John reimer

lead pastor

John has been the Lead Pastor of Koza Baptist Church since August, 2008. He and his wife Sherry both graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas in May of 1986. They both earned Master of Arts degrees in Religious Education and served as Campus Ministers for four years on a university campus in a suburb of Oklahoma City. Following the Lord’s leadership John applied for and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. They came to serve in Okinawa, Japan in February of 1989 and joined Koza Baptist Church where they served for three years in a variety of roles. John continued to serve in the Marine Corps in a number of duty stations for the next 16 years. Then in 2005, they were once again assigned to Okinawa for a second tour in 2005 and they joined Koza once again. God led the Reimers to work in various positions, including (for John) service as the Chairman of the Relocation Committee working with the staff to plan and fund a new building for Koza Baptist Church. In 2007 Pastor Bo Russell, the Pastor of Koza, asked John to pray about retiring from the Marines and serving as his successor. During that time of prayer, the Lord began to move in John’s heart to leave the Marines and continue serving at Koza as a follower of Christ on mission with God right here in Okinawa as the new Pastor. Since then, the Reimers have been thrilled with the opportunity presented to them to help grow the Kingdom. They continue to look forward in joyful anticipation to seeing God continue to work in the lives of many.


Email Pastor John

Chris eyre

Executive pastor

Chris has been married to Hisami since January 1994. Together they have three boys: Kento, Yuki, and Masaki. Chris was born in Kalispell Montana and raised in Henderson Kentucky. Hisami is from Ginowan City, Okinawa.   Chris and Hisami have been blessed through his service with the Marines to attend, and be part of leadership at many different Baptist churches. Chris has served as a Team Kid Director, Awana Truth in Training Leader, Adult Sunday School teacher, and Deacon.


Chris has spent the last 25 years studying, participating in, and developing a passion for leadership. As he was nearing the end of his time in the military service, he began to sense the Lord leading him to retire from military service and enter into full time ministry. With a desire to be obedient to the Lord’s leading, Chris withdrew from his required professional military education, and enrolled in Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. In 2014, he graduated with a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership.


He is blessed to serve as the Executive Pastor where he can employ the gifts that the Lord has crafted in Him for such a time as this.  Chris is passionate about worshiping the living God, connecting with Him and the body in fellowship, and serving all the people the Lord places before him…all for God’s glory!


Email Pastor Chris

Duane Calvin

Family Life Pastor

Duane Calvin is the first Family Life Pastor to be called to serve at Koza. He previously served in ministry on Okinawa as the Chaplain at Okinawa Christian School International after retiring from the United States Marine Corps. Duane is married to Latasha and they have 2 Children Tia and Sam. Duane has a heart for families and loves to see children engaged in becoming disciples and ultimately discipling others. He holds as his priority the desire to Equip Families and Partner with Parents to become Followers of Christ on Mission with God. Duane holds a Bachelors Degree in International Business and a Master of Divinity.


Email Pastor Duane

Jody stelly

student & Missions Pastor

Jody retired from the Marine Corps after 16 years of service and is excited for the opportunity to minister among the military community. He is happily married to Dominick, his wife of over 11 years. They have four children: Kaitlyn, Kimberleigh, Gabriel, and Phebe. Over the last three years of living in Okinawa, Jody has developed a heart for fulfilling the Great Commission through equipping students to develop a deeply rooted faith in Christ and engaging unreached peoples through local outreach and global missions. Jody has a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University, a Master of Science degree from American Military University, and a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry from Southern California Seminary.


Email Pastor Jody


Emma Ikehara

Japanese ministry coordinator

Emma has been a part of the ministry of Koza for several years and is now coming on our staff to serve as our Japanese Ministry Coordinator.  If you would like information on how to serve in our Japanese ministry contact email Emma - she would love to get up plugged in!


Email Emma



Meg ishikawa

First impressions ministry coordinator

Stacie Miller

preschool ministry assistant coordinator


ANNETTE Macfarlane

Children's ministry coordinator

Annette is married to Rob, who serves as a deacon at Koza. They have been married for 17 years and have 3 children, Jack 14, Parker 8, and Kyla 6. Annette began serving in Koza Kids in 2014 with a calling to serve the children and families in Okinawa. Before the Marine Corps brought the Macfarlane family to Okinawa, Annette was teaching in a Christian School in Stafford, VA and has worked as a preschool, 2nd and 3rd grade teacher. Annette has a Bachelor degree in Elementary Education from Hannibal LaGrange University. Annette desires to help the families of Koza show their children that God has a plan for their lives, that His word applies to their life each and every day and that each kid that comes to Koza has a place to belong.


Email Annette

Kasey Weishuhn

Children's ministry assistant coordinator

Kasey Weishuhn is married to Jonathan who serves in the USAF. They have been married for almost 8 years. They have 3 kids. Hayden is 7, Kinsley is 4, and Logan is 2. Kasey accepted Jesus Christ in 1994 at the age of 7. She was raised in a Southern Baptist Church in Midland, TX. Jonathan accepted Jesus Christ in 1997 at the age of 13. The Weishuhn's began attending Koza in December 2015 and they have always been very active in serving. Jonathan has served in Koza Kids since becoming a member of Koza and Kasey has been actively involved in both Preschool and Koza Kids. The Weishuhn's have experienced grace in many circumstances in their lives and have dedicated themselves and their children to the service of Jesus Christ. Their son Hayden, was baptized by Pastor John Reimer in 2016. Kasey believes that it is God's will for every family to be successful. She is passionate about partnering with children and their families to help them center their lives around God.



Email Kasey