Elmwood Church of Christ
Staff & Leaders

  • Rafael Tirado

    Rafael Tirado
    Outreach Minister

    Rafael and Rut are from the Dominican Republic. They have three adult children: Esther Bryant (husband Jeremy), Jose, and Juan; and one grandchild: Lincoln Carlos. For over 30 years, Rafael has served as a minister and missionary in the Dominican Republic and the United States. Since 2000, Rafael has served with the Hispanic Organization for Preaching and Evangelism (HOPE Ministries) planting Hispanic churches and training leaders in Indiana. Rafael received his Bachelor in Theology (B.Th.) from Colegio Biblico at Eagle Pass, TX., a Master (M.A.) in Leadership Studies/Pastoral Leadership from Cincinnati Christian University, and his Ph.D. from Johnson University. In the Dominican Republic, Rafael also studied at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo and the Dominican Free Methodist Seminary. Rafael has a passion for the Lord, for His people, and for those yet to know Him. He enjoys seeing God bring about spiritual growth and transformation through His Word as he preaches, teaches, and mentors. Rafael loves learning about theology, biblical governance and leadership, and Latino culture and leadership.

  • Deron Freudenthal

    Deron Freudenthal
    Campus Minister

    Deron Freudenthal taught in the High School at Ezell Harding Christian School in Antioch, TN for 13 years. He spent the majority of those years teaching Bible and coaching basketball. Deron also served as a part-time college minister at Woodmont Hills Church in Nashville, TN. Deron came to Elmwood as the Campus Minister to Purdue University in October of 2013. He has a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Formation, Missional Theology, and Church Leadership from Lipscomb University. He also has a certification in Spiritual Direction through the Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville, TN and is a certified Premarital and Marital facilitator with Prepare/Enrich. He has a passion for God, family, food, and coffee. Deron enjoys helping people discover and deepen their faith as well as helping them learn how their gifts and interests can be a part of God’s redemptive mission in the world. Deron and his wife, Cindy, have two daughters, Madison and Makenzie. They enjoy trying new foods, all things Disney, sporting events, and traveling together.

  • Josh Boyd

    Josh Boyd
    Preaching Minister

    Josh has been preaching at Elmwood since February 2018. He has worked with the Let’s Start Talking ministry (teaching English using the Bible as a text) for over 25 years. He has spoken at churches from California to Tennessee and Malaysia to Brazil. He has written frequently for the publication “Power for Today” and has spoken at the Pepperdine Lectures. Josh earned his undergraduate degree at Lipscomb University and his Ph.D. at Indiana University. Originally from Ft. Thomas, Kentucky, Josh grew up as a preacher’s kid and now has put his own two children, Kinley and Knox, in the same role. He and his wife Gina have been married since 1995, and they love to travel together. Josh loves to preach, and his prayer each week is that the Spirit will speak through him to deliver the message God wants to be heard.

  • Phil Travis

    Phil Travis
    Youth and Family Minister

    Phil Travis began working with Elmwood as our Youth Ministry Intern in the summer of 2006. He graduated from Rochester College with a Bachelors degree in Youth and Family Ministry and joined our staff as an Associate Minister in May 2007. He became the Campus Minister at Elmwood in May of 2008 and transitioned to our Youth and Family Minister in July of 2013. Phil has a passion for encouraging students to explore their faith and establish their own beliefs. He believes that youth and family ministry should be relational, educational, and missional. He is currently pursuing a Masters in Religious Education Missional Leadership at Rochester University. He is married to his best friend, Katy, and together they have one son, Joel, and two daughters, Millie and Alice. He enjoys reading, biking, being outside, playing games and working on computers.