Pastor John Ashbrook was educated as a chemical engineer at Northwestern
University, Evanston, Illinois. While working as a research engineer he
felt the Lord's call to the ministry. Resigning his position he took
additional college work before enrolling at Faith Theological Seminary,
Wilmington, Delaware. After graduating from seminary he did evangelistic
work for a year before becoming the Pastor of Bible Community Church, Mentor,
Ohio. The church recently honored him for 46 years of service in that
position. In addition to his pastoral work he has had a ministry of
writing. He is the author of three books and numerous booklets, and articles.
He is a member of the Ohio Bible Fellowship and serves as Editor of its monthly
paper, the Bible Fellowship Visitor.
Pastor Ashbrook is known as a faithful separatist who has consistently contended for
the faith. He has written, "You cannot preserve a position without crusading for
it." Consequently, he has used his writings and associations to crusade for
separation from apostasy and new evangelicalism.
Books and articles written by Pastor Ashbrook were always born out of deep
conviction. Articles written for the Ohio Bible Fellowship "Visitor" always have
confronted an issue of importance to the local church, seeking to strengthen its stand.
Serving as feature editor for the 'Visitor' for ten years, he published many articles that
have been used to strengthen the stand of believers, not only in Ohio, but also across the
United States and worldwide.
His first association with an organization contending for the faith
was with the Independent Fundamental Churches of America (IFCA). He served on the IFCA
executive committee for a time, but when that organization began to compromise, he was
instrumental in forming the Ohio Bible Fellowship (OBF) in 1968. He served many years on
the OBF executive committee and as OBF president for several terms. During these years, he
was active in promoting the establishment of new separatist churches through the Ohio
Bible Mission and in both the purchase and development of Peniel Bible Camp in
Fredericktown, Ohio.
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