Liberty Bible Church appoints new pastor

SALMON CREEK — Liberty Bible Church has selected Keith Ritter, a U.S. Navy chaplain and longtime pastor, to be its lead pastor starting Aug. 21. Ritter is relocating from San Diego, where he served two tours over five years as Navy chaplain at Naval Air Station Lemoore and onboard USS Lake Erie. Earlier, he was founding pastor at Oasis Community Church of the Nazarene in west Salem, Ore., outreach pastor for Salem First Church of the Nazarene, pastor of Sandy Church of the Nazarene and youth pastor in his hometown of Warren, Pa. Ritter earned a Master of Divinity degree at Nazarene Theological Seminary and a bachelor’s degree in religion from Eastern Nazarene College in Boston. He was born in Toledo, Ohio. He and his wife Michele have four children and one grandchild. Ritter is the fourth pastor to serve Liberty Bible Church since its founding 40 years ago. Other pastors include Larry Rounsley, who is a teacher at King’s Way Christian School; the late Aaron Knapp; and founding pastor P.D. James. During a preparation and search process, Liberty Bible Church was supported by author and pastor Tom Kinnan of Marion, Ind., through New Church Specialties.