351 Bell Way, Orland California, 95963 Tel: 661-312-1958 Email: amvanstraaten@aol.com

Before entering vocational ministry I was an experienced business owner and also worked for international medical and pharmaceutical companies like Abbot Laboratories and BASF.

I am experienced in church ministry even in multi-cultural settings including sub-urban South Africa, urban Southern California, and rural Northern California. I’ve been blessed to be men-tored and discipled by Bible expositors like Dr. Joel James (Pretoria, SA) and Dr. Rick Holland (formerly Grace Community Church).

Upon graduating from The Master’s Seminary in 2009 began serving in full-time ministry, be-came senior pastor in 2012. My areas of giftedness are in expository preaching, biblical counsel-ing, evangelism, and global missions. I aspire to set an example to the flock through personal humility, and teachability — serving “with” my co-leaders, worshipping “amongst” the saints, but also maturing “alongside” the servants of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:7; 1 Timothy 4:15; Colos-sians 4:12).

In addition to expository preaching and teaching, the Lord has also blessed me with a love for personal discipleship, hospitality, fellowship, corporate-prayer, community outreach, global mis-sions, visitation, and personal evangelism.

I have included more biographical information below with information about work, life experi-ence, and academic qualifications. If you desire to hear some of my most recent sermons please visit: https://ef-r.faithlifesites.com/sermons

In the Master’s Service

Anton M. Van Straaten

351 Bell Way, Orland, CA, 95963

661-312-1958 amvanstraaten@aol.com

PERSONAL Born: April 23, 1969 Married: 2001 to Marietjie Children: Naomi (14) and Olivia (12)

EDUCATION The Master’s University and Seminary, California Master of Divinity (2009)

Southern Business School, S.A. Bachelor Degree in Business Management (2004).

Damelin Business School, S.A. Certificate in Sales and Marketing Management (1999)

PASTORAL MINISTRY EXPERIENCE

Emmanuel Fellowship: Gerber, CA (Non-Denominational 2018 — Present)

Job Title: Pastor (Interim)

Orland Evangelical Free Church: Orland, CA (E.F.C.A. 2012— 2018)

Job Title: Pastor-Teacher / Sr. Pastor

Appointed by the elder-board as pastor-teacher to deliver biblical and applicable sermons; and

adult equipping classes. Hospital visitations, counseling, and conducting funeral services.

Grace Church of Napa Valley: Napa, CA (Southern Baptist Convention 2009-2012) Job Title: Director of Outreach/Evangelism & School Principal

Appointed by the elder board as Principal of Grace Academy: being responsible for development of

academic standards, staffing, finances, and promoting biblical standards for conduct.

CORPORATE WORK EXPERIENCE

The Scientific Group (2003–2004)

Job Title: Account Representative

Abbott Laboratories [formerly BASF /Knoll Pharma](1998–2002)

Job Title: Specialist Account Representative

Wrights-Millner Dental Suppliers (1988–1998)

Job Title: Sales Representative

PARA-CHURCH MINISTRY EXPERIENCE

The Master’s Academy International (2006-2009)

Job Title: Academic Intern Global Missions

Grace Books International, Sunvalley, California (2005–2009)

Job Title: Customer Representative Grace Books International

VOLUNTEER MINISTRY EXPERIENCE

Grace Community Church: Sun Valley, CA (2005–2009)

Under-Shepherd College & Career Group

Grace Fellowship: Pretoria, SA (2000–2004)

College & Career Ministry Facilitator /Teacher

Dutch Reformed Church, South Africa (1999—2000) Confirmation Class & Youth Leader

CIVIC DUTIES

South African Army Corps of Signal (1987 – 1988)

Job Title: Signal Specialist

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Computer skills include windows and OS X platforms; Adobe Photoshop /Light-

room/ Garageband audio editing suite and movie editing suites. Marketing, public-

relations through social media.

OTHER INTERESTS

Business, and computer sciences, great-outdoors, photography, aviation

“What We Teach”

Personal Doctrinal Position

The Word of God

We teach that the Bible is the infallible, authoritative Word of God, written under the full

inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and is without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the

supreme authority in all matters of faith, life, and conduct.1 His Word is sufficient for every

situation of life, including trials tribulations, and temptations.2 We believe that God’s revela-

tion is complete, and that God neither requires nor gives further revelation or prophecy to His

Church today.3

1 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:19-21; 2 John 17:17; 2 Tim 3:17; 2 Pet 1:2-7 3 Rev 22:18,19

The Trinity

We teach that the sole, living, triune God,1 being both self-existent and self-sustaining, ex-

ists eternally as One2 in the essence of His nature, yet in three distinct Persons, Father, Son

and Holy Spirit, each deserving and entitled to our unconditional worship.3 He is omniscient,4 omnipresent,5 and omnipotent.6 We confess the total sovereignty7 of God, and, that in His

being, He is perfectly holy,8 loving,9 righteous10 and true.11

1 Gen 1:26; Deut 6:4; 2 John 10:30; 3 Ps 139:7; Matt 28:19; John 5:23, 9:38; 2 Cor 13:14; 4 Isa 44:7, 46:10; 5 Ps 139:7-9;

6 Rev 19:6; 7 Ps 103:19; Ps 115:3; 8 1 Pet 1:15,16; 9 1 John 4:7,8; 10 Ps 11:7; 11 Rom 3:4

God the Father

We teach that our Father in heaven is fully God and is sovereign over all creation, and that

He is providential in all matters of life and salvation.1

1 Ps 103:19; Ps 115:3; Rom 11:36; Rev 7:10

Jesus Christ

We teach that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, Who, fully God and fully man, though being

equal with the Father,1 submitted Himself to the Father by becoming human flesh.2 Having

been born of a virgin,3 He lived a sinless life,4 and then died for sinners as their substitute

on the cross, enduring God’s wrath in their place.5 Three days later, He arose physically from

the grave, and then ascended bodily into heaven,6 sitting down at the right hand of the Fa-

ther.

1 John 5:19,22; John 8:58; 2 Phil 2:6-8; 3 Matt 1:20-23; Luke 1:34,35; 4 Heb 4:15; 5 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 3:13; 1

Pet 2:24; 6 Luke 24:36-43; Acts 1:9,10; Acts 2:31-33; Rom 4:25

The Holy Spirit

We teach that the Holy Spirit is fully God,1 being omniscient,2 omnipresent,3 and eternal,4

possessing all the attributes of God. He was sent from the Father and the Son to convict the

world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment.5 The Holy Spirit regenerates the human

spirit unto salvation.6 We believe that all true saints are sealed and secure in their faith until

the day of redemption,7 and that they are empowered by the Spirit to live godly lives8 as He

sanctifies9 them. The Holy Spirit baptizes every believer into Christ, instantaneously, at the

point of conversion.10 We maintain that there is no secondary “blessing” of the Holy Spirit,

other than this indwelling11 and bestowment of spiritual gifts12 at the moment of salvation.

1 1 Acts 5:3,4 ; 2 1 Cor 2:10-13; 3 Ps 139:7-10; 4 Heb 9:14; 5 John 16:8-11; 6 John 3:7ff; Titus 3:5; 7 Eph

1:13,14; 8 Acts 1:8; 9 2 Thess 2:13; 10 Col 2:12; 11 Rom 8:9; 1 Cor 6:19; 12 1 Cor 12:4; 1 Pet 4:10

Man

We teach that God directly and immediately created1 humanity and the universe, all of

which came to exist in its fully developed state during the six-day creative act of God. We re-

pudiate any process of evolution.2

We believe in the depravity and fallen nature of humanity.3 This depraved nature disposes

the human heart in man to reject God, and to live alienated and estranged from the Creator.4

Since all men are by nature condemned, salvation offers the only hope to fallen mankind.5

1 Gen 1:26,27; Gen 2:7,22; 2 Gen 1,2; Isa 42:5; 3 Gen 6:5; Rom 5:11,12; 4 Eph 2:1-3;

5 Rom 2:5,6; Rom 3:9-20; Rom 6:23; Eph 5:6; Heb 12:26; Rev 20:11-15

Salvation

We teach that God the Father, according to the kind intentions of His will,1 elects2 sinners

and draws them to Christ.3 Jesus Christ became the propitiation for sin by dying on behalf of

all humanity. Thus, He paid for the sins of all mankind, and reconciled humanity to God.4 It is

only they who repent and believe in the gospel, however, who receive the benefit of this sub-

stitutionary atonement of Christ. God credits (imputes) the perfect righteousness of Christ5 to

repentant, believing sinners. They are instantaneously justified and eternally righteous be-

cause they are forgiven before God Himself.6 We affirm that saving faith endures for all who

are justified, apart from any personal failure or virtue on their account, as it is entirely an ef-

fective consequence of God’s grace.7

1 Eph 1: 6-9; 2 2 Tim 1:9; 3 John 6:37-40; 4 Rom 5:6-8; Col 1:20; 5 2 Cor 5:21; 6 Rom 8:1; 7 John 6:40; Rom

3:27,28; Eph 1:13

The Church

We teach that all who have put their faith in Jesus Christ are “members” of the invisible

Church body of Christ.1 Formal membership appears to be the tradition of the early Church2

which demonstrated patterns in favor of a formal membership roll3 to account for each soul. We believe that the purpose of the Church is to glorify God4 by loving others5 and by living

godly lives6 as witnesses for Christ.7 We hold to the importance of discipleship8 and the mu-

tual accountability of all believers.9 This accountability includes mutual admonition, correc-

tion and exhortation of all who are in regular attendance of the local congregation.10

We maintain that men and women stand as equals before God, as both bear the image of

God Himself. However, without making one inferior to the other, God calls upon both men

and women to fulfill the distinctive roles and responsibilities He has specifically designed for

each, a pattern that is reflected in the Godhead11 as well as in the early Church.12 The Lord

calls men to fulfill the roles of leadership, such as pastor or elder. He also calls upon women to

fulfill their distinctive roles13 such as the discipleship of younger women. The ministry of

women is essential to the body of Christ, yet although they are spiritual equals with men,

women, nevertheless, are excluded from having leadership over men in the Church. Gover-

nance, leadership and guidance is provided by a plurality of spiritually qualified men.14

1 1 Cor 12:12; Eph 2:11-3:6; 2 Col 4:9,10; 3 Col 4:9,10; Acts 2:41,47; Acts 5:14; Acts 16:5; 4 1 Cor 10:31; 5 John

13:34,35; Eph 5:1,2; Eph 5:25-27; 6 1 Pet 3:15; 7 Matt 5:16; 8 Matt 28:19,20; 2 Tim 2:2; 9 Matt 18:15-17; Heb 10:24 10

Matt 18:15-22; Acts 5:1-11;

1 Cor 5: 1-13; 2 Thess 3:6-15; 1 Tim 1:19,20 ; Titus 1:10-16; 11 Luke 22:42 12 1 Cor 11:13; cp. Eph 5:21; 1 Tim 2:10,11;

1 Tim 3:2; 13 Titus 2:3-5; 2 Tim 1:5 14 1 Tim 3:1-10, Titus 1:5-9

The Ordinances

We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ has enjoined two ordinances upon the local Church.

Firstly, Baptism by immersion is our public identification and commitment to Christ as Lord,

and to His Body of believers.1 Secondly, The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for the

commemoration of His death.2 It is intended only for true believers in Christ3 who are in

good standing4 with the Body of Christ.

1 Acts 2:38-42; Acts 10:47,48; Rom 6:1-4; 2 1 Cor 11 :23-33; 3 cp. Matt 28:18,19; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Cor 11:28-32; 4 1

Cor 11:27

Last Things

We teach the imminence of the Rapture1 prior to the seven year tribulation period by which

the Lord will translate His Church from this earth2 into heaven. Coinciding with this event,

saints will receive their rewards according to their works.3 The believer who dies before the

Rapture occurs, will immediately pass into the presence of the Lord.4 We hold to the Pre-millennial appearance of Christ who will return with His saints to the

earth, physically and visibly,5 at the end of the tribulation in order to establish His one-thou-

sand-year kingdom on earth.6 There will be a bodily resurrection for all people: the saved,

unto eternal life,7 but the unsaved, first unto judgment, then unto eternal separation from

God in hell.8

1 1 Thes 4:16; Titus 2:13; 2 John 14:1-3; 1 Cor 15:51-53; 1 Thess 4:15-5:11; 3 1 Cor 3:11-15; 2 Cor 5:10; 4 2 Cor5:6-8;

Phil 1:23; 5 Matt 24:29-31; Acts 1:9-11; 6 Dan 7:13,14; Matt 25:31-46; Rev 19:11-19; Rev 20:4-6; 7 John 6:39; Rom 8:19-23;

Rev 20:1-5; 8 Matt 25:41; John 5:39-46; 2 Thess 1:6-10; Rev 20:11-15