BUFFY ST. JOHN
President of Declare The Word International
Buffy St. John was born in Youngstown, Ohio and was raised under the influence of legendary Evangelist Kathryn Kuhlman. From an early age, Buffy knew that God had placed a call on her life. Yet, as a result of child abuse and other issues, she spent several years running from God and the call to ministry.
She obtained her college degree and knew success in the business world until her desperate search for significance and purpose brought her back to God.
Her testimony is powerful and riveting. Buffy was freed from homelessness and prison, and her life proves the power of God’s saving grace and His mercy to all that call upon Him.
Now, as an evangelist, author, singer, and powerful speaker, Buffy fulfills a busy schedule from coast to coast and often overseas teaching others to Declare The Word.
Buffy preaches a call to repentance. Without a repentant heart we cannot worship God. Without continuing repentance the Church cannot live out the life of Christ in the world. True repentance leads to humility. True repentance leads to the love of Christ being reflected through each believer.
KIM R. STENSRUD
Biblical Teacher, Mentor
Kim R. Stensrud was born in Rapid City, South Dakota and raised in California since the age of ten. By age eleven, the British Music Invasion exploded in America, which eventually led him on a life long musical journey. By 1983, after several failed attempts to complete his educational goals and succeed in the music industry, Kim gave his life to Jesus Christ. That same year, Kim enrolled in Faith Bible college and committed his musical abilities to God and the Praise and Worship Team of his church.
Kim is the President of Ironworks Ministry; a ministry for men which is a division of Declare The Word International. Besides traveling with his wife Buffy, he is also involved with a local worship team playing drums.
THE COUPLE
Buffy and Kim met in 1995 at Hope Chapel in Hermosa Beach, California. Interestingly enough they both were on the worship team. Kim as a drummer and Buffy as a singer. For one year they didn’t know each other exisited as they sought after God and His will for their lives individually. By the time they became aware of each other – Kim was transferred through his job to Dallas, Texas. Thus began the long distance relationship, the struggles and the path that would eventually lead them through battles with cancer, Hep C, Fibromyalgia, mission trips, death of loved ones and the many hindrances that seemed to try to keep them apart.
Finally on November 10th 2000, Kim and Buffy were married and the becoming one started. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24-KJV) Through their struggles in the becoming one and the call on their individual lives; God raised a corporate ministry. Each coming from different backgrounds, they find that the strengths and weaknessess of one or the other blend and together they are a powerful whole in the Holy Spirit.
ALLAN THOMPSON
1943 – 2023: Faithful Servant in our future, greatly missed.
Allan Thompson is Community Relations Minister for Declare The Word International. Allan was raised in Oklahoma. Upon graduation from the University of Oklahoma, he went to New York City to become an advertising copywriter. Instead, he got a job in an agency media department. Allan then obtained a more lucrative position with a radio sales firm. After several radio management positions, Allan purchased a share of KGBX radio in Springfield, Missouri.
Along the road to “success” Allan became addicted to alcohol which contributed to his loss of KGBX. In 1991, the Lord miraculously saved him and removed his desire to drink. By 1996, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Allan had studied enough about Christianity to enroll at The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary where he earned his Master of Divinity degree. He was licensed by the Assemblies of God in 2001 and ordained by Declare The Word International in 2006. You can read Allan’s story in his book ‘Tis Grace available in ebook, soft and hardback formats wherever books are sold.
Allan has been president of The Servants of Hope, a local Springfield organization designed to equip church members to go to the lost and hurting through kindness evangelism. The Servants of Hope has become a ministry of Declare The Word International.
JOSEPH CULP
I was born in Turriff, Aberdeenshire Scotland and was raised by my grandparents until I was 11. Alas, my grandfather was an alcoholic and my grandmother had to work three jobs to support us. She was a strong Christian in the Church of Scotland and later moved to the Lutheran Church in America.
At the age of 11, I was sent by the Scottish courts to Pennsylvania to live with my birth mother and her husband for six months so they could get more welfare money. This was the worst six months of my life as I was sexually, physically, and emotionally abused by my mother, her husband, and his friend. After that, until I was a senior in high school, I spent my teen years in and out of foster and group homes. As a senior, I inexplicably moved back in with my mother.
I joined the U. S. Air Force in July, 1981 and on July 9, 1990 I was blessed to have my first date with Serene Simplicity McLenan who I am so thankful to say became my wife on February 14, 1992. In January, 1992 I had accepted Christ as my Savior and Lord through repentance and confession of my sins. He saved me by his grace through the faith He gave me. One week after Serene and I were married I was baptized at Hope Chapel in Hermosa Beach, California. This became our home church. And, when I became a Christian I finally could forgive my abusers.
While we were still living in Southern California I surrendered to God’s call on my life to preach. We moved to Italy for two years (August, 1996 to August, 1998) and were blessed with other Christians to start a church at the Ghedi Air Base in Italy. I was able to preach once a month and start a home Bible study. Now, both Serene and I work as civilian employees on a base here in the states. Lord willing, we will be moving to DFAS in Columbus, Ohio in November where we both will continue our ministry.
On Sunday, May 29, 2007 I was blessed to become a licensed minister through Declare The Word International. In May 2009, I was blessed to become an ordained minister through Declare The Word International. My spiritual gifts are utilized through preaching and teaching the Word of God, prayer, praise and worship, writing devotionals, and tongues. Praise be to God, I am also growing in the gift of discerning of spirits.
Serene and I are proud “parents” of Prince Bello Joseph Culp, a red male tabby cat. My primary hobbies are reading and studying the 1599 Geneva Bible and reading church history, especially The Scottish Covenanters which include many of my kin.