Pastors

We strongly believe that the first century churches were autonomous and self governed by men the Bible calls Pastors, Elders, or Shepherds.  The Black Hills Church is blessed to have the following men serving in this capacity at the moment.

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Travis  Backman

Travis and his wife Judy hail from Michigan, and have been tireless servants in the Black Hills Church for several years. Travis and Judy own a ranch just outside of Rapid City on which Travis still is very "hands on". Travis serves as one of our teaching pastors and is very "hands on" in that regard as well. 

Mike  Druyvestein

Mike and his wife Linda own and operate Dakota Timber Homes, a company specializing in the design and building of Appalachian style log homes. Mike serves as one of our teaching pastors and has added a great deal to the leadership and oversight of the Black Hills Church. 

Ministers

Using the model set for us in Ephesians 4 and expanded on in many other passages of scripture, we have the following men serving under the oversight of our elders in ministry and teaching roles.

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John  Dennis

John has been the minister and primary evangelist for the Black Hills Church of Christ almost from its inception. He has ministered with this Body of believers since July of 1995. A large percentage of that time, John has used his skills as a software engineer and marketing specialist to fund his ministry, maintaining a vigorous teaching and counseling ministry while supporting himself. Just recently, John has accepted a supported role. An excerpt from his philosophy of ministry follows: "Though I recognize the need for administration in the Church, I believe that administration is needed only to the degree that the individual members lack a connection to the true Head of the Church, Jesus the Christ, who is blessed for ever. I am adamant that each member of Christ's Body has a specific assignment from God which may or (probably more likely) may not have anything to do with their natural talents."