Ray and Sylvia feel privileged to be able to fulfill their calling to the people of Latin America through the Francis Asbury Society. They met in ministry while in Central America many years ago, and God continues to lead them down this incredible path. Over the years they have ministered in the USA, Costa Rica, Honduras, Colombia, and most recently in Bolivia, SA. Ray is a professor of Bible and Theology while Sylvia shares her talents in art and homemaking.
Sylvia has a bachelor’s degree in Art from Asbury College and an MFA in Painting & Drawing from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Ray has a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Asbury College, a master’s degree in Divinity/Pastoral Theology from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a master’s and PhD in Systematic Theology from Trinity International University in Deerfield, IL. They are both graduates of the Spanish Language Institute in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Ray has been a pastor for several years in both United Methodist and Nazarene churches, but his main ministry now is in the classroom as a theology professor. The academic and spiritual formation of both hearts and minds is his primary calling. He also sings and plays both trumpet and guitar.
Sylvia loves to paint. Her specialty is portraits in oil and watercolor. She also enjoys doing chalk presentations of Bible stories for children and adults. She loves cooking for Ray and the students of our theology classes. Sylvia enjoys sewing and gardening, and nurturing her flowers wherever she goes.
Ray’s primary area of theological focus is the area of personhood. His doctoral dissertation, called Participatory Personhood, was on the interaction between divine and human personhood. He desires to publish this work as well as a Theology of Salvation.
Sylvia is originally from Kentucky though she spent much of her childhood and youth in Michigan. She was raised in a Christian home, the daughter of a UM pastor, Rev. and Mrs. Zeke Moore. She has one sister, Norma. Ray was raised in a Christian home, but on a farm in western Pennsylvania. He is the second of four children. Ray and Sylvia are living in the state of Indiana and are semi-retired. They have no children.
Bio coming soon
“Francis Asbury Society, this is Cathy. How may I help you?” If you have called FAS, you have probably heard my voice. It is always a pleasure to speak with you. I will gladly take your book orders and answer your questions! I have a quiet, helpful personality and a servant’s heart. I help manage the bookstore and process and package the orders. I handle building rental reservations, facilitate volunteer activities, maintain office and cleaning supplies, and schedule building upkeep projects.
I have a talented husband, four independent young men, one lovely daughter-in-law, a precious, God-fearing mother-in-law who lives with us, and a menagerie of animals. I marvel at God’s creation and enjoy hiking, working in the flower beds, visiting with my friends and neighbors, and listening to audiobooks. (You can also assume that I enjoy sleeping and eating. That should be a given!)
My favorite place is along Lake Superior. My favorite Bible verse is Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Jesus orchestrates my time and always provides a way… to accomplish my tasks, to meet someone who needs a listening ear, to bless others, or to speak into the lives of my family members. I am so grateful to love and be loved by Jesus and to be part of FAS, where others love Him, too.
I wear many hats at FAS including office manager, administrative secretary to the Board of Directors, and executive assistant to the president. I am the proud mother of three children: Kenzie, Keturah and Kyle. They are my greatest source of joy and greatest source of stress, and I wouldn’t trade the experience of parenting them for anything (most days)! I am delighted to serve in a Christian ministry dedicated to spreading the message of eternal salvation and holy [wholly] living, which is equally my goal as a Christian parent.
Jim Harriman obtained his Bachelor of Arts (History) from Asbury College (now University) and his Master of Arts in Religion from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY. He received his Ph.D. in Old Testament Studies from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.
He was a missionary with World Gospel Mission (Assignment: Paraguay) from 1988 to 1994. He has been a member of The Francis Asbury Society since 1997. Jim preaches in churches and camp meetings across the United States as well as ministering internationally.
In August 2012, Jim took on the responsibility of being the international representative for the Bolivian Evangelical University (UEB) in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. He serves on the school’s Board of Directors and helps raise funds for its various projects and programs. As a professor, Jim teaches theology and Old Testament.
Jim and his wife, Mayoli, currently reside in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
For 17 years, Jerry and his wife, Jan, served as missionaries in Europe with the Free Methodist Church. The last 11 years he served as the overseer for continental Europe. Since joining FAS in 2013 Jerry’s call to the nations is becoming more realized as he has had the opportunity to preach and teach in over 70 countries in the world.
A career in his family’s business was redirected when Jerry felt a call to full-time ministry in the early 1980s. He was ordained in 1987 in the Free Methodist Church and pastored two churches in the USA. Jerry served as the assistant director of VISA and personnel for Free Methodist World Missions before moving with his family to Europe in 1996.
Jerry is a graduate of Greenville College, now University (Greenville, IL), and Asbury Theological Seminary (Wilmore, KY).
Jan Coleman’s training and experience is in education. She taught English in public schools and English as a foreign language to adult learners. Jan uses her platform as a teacher of English as a stepstool for evangelism. As a member of the church planting team in Budapest, Hungary, she also had regular opportunities to teach, preach, and lead worship in the Hungarian language. Since returning to the USA in 2013, Jan has had the privilege of traveling with Jerry both as companion and as a fellow evangelist.
Jerry and Jan have three married children: Sarah (Russell), Kristin (Spencer), and David (Alison); and seven grandchildren.
To hear more of their story, read Jerry’s book, One Way Ticket: Leaving Home for Good.
Bill Kierce began serving as FAS President in June 2023. While in seminary, Bill served as an associate evangelist with the Society and values the privilege of being mentored, like so many others, by Dr. Dennis Kinlaw during those years. He considers it a high and holy privilege to provide leadership in helping to extend the legacy of Dr. Kinlaw’s influence and the message of biblical holiness.
Bill completed a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Auburn University, Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, a Master’s in Leadership and Organizational Development from Saint Louis University (SLU), and a Master’s in Communication from Arizona State University and is completing a PhD dissertation in Organizational Leadership at Eastern University in St. Davids, PA.
Bill has served as an itinerant evangelist, pastor, congregational consultant, as well as graduate and undergraduate adjunct instructor, roles that have converged in his presidency at the Francis Asbury Society. Bill and his wife, Kim, have three grown children and eight grandchildren. Kim is a registered nurse and nurse educator.
