About Ezrath Ministries
History of Ezrath Ministries
A Faith-Based Nonprofit Founded in 2023
Ezrath Ministries is a religious 501(c)(3) nonprofit started in 2023 to empower missionaries, help those in need in underserved areas, and support worthy mission organizations and small churches.
Continuing a Legacy of Mission Support
Ezrath Ministries is a legacy of Chapel in the Woods Bible Church in Dallas, TX. In late 2022, as the pastor of the church was retiring, the members chose to close the church. As part of the closure and property sale, a portion of the assets was designated to a nonprofit that would continue to support the church’s missionaries and other projects that would empower the gospel worldwide. Ezrath Ministries was born to carry out that mission into the future.
Empowering the Proclamation of the Good News
The mission of Ezrath Ministries is to empower missionaries and missions and provide help in the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus worldwide. As such, we help support individual missionaries, both personally and in association with various missions; provide charitable and project help; support worthy organizations; and come alongside small church mission programs.
Supported by Faithful Giving
Ezrath Ministries is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit and is not related to any other organization or funding. It relies entirely upon the gifts of individuals or organizations that believe in the ministry and vision. We are thankful for every gift, and we send a receipt for gifts.
If you would like to donate, please click the donate button.
Leadership
We have a board that oversees the ministry, and we file Form 990 with the IRS every year for fiscal accountability. The form is prepared by an accounting firm that specializes in nonprofit accounting.
Gregg Purviance,
President
Gregg Purviance grew up in California’s Central Valley. He is married to Paula, and they have two children and four grandchildren.
Gregg graduated from Thomas Downey High School, the same school attended by George Lucas of American Graffiti and Star Wars fame. Although Gregg is younger than Lucas, he also experienced Modesto’s hot-rod culture firsthand, riding in and driving hot rods around the city.
Gregg earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University in 1975 and a Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1980.
In addition to being a husband and father, Gregg worked as an electrician and later as a company superintendent for approximately 20 years. After his electrical career, he served as pastor of Chapel in the Woods Bible Church from the early 1990s until 2022.
Gregg was also involved for about 15 years with two small mission organizations that worked primarily in Liberia, West Africa.
Debbie Maxwell,
Treasurer
Debbie grew up in Texas, mostly in the Dallas area. She is married to Jerry, and they have three sons, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
She graduated from Duncanville High School. In addition to being a mom, she has worked for two different churches as a secretary and administrator, as well as with the 811 system.
Dave Henley,
Secretary
Dave is married to Pamela, and they have two children and two grandchildren.
Dave served on active duty in the Navy as a weather officer, as well as in the reserves, retiring as a Chief. Dave received his BA in accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington and worked for national insurance companies and the City of Dallas, where he retired. Dave is also involved with another nonprofit focused on environmental issues.
JoAnn Kuhnell,
Board Member
JoAnn was born and raised in the Dallas area and graduated from Duncanville High School. She worked as a bookkeeper for a manufacturing company and a church in Dallas. She met her husband, John, and moved to Louisiana, where he worked. They have one son. JoAnn worked in education in Louisiana, moved back to Dallas after John passed away, and then retired.
What We Believe
Ezrath Ministries is a Christian nonprofit supporting gospel proclamation worldwide.
Doctrinal Statement
God is one
God is one, existing eternally in three distinct persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The Scriptures
The Scriptures are God’s true, inerrant revelation to mankind.
God’s image
Mankind is made in God’s image, is valuable, and God desires a relationship with people.
Mankind's sin
Mankind has sinned, fallen short of His glory, and the relationship with God is broken.
Jesus saved the world
Jesus voluntarily came to save the world and was born of a virgin.
Jesus died on the cross
Jesus died on the cross as the suffering servant, the Lamb of God, shedding His blood for the sins of the world.
The third day
He rose again on the third day and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.
The gift of salvation
The gift of salvation is received by faith in Jesus alone, and the believer is sealed by the Holy Spirit.
Water baptism
Water baptism symbolizes the believer’s baptism into His body; His death, burial, and resurrection; and the cleansing of sin.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit indwells each believer and fills those who are open to Him and His work.
The believer
The believer is sanctified by faith, not law, and is expected to grow into the image of Jesus by the power of the Spirit.
The filling of the Spirit
The filling of the Spirit is evidenced primarily by the fruit of the Spirit and the operation of the gifts distributed by the Spirit in the life and edification of the church.
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of Christ’s death and a celebration of the new covenant.
Jesus builds His Church
Jesus builds His Church, both universal and local. Believers are expected to gather in a local church.
Jesus will return for His Church
Jesus will return for His Church, resurrecting and transforming believers so they will be like Him. He may return at any time.
Eternal and blessed relationship with God
The believer will live in an eternal and blessed relationship with God; the unbeliever will not.
The Church, as the body of Christ
Today, the Church, as the body of Christ, is called, individually and as the unified church, to make disciples from the neighborhood and into the world.
All believers
All believers are called to witness about Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Summary
Ezrath Ministries is a Christian nonprofit that seeks to support Christian missions and outreach and to provide help. Board members, staff, and the individuals and entities we support must affirm our doctrinal statement and policies concerning ethics and practice.
Those whom we help, as opposed to support, are not required to affirm these statements, but they will be presented with the gospel through practice and word.
The following specifies what affirmations are required for support.
Faith in Jesus
All board members and anyone supported by Ezrath Ministries must believe in Jesus as their Savior and be pursuing growth into the image of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Doctrinal
Please see our doctrinal statement above. Board members, staff, and those receiving regular support must agree with our doctrinal statement. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Ethics and Practice
We acknowledge that believers still have a sin nature and that none are totally transformed into the image of Jesus in this fallen world. We do expect those supported by Ezrath Ministries to endeavor to maintain good and growing character. We expect a lifestyle consistent with Scripture. If you have questions related to specifics, please contact us.