Ministry

    Our Speakers

    Read the bios of our speakers below:

    Bill Watson, Pastor

    Bill Watson was ordained to the ministry in 1986 and served for 39 years in multiple capacities for the Church of God, International, in Tyler, Texas.. He was a commentator and Executive Producer of the Armor of God program for 23 of those years, sharing responsibilities with various associates throughout his career with that organization and serving in multiple management roles.

    Over the decades, Bill has published many booklets and articles and served as Managing Editor of the Biblical Publication of the Armor of God Periodical Magazine for many years. His experience with a variety of video programs and formats, combined with his domestic and International travels, has made him a well-rounded individual in his methods to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ.

    His controversial approach to addressing the issues of our uncertain times from a biblical perspective eventually led him to recognize that God had other plans for his ministry. So, today, Bill is presently serving in a new organization, “born out of necessity,” called the Church of God Independent Ministries [CGIM].

    Presently, Bill is continuing the ministry God has used him in, creating new programming and writing materials with a refreshed and renewed sense of clarity, freedom, and excitement for the edification of God’s people and the benefit of the greater whole. It is underscored by a ministerial approach dedicated to Servant Leadership and by the sharing of resources across multiple ministries worldwide.

    CGIM is based in Medina, Ohio, and currently serves the greater Northeast Ohio area, with congregations throughout Ohio and associations with other ministries beyond it.

     

    Tony Buchert, Associate Pastor

    Mr. Buchert is self employed, operating two business’ with his wife Angie, who also is a career school teacher and academic administrator. They both enjoy a peaceful life on their 36 acre farm in Central Ohio.

    Mr. Buchert was baptized with his wife, Angie during Pentecost Weekend in 1996. He has been a consistent member of the Church of God International Congregation in Columbus, OH since that time.

    In 2007, Tony completed the Ministerial Apprenticeship Program through CGI and was ordained into the ministry on the Feast of Trumpets that year. Tony has served as the Pastor for the Columbus, OH Congregation and Indianapolis, IN Congregation for several years; and also has served as a commentator for The Armor of God Program, which was telecasted internationally via the Internet, for CGI.

    Also, Tony has traveled extensively, visiting and sharing many messages with a variety of congregations throughout the United States. He also serves as the Feast Coordinator for The Feast of Tabernacles in Medina, Ohio since 2020. In addition, Tony has also maintained a role on the Ministerial Council for the Church of
    God International.

    Currently, Tony is sharing responsibilities as a credential copastor for the Church of God Independent Ministries with Bill Watson and continues to pastor the Columbus CGI congregation. He looks forward to providing additional presentations in the coming months through Medina’s congregational and Internet Sabbath Services and additional internet programs.

    Dave Rusinko

    Dave is native to the northern Ohio area.  He served for 6 years as a US Marine, serving in various locations in the US and overseas. After the Marines, Dave obtained a masters degree in Chemical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University and began a career in the chemical industry working in product development, innovation management, strategic marketing, and general business management.  He’s held multiple global roles, requiring him to travel to more than 30 countries.  

    When not traveling for work, Dave and his wife Terri spend much of their time driving their 3 teenage children to their sports and activities while working to instill in them healthy habits and Christian values.  Dave has been an active member in the Church since the mid 1990s.

    John Nicoletti

    John is 46 years old and has worked in sales management / marketing for over 25 years with the same fortune 500 company. He was brought up in God’s Church and represents the fourth generation from his family. He grew up in the Worldwide Church of God, but left in 1993 and started attending the Church of God International. He has been serving in the Medina congregation since 2008 and was baptized in 2009. He is very selfless in his service and has been helping out in many areas, which includes much of the camera work for many of the CGI’s video products such as the Armor of God, Biblical News Updates & Commentary, as well as the Web-chats, and the weekly Sabbath Web-cast from Medina.

    John was married to his beloved wife, Michelle in 2021. Michelle was baptized in 2022. Both are  sincerely committed to raising their children according to the Word of God and continuing to serve God’s people wherever they can.

    Dave Bezon

    Dave Bezon grew up in a Roman Catholic family and has 4 grown boys from a previous marriage. In 2010 his eyes were opened to God’s truth and started attending the Medina congregation. He was baptized in 2012. He also remarried a long time member of the Medina congregation, Karen Barthel, back in 2012 after initially attending with CGI for about 2 years. He is 53 years old and has worked in the steel industry for about 26 years in Canton, Ohio. He throughly enjoys spending time with his family and spoiling his grandchildren every chance he gets.

    He is fully committed to growing in God’s Truth and looks forward to contributing to the education of those that hear him in whatever way he can, as God leads and inspires him. Though he is somewhat anxious over this speaking opportunity, he is learning to embrace it and hopes God will guide him to be a blessing for the “greater whole” of benefiting God’s people.

    Jeff Flanick

    Jeff has worked as a college chemistry/physics lab technician for over 30 years. Both he and his wife Maureen (Mo), who is working on her doctorate, have grown children from previous marriages and live in the greater Cleveland / Akron area. They were both baptized in August of 2021 and have been regularly attending the Medina congregation since about 2020. After many years of searching for the truth and life’s circumstances steering them by God’s guidance they have come to deeply appreciate and thank God for His patience in allowing both he and his wife, time to finally start trying to walk in the proper direction.

    Jeff is a regular contributor of articles for the International News and helps compose quiz material for Burlington Canada’s, “Line Upon Line” bible study course. Music has always been Jeff’s passion, with classic rock-n-roll being the foundation of his eclectic collection. He also enjoys collecting antiquarian and unusual books.