Our Mission & Vision
 

The mission of Evangel Temple is to Evangelize the Lost, Edify the Saints, and Exalt Jesus Christ.

 

Leadership Team: Our leadership team recognizes the authority of God, and realizes that we are shepherds who serve under the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. We desire to devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. Our passion and goal is to equip the believers for the work of the ministry until we all attain maturity in the fullness of Christ.  

Pastor Don Hutchings, Senior Pastor Reverend Don Hutchings

Reverend Don Hutchings has been the Senior Pastor of Evangel Temple since 1989. During this time, God has blessed the church with thousands of souls saved, and the congregation has grown from 128 to over 1,000. Pastor Don holds a Bible degree from Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. His undergraduate and graduate degrees were earned at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas. He is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God.

He is very active in the community, serving 8 years as a City Director, and is a current board member of FCA. Former Governor Mike Huckabee appointed Pastor Don to the Criminal Detention Facility Review Committee for Judicial District 12. He is an active member of the Noon Exchange Club and Rotary Club. 
On December 14, 2006, Pastor Don was given a “Spirit of the Frontier” award by the city of Fort Smith. This award is given to outstanding individuals in Fort Smith who have made a positive difference for good on the life of the community. It is the highest honor the city can give to a citizen.

Pastor Don and his wife, Carol, have been married for 46 years. They have three children — Celeste, Monica, and Evan. They are blessed with eight beautiful grandchildren — Zayne, Noah, Nasseh, Asa, Abram, Owen,  Cora and Wyatt.

 
Ryan Rose Arkansas
Pastor Ryan Rose, Associate Pastor
Pastor Ryan joined our staff in 2018.  He is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God, and has been serving in ministry since 2004. Ryan loves working in both Young Adult and Men’s Ministries as well as equipping and raising up new leaders. He & his wife Tiffany currently lead our Marriage & Family Ministry. 

Ryan and Tiffany married in 2005 and have three children: Kaden, Addison, & Juliana. They own and operate Rose Auto Sales, a Van Buren based car dealership, Ryan is the Statewide Arkansas Assemblies of God Men’s Ministries Director, he also serves in leadership at Union Christian Academy and as the President of  Heart to Heart Pregnancy & Family Care Center.  Pastor Ryan was elected to the Arkansas State House of Representatives in 2022.
 
  
Pastor Mike Nichols, Men’s Pastor
Mike and his wife, Celeste, are both graduates of Master’s Commission. Celeste received an Associates and Bachelor’s degree from UAFS. She recently graduated with two Master’s Degrees from John Brown University.  Mike is a licensed minister with the Independent Assemblies, and has been on staff with Evangel Temple for seventeen  years.

Mike leads the Men’s Ministries program.  Mike & Celeste help lead our Marriage & Family Ministry in the Worship Center on Sundays at 10 a.m.  He is the head of our security.  Mike and Celeste have five sons.

Pastors Caleb & Brooklyn Craig, Children’s Pastors

Caleb grew up in Van Buren, AR and has a Bachelors Degree from Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Texas. He has spent years in Haiti and Ireland serving the local churches there. He loves spending time with his 11 nieces and nephews as well as the rest of his family.
 
Brooklyn grew up in the small town of Altus, AR. She graduated from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, AR, and is now working as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. Her work has taken her way up north to Montana to way down south in Florida. She loves being outdoors, traveling, and meeting new people. 
 
The Craig’s also lead our College and Youth Adult Ministry.
 
Pastor Jessica Riggins, Worship Pastor

Our Worship Pastor, Jessica Hill, is a graduate of Ozark High School, Arkansas Tech University with an Associate’s degree in Business Technology and the University of Arkansas Fort Smith with a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership, Jessica has completed ministry training through the Arkansas School of Ministry and is a Licensed Minister with the Assemblies of God.

For the past 20 years, Jessica has served on worship teams as a Worship leader and vocalist and most recently serving as a Worship Leader, Youth Leader and Small Group Leader. Jessica also brings a wealth of experience with nearly 20 years in the business sector having worked for Bank OZK and UAFS. She is married to Norman Alan Riggins.
 
Norman Alan Riggins, Media & Children’s Ministry
Norman grew up at Evangel Temple. His family has served in many capacities at E.T.  We’re so happy to have him leading our media team, and working in our  children’s ministries. 
 
He and his wife Jessica live in Van Buren, AR. One fun fact, he answers to the name Norman or Alan or Norman Alan! He is married to Jessica Riggins.
 
Pastor Jackson Keith, Youth Pastor

Pastor Jackson and his wife Leah serve as the Youth Pastors at E.T. and they are a most welcome addition to the Pastoral Team at Evangel Temple. 

Jackson and Leah are both graduates of Union Christian Academy in Fort Smith where they were both standout athletes and model students actively serving in ministry on and off campus. Prior to coming on staff, the Keith’s were serving in the local church in Youth Worship Ministry and active in Evangelism across our region.
 
What we believe:
 
Click here for the Assemblies of God 16 Fundamental Truths.
 
Our Deacons We are blessed to have a godly board of Deacons at Evangel Temple.  Mark Walters, Patty Hutchings, Maria Amaya, Mike Roberts, Ron Shepard (President of the Board), Omar Trejo, and Honorary Deacon, Abram Sopshire  make up this wonderful board.  They are here to serve the congregation and the pastoral staff in any way they can.