Our Lead Pastors
Pastors Wendi and Jerry Wood have been leading Beit Lechem since 2021. Wendi serves as our lead pastor and is the daughter of Pastors Curtis and Karen Taylor. Wendi has served in the ministry through various roles since the beginning of Beit Lechem 23 years ago. She met and married her husband, Jerry Wood in 2015.
Jerry serves in the role of pastor, is head of A/V, and teaches regularly. Together they have 5 grown children ranging in age from 26 to 19, with 4 daughters, 1 son, and 2 sons-in-law, all who love Yeshua.
Beit Lechem’s heart and vision, from its founding, is to equip God’s people to serve Yahweh throughout the Whole Body of Messiah. Together, Pastors Wendi & Jerry have fostered ministry-relationships with local and state government leaders, school board members, as well as multiple ministry leaders throughout the Grand Valley, joining in prayer and other community gatherings. It is also the heart of our leaders to maintain a strong connection and support to the Land of Israel (Genesis 12:3). We financially support Christian and Hebrew ministries in Israel, host guest speakers, and guide trips to the Land regularly.
Our Founding Pastors
Pastor Curtis and Karen Taylor came to Torah while Pastor Curtis was in the final stages of a long, but finally successful fight against colon cancer. Members of Karen’s family had begun to share Torah with them during Curtis’s illness and in 2002, both Curtis and Karen simultaneously knew YHVH was directing them to this path. As Curtis continued to miraculously heal after four surgeries and a death sentence, he and Karen began to study Torah with their daughter Wendi and her family.
Unbeknownst to them, there were people in and around the community that were looking for a place to fellowship who were hearing about the Hebrew roots of our Christian faith, (the Torah) and by word-of-mouth people began to gather at the Taylor home for weekly Shabbat gatherings.
The gathering soon outgrew their home and Beit Lechem began sharing a meeting space with a local church, and later renting in Downtown Fruita. The dream for worshipers to have a place to gather and celebrate Shabbat and all the feast days came together with the purchase of 5 acres and the construction of our current church building.
Our Associate Pastors
Mark and Katie Johnson are Associate Pastors and Youth Leaders at Beit Lechem. Their ministry is dedicated to teaching and nurturing the body of Yeshua by uniting the church and equipping individuals to live in freedom and remain free through the power of God’s Word. They believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of restoration and healing.
Pastor Mark teaches, while Pastor Katie serves as an administrator and also collaborates with FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) to spread the gospel message. Together, they are passionate about raising up the next generation to walk in the fullness of God's purpose. They are committed to helping others experience transformation, healing, and freedom in Yeshua.
They have been blessed with two children and three dogs.
Our Elders
Caethe Craig, a lifelong believer in Yeshua our Messiah, serves as Elder with Beit Lechem Ministries. Caethe was one of Beit Lechem’s original congregants, joining us 22 years ago. She has a passion for Israel and for digging deeply into the scriptures to know YHVH on deeper levels. She enjoys studying with others and sharing insights that bring His word to life in our daily lives. It is Caethe’s goal to be a supporter and encourager of those seeking a deeper walk with Yeshua. And if you want to talk about Israel there is nothing she likes better!