College Staff
Pastor — Desert Gateway Baptist Church
Founder — Desert Baptist Bible College
Oversees all Departments
Colorado Baptist College, B.A., University of Northern IA, B.A., Desert Baptist Bible
College, M.A., Th.D. Youth Pastor for three years. Senior Pastor for thirty years.
Dr. Ron Leversee is the pastor of Desert Gateway Baptist Church and the president of Desert Baptist Bible College. With almost 40 years of ministry experience, the wealth of wisdom he brings to the faculty and administration of DBBC is invaluable!
Growing up in a midwestern farm in Iowa, Dr. Leversee demonstrates a humble, servant’s spirit. This same attitude has permeated his ministries over the years as he and his wife, Melanie, have been involved in youth work, outreach, bus ministries, missions, church planting, and so much more. According to some of his church members, “Pastor never asks us to do something that he isn’t willing to do himself. In most cases, he’s already done it!”
The Lord led the Leversee’s to Arizona in 1993 from Waterloo, Iowa. On the first Sunday of January, 1994, Desert Gateway Baptist Church had its first service with a handful of people in a Christian’s living room. Since then, God has raised up a lighthouse in the east valley of Phoenix, which He uses to spread the Gospel to the regions beyond. Desert Gateway Baptist Church supports over 100 missionaries around the world!
Under Dr. Leversee’s leadership, the church established Desert Baptist Bible College in 1999 and since then, scores of Christian workers have been launched into God’s labor.
Director — Desert Baptist Bible College
Frank Barich has been a member of Desert Gateway Baptist Church for 24 years and
has served as Deacon for the past 20 years. Frank received his Bachelor of Arts degree
in Bible and is a professor at Desert Baptist Bible College, along with teaching in various
capacities for the church. Frank currently serves as the Director for the college. He is
also owner and Principal Consultant of Barich, Inc., and is a registered Professional
Engineer in the State of Texas.
Professor — Desert Baptist Bible College
Bachelors of Arts from Maranatha Baptist Bible college with majors in Bible, pastoral
studies and biblical languages, and Master of Arts in Bible. Pastor Rigney spent 11
years in Australia and started 3 churches and trained men in their Bible institute. He
also spent 23 years in New Zealand and started 3 churches and pastored several others.
He has been preaching and teaching adult Sunday school for the past 10 years at Desert
Gateway Baptist Church.
Professor — Desert Baptist Bible College
Assistant Pastor — Desert Gateway Baptist Church
West Coast Baptist College, B.A., Desert Baptist Bible College, M.A. Pastor Zarate has
served in various positions at Desert Gateway Baptist Church, since 2000, including Chris
tian Education Administrator, College Director, Music Director, and Bus Captain. Pastor
Zarate currently serves as Assistant Pastor and Principal of Desert Gateway Academy.
Professor — Desert Baptist Bible College
Associate Pastor — Desert Gateway Baptist Church
Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Theology, Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Desert
Baptist Bible College. Pastor Rowell has been a member of Desert Gateway Baptist
Church since 2000 and has served as Student Ministries Pastor, Missions Pastor, and
Associate Pastor.
Adjunct Professor — Desert Baptist Bible College
Pastor — NorthWay Baptist Church
Pastor Vaught earned a Bachelor in Pastoral studies from Heartland Baptist Bible
College. Since graduating Heartland, he has worked faithfully and solely in full-time
ministry filling positions of Assistant Pastor, Youth Pastor and College Director.
Shortly after John’s surrender to preach, God burdened his heart for church planting.
On November 3, 2013, John’s burden became the fulfillment of God’s call to Scottsdale, as
they launched NorthWay Baptist Church.