Huron Claus
Rev. Huron Claus is the President of CHIEF, Inc. (Christian Hope Indian Eskimo Fellowship, Inc.) He is fifth generation Christian from the Mohawk/Kiowa tribes. The vision of CHIEF is to see an effective Christian witness in every Native American tribe and all related tribes in this generation. The mission of CHIEF is to disciple and equip a strong Native American leadership for the development of the indigenous church throughout North, Central and South America. CHIEF networks with approximately 3,000 Native Churches among 300 of the 1,200 Native tribes in the Western Hemisphere. Rev. Claus has served on a number of Native Ministry boards as well as Promise Keepers and AZ Association of Evangelicals. He resides in Phoenix, Arizona and has effectively partnered with local churches and ministries in Phoenix over the past 30 years. He is married with wife, Lois and has two adult children. He is actively involved as a speaker for church events, national conferences, mission related activities and speaks often at colleges.
Enrique Garcia
Enrique was born and raised in Mazatlán, Mexico. He moved to Tucson shortly after giving his life to Christ in 2007 at 23 years of age. He has training in Christian Apologetics and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications studies from the Western Institute of Technology and Higher Education in Guadalajara, Mexico. He completed his master’s degree in Christian studies in May of 2024.
Enrique serves as the Director of Spanish-speaking Ministries at Corazón Ministries. He develops relationships mainly with Spanish-speaking pastors around the city and offers trainings to equip and edify the body of Christ. He has been married to his wife, Lorena, since 2013. They have 3 children: Juliana, Evan, and Elena.
Jerry Gibson
A native of Texas, Jerry graduated from Dallas Baptist University with a degree in theology and biblical studies. He has been involved in cross-cultural ministry for most of his life, going back to his earliest and most formative years serving with Native Peoples in South Dakota. Jerry has also formally served in cross-cultural missions since 2001, including ministry in three low-income urban areas of Dallas. He has traveled to more nations than he can remember to serve alongside missionaries and indigenous believers.
Most recently, Jerry served as the senior director of missions and church planting at Park Cities Presbyterian in Dallas, where he helped develop the process for preparing new missionaries called “Thrive.” Much more important than credentials, Jerry hopes his years of experience (sometimes learning things the hard way) will benefit him in this new position with MTW. Jerry has been married to Kerry for 20 years. They have two daughters.
Erwin Klingenberg
Erwin has been associated with Christ Community Church (CCC) since 1991, when CCC began supporting him and his wife Tina as missionaries. After college, Erwin worked a few years as a pharmacist before he and his new bride Tina went out as missionaries to the Kurds. After serving almost 2 years in Northern Iraq they were forced to leave Iraq and relocate to Germany in 1993, where they continued to work among Kurdish refugees for the next 22 years. Erwin grew up in a Christian home and became a believer at a young age. Erwin has a Master of Ministry degree from Moody Bible Institute. He has been married to his wife Tina since 1991, and has 2 adult children: Daniel, who is serving as the Director of Youth Ministry at El Camino Baptist Church, and Katherine, who is working as a flight attendant for Delta.
Erwin comes to CCC with a passion for discipling men, which was evident throughout his missionary career. He actively discipled both Kurdish and Iranian men who came to faith in Jesus, as well as provided pastoral care for other missionary workers. He is excited about serving at CCC and seeing men discipled; and in helping the church fulfill its call to make disciples of all nations.
Brian Thigpen
Bryan Thigpen works with The Navigators locally at the University of Arizona to minister and labor among the lost on campus. For the past 17 years Bryan and his family have served with The Navigators in Colorado, New Zealand, California, and Arizona. Their ministry exists to help students know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same.
