PAY IT FORWARD

Pastor Jän van Oosten

Assimilations Ministry Pastor

Pastor Jän was born in Reno, Nevada, but made his way to Fresno by way of Portland when he was in elementary school. After he graduated from Fresno State with a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Art, Pastor Jän intended to teach at the secondary level but took a chance with a few friends to launch Valley Public Radio, KVPR-FM 89, an NPR affiliate station.

He worked as KVPR’s first general manager until he was recruited by Pastor Bufe Karraker of Northwest Church to serve as its business administrator. It wasn’t long before he was engaged in direct ministry and was led to the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, now seminary at Fresno Pacific University, graduating with a master’s degree in theology. Pastor Jän would eventually become the church planter for New Covenant Community Church in Fresno, under the direction of the Baptist General Conference.

Pastor Jän also has worked with the BGC in its innovative and highly effective approach to church planting in the United States and Europe. Pastor Jän retired in 2015.

Pastor Jän has been married to Virginia since 1973, and together they have a daughter, Bethany, and three terrific granddaughters.