred over the last 15 years through the revelation of the Father's love
with Fatherheart Ministries.
Spencer has been married to his wife, Wendy, for 38 years. They have a large, close-knit family
consisting of six daughters, one hānai son and his wife, four sons-in-law, and 11 grandchildren.
In his personal time, Spencer and Wendy love hitting the open road for motorcycle rides from
Hawaii Kai to Waimanalo.
Dr. Shan Chen
Ph.D. in Translation Studies from Binghamton University, State University of New York; M.A. in Communication from University of Hawaii at Manoa, and B.A. in English language from a major university in Beijing, China. Her Ph.D. project is the Protestant Chinese Bible translation. A translator, conference and pulpit interpreter, Shan translated the classical Egermeier’s Bible Story Book into Chinese. Titled 《全家人的 圣经故事》, it is published by a Christian publishing house in China and is available on Amazon. She is an associate for Nida School of Translation Studies, the American Bible Society in Italy in 2019. Shan is a BIH alumnus and holds a Certificate for Biblical Studies. Born and raised in China, Shan has made many mission trips to China throughout the years, one of them was serving as an interpreter for Ada Lum when the latter was invited to teach there
Pastor Rodney Wong, the Executive Director of BIH
B.A., M.A., M.Div., and Th.M. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and International Graduate School of Theology. He currently serves as the Lead Pastor of CrossCurrent Fellowship Manoa and is the BIH Student and Faculty Administrator and oversees the BIH Prison Ministry courses. Past experience working with Hawaii Youth For Christ, serving as an Associate Pastor and Youth Pastor in Boston and Hawaii, and working as a Pediatric Mental Health Counselor at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA. Adjunct Faculty at Pacific Rim Christian University. He is married to Miki and have three young adult children Elijah, Josiah, and Mikayla. Rodney has been an Adjunct Faculty member at BIH since 2010 and assumed the role of Executive Director in July 2021.
Rev. Ken Humphries
Cheyne Rippey
MA, Dallas Theological Seminary. Cheyne serves as a Senior Trainer for the Global Centre for Giftedness and Consultant at Rippey Career Center. Cheyne brings extensive experience in ministry, Christian teaching, Worship Leadership, and Giftedness Discovery. Whether in a small group Bible study or University classroom, his goal is to equip people to live out what God intended them to be. His expertise includes Giftedness Discovery, Faith & Work, Music Ministry, Biblical Theology, and Apologetics. Cheyne is originally from Oahu but traveled the mainland for ministry and education.
Brooke Wei
Bachelor of Theology from Pacific Rim Christian University; MBA in International
Marketing from overseas, Master of Biblical and Theological Studies from Dallas
Theology Seminary.
She studied Master of Arts in Bible Exposition Program from Talbot Theology Seminary
and has not graduated yet due to time constraints.
She is a licensed pastor. She has served as a missionary for over a dozen years in the
10/40 window in Asia, During her mission work, she participated in the church planting of
two churches .
Passionate about training the young generation leaders up to reach out to the lost, she is
dedicated to preaching and teaching the Word of God in Mandarin. She contributed to
the translation of Dr.Rick Stinton’s book ,titled《40天神的国》, which was published and
available on Amazon.
As part of the staff team at New Hope Kailua. She oversees the Chinese ministry, helps
lead Sunday prayers and church-wide events and evangelism efforts.
Brooke is be teaching Bible and mission courses in Mandarin at BIH.
