By Jennifer Willis
Communications Staff
Jamie Rasmussen, the senior pastor at Scottsdale Bible Church, has been blessed with the gifts of teaching and leadership and is expected to bring a unique message to Monday’s Chapel in GCU Arena.
One of Scottsdale Bible’s members, GCU Alumni Events and Promotions Manager Nick Knudson, says he is impressed with Rasmussen’s teaching style and vision for the church.
“Jamie has a down-to-earth, biblically grounded teaching style that combines deep theological context with present-day interpretation,” Knudson says. “He allows the congregation to take biblical principles and apply them to their lives throughout the week.”
According to his biography, Rasmussen served in many places around the country — and even the world — before coming to Scottsdale Bible. Those include London, Ontario, where he was instrumental in transitioning a historic, traditional church into a contemporary, small-group-based, outreach church that increased its size by nearly one-third.
When Rasmussen was called to Scottsdale Bible in 2007, he came to a church that already had a long, mission-minded history in the area. In 1963, five families and three individuals started the first meetings in a house — at a time when there was no evangelical church in Scottsdale.
Since then, the church has grown into a multi-program, multi-campus church. Offering both traditional and contemporary worship services and a wide variety of ministries, its goal is to create a community of followers in Christ with unconditional love and unwavering faith.
At Chapel, Rasmussen will speak on Matthew 20:1-16, the parable of the workers in the vineyard. His background is rich in cultural diversity and a passion for helping others understand God on a deeper level. He has traveled to Mexico and China, as well as Tanzania, Egypt, Jordan and Israel, spreading the Word of God and identifying the needs of those less fortunate so that his congregation can help.
Knudson says Rasmussen, who spoke at the College of Nursing’s convocation in 2010 at the invitation of Dean Anne McNamara, is popular and well-liked by his congregation.
“Pastor Jamie Rasmussen has been an influential spiritual leader here in the Valley for many years,” Knudson says. “His ability to communicate vision to his congregation is second to none.”
Rasmussen serves on the board of directors for Phoenix Seminary as well as St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix. He is married and has three children. In his spare time, he and his family like to hike and explore remote areas.
Reach Jennifer Willis at 639.7383 or [email protected].
