DREW ALLENSPACH

Drew joined Ogletown Baptist Church as an Associate Pastor in March 2024. He was raised in Texas and received his Bachelors in Finance from Indiana University. Additionally, he received his M.Div. at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.

While in seminary, Drew attended a conference for pastors in D.C. where he met his wife Katrina and they have three (soon to be four) kids. Drew loves to play golf, coach little league baseball, and is an aspiring charcoal grill master.

Sean Barefoot

Sean grew up in central Virginia and came to faith his sophomore year at Christopher Newport University through an on-campus Bible study. His faith deepened through living in an intentional Christian community and through the investment of a Godly mentor. He met his wife, Emily, while they were neighbors in college.

Sean and Emily had a desire to go into ministry together post-college through Young Life. After being placed in Maryland they ran outreach ministries for high school students and students with special needs. Sean and Emily became members at Ogletown in 2015 after the Lord called them to Delaware to continue in ministry with Young Life. Since being at OBC Sean has served on the Deacon Team, with Kids Connection, and is currently serving on the Personnel Committee. Sean and Emily attend the Verse-by-Verse Sunday Bible Study.

Sean works in Information Technology at the University of Delaware. He and Emily have four kids and they live in Newark. He enjoys sports, coffee, running and being with friends.

EVAN COLLIER

Evan joined Ogletown Baptist Church in Newark, DE as Associate Pastor for Children’s Ministry in 2014. Administration was added to his title in 2017. After receiving his M. Div. in 2005, he worked in Boston as a bi-vocational church planter.

Evan’s responsibilities include overseeing the resources of the church and engaging in pastoral care.

He and his wife Natalie have been married since 2000 and have 5 kids. In his spare time, you’ll might find him running, reading history, roasting coffee, or trying not to lose to his kids at Super Smash Brothers.

Brandon Cook

Brandon grew up in Delaware and attended Wilmington University where he received his B.A. in Math Education. He taught for seven years and in that time developed a passion for teaching students the Scriptures. He is currently enrolled at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary pursuing a Master of Divinity in Christian Ministry.

Brandon began attending Ogletown in 2020 where he helped in student ministry until he left to become a founding member of Gospel Life Church in 2021. He joined Ogletown staff in 2023 as the Family Pastor, overseeing student ministry and Kids Connection. Brandon has a passion to see parents lead the charge in the spiritual development of their children in their homes and seeks to equip parents in this work.

Brandon and his wife, Rebekah, were high school sweethearts and were married in 2017. They have two sons, Brandon Jr. and Caleb. Brandon enjoys spending time with family, reading theology, and all things golf.

PHILIP GABLE

Philip grew up in North Texas with Christian parents and a church family who taught him about the love of God. When he was eight years old, the Spirit gave him a desire to commit his life to following Jesus.
After college, he completed a PhD in psychology at Texas A&M University where he met his wife, Savannah. They have been married for 15 years and have two kids, Peter (9) and Bethany (6). 

Philip taught at the University of Alabama and actively served in their church in Tuscaloosa for 10 years before moving to teach at the University of Delaware and attend Ogletown in 2020. At Ogletown, Philip loves teaching in Greenroom (College) Sunday Bible Study and the Graduates and Professionals (GAP) group. He currently serves on the Deacon Team and has previously served on the Family Pastor Search Committee. He enjoys trail running, exercise, and axe throwing. With his two kids, he enjoys jumping on the trampoline and trying to beat them at video games. 

JEFF GESHAY

Growing up in a Christian home in Racine, Wisconsin, Jeff came to know Christ through an evangelist preaching at his home church. After meeting his wife, Katy, at Baptist Bible College of Pennsylvania, they were married in June of 1973.  Jeff and Katy have 5 grown children and 15 grandchildren.

Jeff recalls that through the years of ministry leading worship and directing choirs, one of his main responsibilities has regularly been teaching a Sunday School Bible Study. He has continued this endeavor here at Ogletown working through a book of the Bible, verse by verse, which he greatly enjoys. Jeff also likes to see others succeed in their own area of service or ministry. He writes, “I have always loved to help others be a blessing. I love to help pull together individuals to do together in groups or teams what they could not do separately.”

Jeff and Katy live in Newark (DE) and have been part of OBC since 2001. Since 1996, Jeff retired from OPEX, a technology corporation in 2023 where he worked as a Business Alliance Manager. Jeff also enjoys golf, listening to music, and spending time with family.

BRUCE HOOGETSRAAT

Bruce grew up on his family’s dairy farm near Sioux Falls, South Dakota. As a child, while attending Bible school at his church, he put his faith in Christ. Bruce recalls clearly, “I realized I was a sinner and asked Christ to forgive me. I knelt to pray with the pastor by the kitchen table in the parsonage.”

During college years, Bruce met Debbi at her church which he had been attending. As of this year, they have been married for 47 years.

For 36 years, Bruce worked at DuPont, first as a Mechanical Engineer and later in Management. He has been retired for the last 12 years. Throughout this time, Bruce has also served at Ogletown. He’s been a deacon, Bible Study teacher, children’s church volunteer, and part of various committees. Bruce presently serving on a Guest Services team.

Bruce and Debbi have two daughters (Amy and Christi), and six grandchildren. Both Amy and Christi and their husbands are actively engaged in serving the Lord. Bruce and Debbi love being involved in the lives of their grandchildren, and they want to leave “a strong legacy of following the Lord.” Bruce also enjoys walks with Debbi, visiting children and grandchildren, and working outside in his yard.

EDDIE JOHNSTON

Raised in a Christian home, Eddie professed faith in Christ at age 14. He recalls that “through childhood, God patiently pursued me through the faithful labors of many people. My conversion was not a dramatic reversal, but a progression of understanding, acceptance, and then trust in the gospel.” While in college at Georgia Tech, Eddie met Robin at a singles Sunday School class in their church. They were married in 1976. 

Over the years, Eddie and Robin have been involved in ministries together, such as teaching a toddler Sunday School class, leading the children’s Bible drill, and serving at the Book Table. Eddie has previously served as a deacon and a shepherd, chaired several Finance and Pastoral Search committees, and taught Sunday School classes. Eddie is currently a member of the Senior Pastor Search Committee.

Eddie and Robin live in Newark (DE), have three children and seven grandchildren. He retired from DuPont after over 35 years, and then retired again from Chemours, he enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with his family. 

DEEPAK REJU

Deepak joined Ogletown Baptist Church as Senior Pastor in July of 2024. Deepak and his wife, Sarah, have five children. Deepak received his undergrad from George Washington University (DC) and holds a Masters and Ph.D from Southern Seminary (KY).

Deepak is the author of several books, including his most recent, Build on Jesus, along with Rescue Plan. He serves on the board of directors of the Biblical Counseling Coalition and also as a trustee for the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation. 

When he’s not writing books, Deepak enjoys coaching soccer, playing board games, and reading.

CHARLIE ROLAND

Charlie Roland grew up in the Delaware Valley. He was raised in a Christian family but came to know Christ as a young man. Charlie remembers that “I thought I knew the Lord but was actively rebelling against God’s law. Then, through Baptist Student Ministry, God used godly men, Bible Studies, the Passion conference, and other things to show me my sin and lead me to trust in Christ.”

Charlie has worked at Verizon for the past five years, currently serving as a Senior Business Account Manager. He and his wife Allie met at Baptist Student Ministry (now Christian Challenge)and have been married for four years.

Charlie has also actively served the Lord at Ogletown. He has gone on several mission trips, led many Bible studies, and has assisted with the preaching and teaching at churches and at Christian Challenge. He and Allie have led GreenRoom for the past three years, and currently serve as co-leaders of a Community Group. In 2018, Charlie graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Charlie and Allie live in Hockessin, Delaware. In November 2021 celebrated the birth of their daughter, Nora. Charlie also enjoys spending time with friends, playing basketball, and trying new restaurants with Allie.

Henry speed

Henry was born in Chester, Pennsylvania and moved to New Castle, Delaware with his family in 1975–Delaware is home for Henry. During the summer of 6th grade through an invitation to attend VBS (Vacation Bible School) at the local Baptist church Henry was introduced to the gospel. It would not be until 9th grade during a small youth rally that the presentation of the gospel moved Henry to the point of recognizing his need for Christ as his Savior, and asked for repentance and for Jesus to be the Lord of his life.

Henry has been a member of Ogletown since 2013. Since then he has served on the Deacon Team, Security Team, and on a Guest Services team. Henry is a member of the Next Steps Sunday Bible Study, and he graduated with a Masters in Theological Studies from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2020.

Henry currently lives with is dog, Little Jerry, in Bear. After serving 31 years with the Delaware State Police, Henry is now retired. Henry enjoys sporting events as well as swimming, biking, and weight training for exercise.

NATHAN WALTERS

Nathan was raised in Maryland and moved to Delaware in middle school. He was raised in the church, but college was transformational for his faith and he was baptized at Ogletown during college.

After graduating from the University of Delaware in 2014, Nathan worked in the engineering field for four years while pursuing a call to ministry.  He served as the Pastoral Assistant at Ogletown in 2018 before taking the role as Director of Baptist Student Ministry (now Christian Challenge) in 2019.  Nathan and his wife Jamie were married in 2014 and have stayed connected to college ministry since then, with Jamie serving as the College Ministry Coordinator at Ogletown before having their first child in 2019. 

Nathan and Jamie live in Newark with their two children, Nate (4) and Nolan (2).  Nathan enjoys camping and hiking, biking his two sons around campus, and hopefully watching the Orioles finally win the World Series.