Our Vision
Compelled by our love for Christ and others, we enable churches and pastors in the Northwest to fulfill their calling to the Great Commission. We actively cultivate healthy churches and pastors by providing biblical encouragement, biblical mentorship, and biblical partnerships to the glory of God. As a catalyst in our network of healthy churches, we serve as a resource for training and equipping believers to make future disciples.
Our Values
-
We entrust ourselves to the sovereign God as the ultimate director and arbitrator of all our responsibilities through His written Word. Because the Holy Scriptures are sufficient for all things pertaining to life and godliness, we submit ourselves to the authority of the Word, allowing it to define and direct all of our beliefs, practices, and endeavors for the health of the body. (Psalm 19:7-14; II Timothy 3:14-4:2; II Peter 1:3, 19-21).
-
We entrust ourselves to the sovereign God as we faithfully abide in Him so that He may empower all of us to walk in the Spirit in order to live spiritually healthy and obedient lives which vibrantly produce fruit to the praise and glory of Christ. (Jn. 15:7-8; Gal. 5:16, 22-23; I John 1:3-6).
-
We entrust ourselves to the sovereign God to enable us to passionately make disciples for Christ which results in healthy churches that reproduce and raise generations of laborers for the harvest. (Matt. 9:35-38; 28:19-21; Acts 1:8; II Cor 5:12,20; II Tim 2:2).
-
We entrust ourselves to the sovereign God as we lovingly pursue the bonds of peace, acting with integrity as one body and one family. Being healthy co-laborers in Christ, we display the unity of the Godhead. (John 1:12-13; 17:20-23; Rom. 8:14-17; I Cor. 12:12-14; Eph. 4:1-6).
-
We entrust ourselves to the sovereign God to equip us to faithfully fulfill His call on us for the ministry of making healthy disciples. We faithfully rely on Him to bless and uphold the ministry for His honor and glory. (Ps. 127:1; Matt. 28:19-20; Col. 1:17).
Our Roots
Beginnings
Ours is a story that always begins and ends with God’s work through people. Concerned that so many communities in the Pacific Northwest lacked a Bible teaching church, the Lord stirred a group of faithful men to combine their efforts for the formation of Northwest Independent Church Extension in 1958. It was a culmination of years of work in which God was strategically moving people from one location to another in order to position NICE for a legacy of God-honoring work.
Those initial years would require the efforts of the right people for NICE’s formation. Initially it was Henry Boyd and his wife Margaret who had the privilege of first having the title ‘Director & Wife’ bestowed upon them; and it was just who was needed to help establish the foundation for NICE in those initial years. They were followed by Don and Joanne Strunk whose stability allowed NICE to settle further into its role as a church planting organization in the PNW.
Growing Years
With a foundation set, what began as a modest organization reaching into Washington and Oregon would expand its influence significantly under the 30-year tenure of Roy and Elvia Sprague. The Pacific Northwest would expand to include church plants also in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Northern California. More church plants also meant more missionary families who made NICE their permanent home.
When it was clear the Lord was once again moving His people, Roy and Elvia stepped into retirement (though they are still active even today) and allowed for God to move Earl and Shirley Brubaker into their position. Utilizing their experience and wisdom, God utilized Earl and Shirley to not only lead NICE but impact churches through their leadership, consultation, and direction before bringing Bob & Katherine Rodgers into the picture. Having already been part of NICE for many years, God used their relationships to foster further growth in the organization and guide it toward the familial culture it has today.
N.I.C.E. Today
From one director to the next, NICE has continued faithfully not merely because of what these couples did but because of what God has done through these couples. Now we look forward to what he will do with the next director Robert Zink, and his wife Bethany in the upcoming years.
It has been a work dedicated to His work, and we are grateful that the Lord has seen fit to continue it for so many years. May our faithfulness to Him not waver so that His name is proclaimed and all glory and honor given to Him.
“It’s not IF we plant a church, but WHEN.”
Our mission is to plant and serve independent, Bible preaching churches throughout the Northwest. We have men strategically located throughout the area to assist you and your church in planting new churches, finding a pastor or interim pastor, pulpit supply, leadership training, outreach ministries, Bible conferences, and counsel and encouragement.
Our Team
-
![A woman and man standing outside, smiling, with a background of trees and cloudy sky.]()
Bob Rodgers
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Relational Ministries Leader
(Beginning 2026)Bob Rodgers (and wife, Katherine) grew up in Washington’s Puget Sound area. They joined the NICE family in 1982.
Bob has served pastorates in Keyport, Washington and Culdesac and Hailey, Idaho. In 2002, they returned to their home area to assist and encourage NICE missionaries in Western Washington and Alaska as Field Director.
On October 1, 2010, Bob assumed responsibility as Executive Director of NICE.
-
![A woman and a man standing outdoors near a large tree with green leaves, smiling at the camera.]()
Robert Zink
DIRECTOR DESIGNATE
Robert Zink (and wife, Bethany) grew up in Yakima, WA area. They joined the NICE family in 2020 after serving in Argentina as Missionaries with Biblical Ministries Worldwide.
After pastoring a small church in Longview, WA, for a few years, Robert took on the role of Assistant Director August 1, 2024. In the Spring of 2025 Robert assumed the role of Director Designate with the goal of becoming the NICE Executive Director in January 2026.
-
![A man and woman smiling outdoors, standing close together in front of a tree with pink flowers and a brick wall.]()
Jesús Córdova
HISPANIC MINISTRIES REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Jesús Córdova and his wife, Maria served as church planters with First Fundamental Bible Church of Monterey Park, California. They came to the Pacific Northwest in 1994 to join the NICE Family.
Since 1994, they have been instrumental in beginning 6 Hispanic churches here in the Northwest.
They began a School of Ministry in 2007 to train Hispanic pastors and Sunday school teachers.
Jesús currently pastors Iglesia Cristo Vive in Salem, OR.
-
![A smiling couple outdoors in front of bare trees, woman wearing a cream sweater and burgundy scarf, man in a burgundy shirt.]()
Roger Hayden
INLAND NORTHWEST REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Roger Hayden and his late wife, Karen brought many years of pastoral ministry in Idaho, Washington, and California before Karen went home to heaven after a battle with cancer in 2012.
The Lord has blessed Roger bringing Emily into his life and they were married in February of 2018. In addition to service as Inland Northwest Field Director, Roger also ministers as pastor of Cambridge Bible Church in Idaho.
-
![A smiling man and woman standing outdoors in front of green bushes.]()
Bob Allen
PACIFIC NORTH REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Bob Allen and his wife, Judi joined the NICE family in 1992 after serving two terms as missionaries in Belgium.
Bob’s responsibilities with NICE have included Ethnic Ministries Director and Financial Officer.
The Allens have assisted at Hobart Community Church, WA since 2000 as Church Team Missionaries.
-
![A smiling man and woman standing outdoors in front of trees, both wearing white shirts.]()
Nate Shinn
PACIFIC SOUTH REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Nate Shinn and his wife, Muriel, have faithfully served with NICE since 1985, first dedicating their lives to ministry in California.
Since 1996, they have lived out their desire to serve God and His people through service and care for those at Ashland Bible Church in Oregon. In the past, Nate has also served as part of the NICE Board of Directors.
-
![A smiling man and woman standing outdoors in front of green foliage. The man is wearing glasses and a blue checkered button-down shirt, and the woman has glasses and short hair, wearing a blue patterned shirt over a white top.]()
Judi Allen
OFFICE MANAGER
Judi Allen and her husband, Bob, joined NICE in 1992 after serving two terms as missionaries in Belgium. In 2010 she stepped into the role of Office Manager.
Judi also served for many years as secretary at Edgewood Bible Church (formerly Valley Bible Church).
The Allens have assisted at Hobart Community Church, WA since 2000 as Church Team Missionaries.
-
![A woman with short blond hair smiling at the camera, wearing glasses on her head, hoop earrings, a blue T-shirt, and a purple hoodie, with an ocean view and rocky islands in the background.]()
Karen Faires
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Karen Faires has faithfully served Northwest Independent Church Extension (NICE) as financial secretary since 2010.
With steadfast dedication, she ensures the organization’s financial integrity, supporting its mission to strengthen churches across the Northwest.
Her quiet commitment and meticulous care have been invaluable to NICE’s ongoing success.
Ministers at Large
Our Ministers at Large are former directors of Northwest Independent Church Extension who continue to serve faithfully in their communities as God calls them.
Roy Sprague
Roy and Elvia are available to serve churches on a limited basis. Roy’s years of experience as an evangelist, pastor, children’s worker, Executive Director, and President of the Board of IFCA International furnish a wealth of experience and insight which they share with excellence. They have served in recent years in a couple local Interim ministries.
Earl Brubaker
Having resigned from ministry as Executive Director and Office Manager of N.I.C.E., the Brubakers remained active with N.I.C.E. as needs arose; serving as Interim Pastor in many locations throughout the Northwest, counseling, and being an encouragement to the N.I.C.E. Missionaries on the field. Earl has been an active participant in IFCA International on both Regional and National levels. He has served on the Board of Directors as well as President of the Board of IFCA International. Shirley went to be with the Lord in November, 2022.
Board of Directors