Meet the Staff

JOSH LARAVIA - Lead Pastor

BACKGROUND: Josh received his Bachelors of Arts degree at Louisiana State University in history and a Masters of Divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Biblical Languages. Before leading Randall, Josh lead the college ministry at The Chapel on the Campus (2002-2011 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana). He was the collegiate pastor for Istrouma Baptist Church (2000-2002) in Baton Rouge, LA. He was also the youth pastor for Grace Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, LA (1998-2000). Through each position Josh has learned a lot about leading the body of Christ to enjoy His grace and extend His glory.  FAMILY: Josh married his wonderful wife Allison in 2002 and they have 3 children, Kennedy, Jackson and Jude.  MINISTRY EXPERIENCE: Josh was a Teaching Pastor at the Chapel on the Campus and focused on the collegiate flock of nearly 800. He discipled a core group of 100 collegiate leaders and adults that served the campus through outreach and evangelism, community groups, and service. Josh mobilized students and adults for several world-wide mission trips. He did this because he has a heart to glorify Christ by making disciples of all nations. His vision is the same for Randall, to lead a church that is wholly yielded to the Lord and passionate for the glory of Christ. Josh believes the Great Commission and the Great Commandment provide the church with its mission, and these imperatives are unchanging and timeless.

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DREW BLACKBURN – Pastor of Discipleship

BACKGROUND: Drew received his Bachelor of Arts degree at The University of Louisiana at Monroe.  He recently transitioned into vocational ministry after working 11 years in the marketplace.  Most recently, Drew worked for 7 years as an independent petroleum landman in North Louisiana.  He has been mentored by several men that God has used to shape Drew to be a disciple-maker with a vision to help others make disciples.  FAMILY:  Drew and his wife, Ellie, married in 2002 and have four children, Nelson, Audrey, Allison, and Katherine. EXPERIENCE: Drew has devoted his life to making disciples since the time that he was in college.  Whether its leading a Bible study, meeting with an individual for one-to-one discipleship, or simply hosting guests in their home, Drew’s passion is to help people really grow in their relationship with God and to be equipped to serve God within their calling and design.

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DICK MURPHY- Executive Pastor

BACKGROUND: Born and raised in the Rochester, New York area, Dick received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wheaton College, and earned a Juris Doctor degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Law.  In addition to his pastoral duties, he maintains an active, full-time practice of law as a partner in the law firm of Sheffer, Murphy & White located in Williamsville, New York.  FAMILY:  Dick married his wife, Mary Ann, in 1969, and they presently make their home in East Amherst, NY.  They have three children.  The oldest, Erin, is married to Dr. Nick Flugstad and they live in Milwaukee, WI.  The next, John, is married to Emily; they live in Williamsville, NY and are proud parents of Jack.  The youngest, Katy, lives in Wheaton, IL.  MINISTRY EXPERIENCE: Since his college years, Dick has always been actively involved in ministry.  He spent two years as Associate Director of Community Outreach Ministries in Glen Ellyn, IL, engaged in various music performance ministries over the years, and served in various lay leadership positions in churches he attended in the Wheaton, IL and Buffalo, NY areas.  He joined the pastoral staff of Randall Church in 2000 as Pastor of Discipleship (half-time), and in that position engaged in personal disciple making, training others to make disciples, helping and encouraging others in their spiritual walk as disciples, and modeling principles of discipleship in his own life.  Under Lead Pastor Josh LaRavia, Dick is transitioning to the position of Executive Pastor in which he will help Josh carry out his vision for the Randall faith family to glorify God by making disciples of all nations.  In addition, Dick will coordinate the Worship Gathering aspect of church activities including Sunday morning services, assimilation and children’s ministries.  In all these things, Dick seeks to accomplish God’s call on his life to minister for His glory using the full measure of his gifts to equip disciples of Jesus to serve him with the full measure of their gifts.

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JACK WILL - Associate Pastor

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KODY LABARTHE - Pastor of Mission

BACKGROUND: Kody received his Bachelors of Science degree at Louisiana State University in Business Management and is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Before coming to Randall, Kody worked on Staff for The Refuge, a college ministry at LSU (2009-2010).  As well, he was a staff member for The Chapel in China, where he was part of a new church plant amongst college students in Southeast Asia.  In each of these positions Kody learned many invaluable skills and lessons concerning working to advance the Lord’s kingdom.  FAMILY: Kody and his new bride, Vicki LaBarth were married this year.  He is super-excited about this new step in life, and looks forward to a future of working alongside Vicki to make disciples and fulfill the Great Commission.  MINISTRY EXPERIENCE:  Kody was part of a staff team at The Refuge that was committed to making disciples to the glory of God.   In his time with this ministry he was able to gain much experience doing on-campus evangelism,  leading community groups, discipling young men, leading summer mission trips, and teaching the student leaders in the ministry, as well as gaining some experience teaching at the weekly large group gathering.

In Asia, Kody was blessed to be a part of the beginning stages of a church plant amongst college students.  While there, he learned how to depend on the Lord while sharing the Gospel often with students, as well as discipling a core group of leaders to live their lives to the glory of God.  Discipling these students sharpened Kody in his skills of teaching and shepherding.  Also, he was able to take several trips to unreached people groups in Asia, bringing the Gospel to different people groups who have never had the opportunity to hear about Jesus Christ before!

At Randall, Kody is so excited to help lead a church that is deeply in love with Jesus Christ, and willing to do anything in obedience to him.  He believes that a church with this radical nature is poised and ready to make a great impact for the kingdom of God as its members  make disciples, love the Lord, and love people with all of their strength!

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MILO  WILSON – Worship and Church Multiplication Pastor

BACKGROUND: Milo was raised on a dairy farm 40 miles south of Buffalo in Delevan, NY.  He spent 4 years in the Marine Corps as a Saxophonist in the Marine Band before getting out a pursuing God’s calling to full-time Ministry. He recieved his bachelors degree in Church Music with Voice as his primary instrument at North Greenville University in South Carolina. He stayed at North Greenville to finish his Masters in Church Ministry in 2007. FAMILY: Milo and his wife, Erin, married in 2001 and have been blessed with four amazing children. Daylia, Hazyl, Maia, and Josiah. (After being in the hospital all but 3 days of his  life, Josiah passed away January 24th, 2010 of a rare and serious heart defect called HLHS in Charleston, SC. Please ask Milo and Erin to tell you their amazing story of God’s love for his people through their son Josiah.) MINISTRY EXPERIENCE: Milo has been a minister of music and lead worshipper for more than 10 years. He plays a number of instruments, and loves to sing loud! He has served in the past as a youth pastor, an outreach pastor, and church planter. After leaving the area to join the Marine is 1999, Milo returned home to the WNY region in 2010, with a burning desire from God to see lives changed in Buffalo by the power of Jesus Christ. Milo has been part of planting two evangelic churches, and is very passionate about seeing churches multiply and grow additional churches to further the Kingdom of God. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

AARON RICHBART- Pastor of Student Ministries

BACKGROUND: Aaron received his Bachelors of Science degree at Philadelphia Biblical University in Bible with an emphasis in Youth Ministry.  Prior to working full time with the Youth at Randall, Aaron served as a volunteer in the Youth Group (2009-2011) and worked full time as a Regional Director for Christian Service Brigade Ministries (2009-2010).  FAMILY: Aaron and his wife Rebecca have attended Randall their whole lives and were married in 2008.  Both Aaron’s and Rebecca’s families currently attend Randall.  MINISTRY EXPERIENCE: Since 2001 Aaron has worked every summer at a Christian boys camp.  Aaron has served as a Cabin Leader, Program Director, and as a Camp Pastor.  In college, Aaron worked weekly with a young men’s group at a local church (2005-2008).  He has served as a Regional Director for CSB Ministries and has been working directly with the Randall Youth Group since 2009.

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LAURIE HENDERSON - Women’s Ministry

BACKGROUND: Born and raised in Clarence, New York, Laurie Studied Elementary Education at Buffalo State College and then was accepted into the Women’s Ministry program at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago where she studied Evangelism/Discipleship with an emphasis in Women’s Ministries.  Prior to coming on staff at Randall, Laurie had been serving in Women’s Ministry at the Chapel at Cross Point, leading discipleship groups and MOPS small groups from 2007-2011.  FAMILY:  Laurie married her  husband Dan in 2004.  Laurie and Dan currently live in Lancaster, NY with their 2 children, Taylor and Benji.  MINISTRY EXPERIENCE:  Laurie has always had a deeply rooted passion for Evangelism and Discipleship, especially to women.  She first felt her call to full time ministry while on a short term mission trip to Barbados, in 2001.   While at Buffalo State College, Laurie was a student leader for a middle school youth group at Bethel Baptist Church in Getzville, NY.  She also led an on campus Bible study and took part in campus outreach programs.  At Moody Bible Institute, Laurie organized an on-campus, encouragement event for the female student body.  She was also a part of the Street Evangelism team that would go into the heart of downtown Chicago and share the Gospel on street corners.  Laurie served as a counselor and prayer partner for those who received Christ.  Laurie was also a mentor for high school girls through a Chicago area outreach program, facilitated by Moody Bible Institute.   In recent years, she has served as a leader in a local MOPS group, and led women’s discipleship in a small group setting.  Laurie and her husband also led a small group Bible study to encourage and equip young families from 2007-2010 Laurie’s desire is to encourage and teach women about the Bible, teach them how to draw closer to Jesus, and equip them to reach others, making disciples of all nations.

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DIANE SHARPE - Children’s Director

BACKGROUND:  Diane received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Music Education at the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Masters of Science degree in Elementary Education from the State University College of New York at Buffalo.  After an extensive teaching career, Diane has retired and desires to use her knowledge and experience in Children’s Ministry.  FAMILY:  Diane and her husband, George have two married children, Ryan,US Army and Rebecca, Elementary Educator.  MINISTRY EXPERIENCE:  Diane has been actively involved in children’s ministry at Randall for many years both teaching and serving on the Christian Education committee as well as directing the children’s choir. Diane’s mission is threefold.  She desires to help children: 1. KNOW God through His Son, Jesus Christ. 2.  GROW in their knowledge of God’s Word, the Bible and 3. SHOW the love of God in their lives and activities.

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MORGAN MIDDLETON - Administrative Assistant  & Children’s Minister

BACKGROUND: I just moved to Buffalo from Dallas, TX where I have lived most of my life.  I have family in Louisiana and Mississippi, and the small town of Natchez is where I call home. I graduated in 2011 from Louisiana State University with a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education. After graduation I had plans to go overseas to Bologna, Italy to serve college students and help build up a ministry at the University of Bologna. However, God had other plans for me, and I wound up back in Dallas living with my family. After a year of praying and asking the Lord where He wanted me to be, I found myself in Buffalo visiting Randall and talking with the staff about how I could be a part of the church.  MINISTRY EXPERIENCE: I was a part of the college ministry at LSU called The Refuge for four years while I was in school. I was able to lead community groups, do evangelism on campus, and serve college students through summer projects. The leadership team helped me grow in my faith and realize the need for sharing the Gospel with others. My heart is to make disciples of all nations and I hope to continue doing that here at Randall through the Children and College ministries.

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BEV MAURER - Church Life and Care Coordinator

BACKGROUND: “ Bevie” was born and raised in Amherst, New York. After graduating from Sweet Home High School, she went on to receive a degree in Business Administration from Buffalo State College.  FAMILY: Bev and her husband of 34 years, Al, live in Clarence with their two Bernese Mountain Dogs. Both Bev and Al have a passion for working and sharing God’s love with kids: Bevie with younger pre-kindergarten/kindergarten children and Al with senior high students.  MINISTRY EXPERIENCE:  Bev’s family started attending Randall in her elementary school years.  Upon her college graduation, Bev began a Special Education class for the needs of those students in the church as well as the surrounding area. It was a joy for Bev to participate in this ministy as well as working with the amazing teachers and staff God provided; the class continued for well over twenty years. Shortly after their wedding, Al and Bev began working with the Junior High youth group; an experience all unto its own, with tremendous rewards. Bev does have a love for “kids” and finds it an incredible joy to be coordinating and teaching the LifeStart class (4 and 5 year olds) on Sunday mornings. WORK:  Bev started working at Randall many years ago as a part time bookkeeper and through the years was hired on as the Church Administrator and now the Church Life and Care Coordinator.

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BRANDON GRINDER - Support Staff

BACKGROUND:  Brandon was born in Rochester, but spent most of his life in the Buffalo area.  He received a certificate in Audio Recording and Production from DigiDesign through Niagara County Community College, and is trained in the use of Pro Tools recording software and associated hardware.  Since the age of 10, he was involved in running the sound at Hillview Baptist Church in Depew, NY.  Sound and recording has always been a passion of Brandon’s, and he plans to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Acoustics from Columbia College of Chicago within the next several years.  Aside from working with the sound here at Randall, Brandon engineers at a recording studio in Buffalo, works full-time at Guitar Center, and works with several bands and venues locally to help out with sound and recording needs.  MINISTRY EXPERIENCE:  Brandon grew up attending Hillview Baptist Church since the age of 5, and always stayed rather involved there.  Once he was old enough, he began attending youth group, and going to functions such as Snow Camps and outings to Circle C Ranch in Delevan, NY.  When Brandon graduated from high school, he took on the role of being a student leader to the youth group.   He occasionally aided in worship over at Hillview, and has also had the opportunity to play with the band at The Chapel at Crosspoint for morning worship.  Over the last several years, Brandon has attended Vintage, the college-aged ministry group at The Chapel, and also helped out with the planning team of a group from Vintage that reached out and held services at UB’s North Campus.  Most of Brandon’s service came from helping out with the sound at Hillview, and taking over and overseeing it there from the age of 16 and on.