About Us

Pray with us for God's wisdom and provision as we seek His will in calling a new director to serve and lead ODBM

Paul grew up as a Missionary Kid in Africa. Marla grew up in a Pastor's home in Iowa. They met at Bible college and served 40 years as missionaries in Paraguay. Paul serves as the ODBM Assistant Director. He oversees the application process, guiding and assisting new missionaries. He also leads our missionary internship program for college students and young adults. Marla serves and assists in the office in many ways. She writes the ODBM monthly updates and corresponds with ODBM missionaries regularly receiving their praises and prayer requests. They both assist the Director as needed and enjoy visiting missionaries on the field when they are able.

Kim and Kris Kuhr have served the Lord faithfully for several decades in many capacities in the US and overseas.  They served as missionaries in the Netherlands assisting in planting a church that continues today under national leadership.  They coordinate various projects to serve and assist ODBM missionaries and national partners.  They oversee the annual ODBM golf tournament, providing critical funds for operating costs.  Kim and Chris also coordinate the senior adult ministry at Morningside Baptist Church.

Kevin Chen is from the mainland of China, and he serves in the Mandarin-speaking Chinese ministry at Morningside Baptist Church as the Chinese Pastor. 

Kevin worked in the educational field for four years in Beijing. He heard the gospel through foreign missionaries and was converted to Christ by the grace of God. 

Prior to coming to Morningside, Kevin served in a home church in Beijing as a treasurer and Sunday school teacher. He and his wife, Andrea, have two daughters, Jillian and Evelyn.

Jeriel Ontoy was raised in a Christian home where he believed the gospel and fell in love with church music. He served in his local church by accompanying congregational singing, conducting choirs, and organizing music rehearsals. Jeriel views these early years as the foundation for his current ministry.

In 2020, Jeriel married his wife Carmel and joined our part-time staff as choir director. After earning an MA in Biblical Studies, Jeriel joined our full-time staff as the associate pastor in May of 2022. Since then, he’s earned an MDiv in Worship and served in our music & administration ministries.

Joyce Hoffman was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. She was raised in a loving, Christian family. She was saved at the age of six. After graduating from High School, Joyce came to Greenville to attend Bob Jones University, majoring in Business Administration.

Joyce has 40 years of business experience. For 25 years she worked for Greenville County in their Finance department, where she performed a wide range of accounting roles. Joyce retired from the county in 2022 to provide full-time care for her mother, who was battling dementia.

Joyce’s daughter, son-in-law, and son live in Greenville and are active members of Morningside. She enjoys football and is an avid Steelers fan. She loves to sing and enjoys being a part of the choir at Morningside. She is excited and thankful to use the skills the Lord has given her to serve at Morningside as Finance Administrator.

Steven Huffman had the privilege of growing up in Georgia in a pastor’s home, and came to Christ at an early age. While attending Morningside as a student, he met Ranya Carrier (Morningside’s music pastor’s daughter), and his interest in her led him to join Morningside in 1992. He taught the college Sunday School class while he was working on a master’s degree. When he finished the degree in 1993, he married Ranya and was ordained to the gospel ministry.

Immediately after his honeymoon, Steven came on staff as the Assistant Pastor at Morningside in 1993 and later transitioned to the role of Outreach Pastor. During his tenure at Morningside, he completed a Doctor of Pastoral Theology degree. He desires to faithfully serve the Lord and the people of Morningside as he seeks to evangelize the lost, edify the believer, equip Christians to do the work of the ministry, and exalt Jesus Christ.

At Morningside Steven's ministry focus is on community outreach, administration, and member care.