Meet the Staff
In Honor of Dr. David Livingston
The ABR Staff would like to dedicate this website to our founder, Dr. David Livingston (1925-2013). David's lifetime of work and tireless defense of the inerrancy of God’s Word has been an inspiration to all of us at ABR. David passed into the presence of our Lord on November 25, 2013.
Dr. David Livingston is the founder of the Associates for Biblical Research. He was involved in Christian ministry for over 60 years. David served in the US Navy in the Pacific during WWII. In the early 1950’s, he served as a pastor in the UPUSA church, then went to Korea as a missionary for 12 years, serving as a church planter and founding president of a Christian college for 5 years.
David founded ABR in 1969, primarily in response to the scholarly assertions that the Biblical city of Ai showed no evidence that Joshua conquered and burned it. Through careful investigation, he ascertained that scholars had wrongly identified the location of Ai, and he worked vigorously to correct the error and identify the Lost City of Ai in Israel. Part of this work included correcting another scholarly blunder: the misidentification of Bethel. Properly identifying Bethel was the key to finding Ai. David determined that Ai was at Khirbet Nisya, directing 15 seasons of excavations there.
David’s educational background was extensive. He graduated from Wheaton College with a B.A. in General Science, Pittsburgh Xenia Seminary with an M. Div., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School with an M.A. in OT Studies, took graduate studies at Dropsie University and received his Ph.D. in Archaeology from Andrews University in 1988. His doctoral dissertation topic consisted of six years of his excavation reports from Khirbet Nisya.
David served with Campus Crusade for Christ from 1972-1975. He has also participated in excavations at Jericho, Jerusalem, Jezreel, Bourgata, and Gezer. He has conducted more than 25 tours in Israel, Jordan and Egypt. David served six years as editor of Bible and Spade, and 20 years as the editor of the ABR Newsletter.
His wife Esther reside in Lititz, PA.
Read articles by Dr. David Livingston.
Stephen Caesar
Stephen Caesar is a staff member of the Associates for Biblical Research. He graduated from Harvard with an M.A. in Anthropology and Archaeology. Stephen is an adjunct professor of Spanish at Fisher College in Boston. He also served as an adjunct professor of literature at Newbury College, MA.
Investigating Origins is a regular feature of the ABR Newsletter, which Steve authors on a regular basis. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in archaeology and anthropology from Harvard University.
Read articles by Stephen Caesar.
Gary Byers
Gary Byers graduated with a BS and MCE from Liberty University, and an MA from Baltimore Hebrew University. His MA thesis subject was: Domestic Architecture in Iron Age I Palestine, (1995). He is currently working to complete his PhD with Trinity Southwest University. He was the founding and senior Pastor at Fredericktowne Baptist Church, Walkersville, MD (1974-1991). Gary also directed the Ancient Studies Center of Biblical Research, Frederick, MD (1992-1994). He currently serves as Adjunct Professor at Faith Theological Seminary, Towson, MD (2013-present) and is on the Board of Directors of the Near East Archaeological Society (2000-present).
Gary's excavation and field experience include: Senior Archaeologist at ABR's Shiloh excavation (2017-present). Assistant Director at Tall el-Hammam Excavation Project, Jordan (2005-present); Administrative Director at Khirbet al-Maqatir, Israel (1995-2014); excavation staff at Khirbet Nisya, Israel (1993-1994) and Tel Miqne (Ekron), Israel (1984). He also serves on the archaeological survey team for the ArcImaging Archaeological Expedition to Mount Ararat, Turkey (2005-present).
He is presently Deputy Director at the Helping Up Mission in Baltimore, Maryland, where 400 men reside in a 12-month residential Spiritual Recovery Program for drug and alcohol addiction. In addition to Gary's position as a Senior Archaeologist on the ABR staff, he is also a member of the ABR Board of Directors (2004-present).
Read articles by Gary Byers.
Rick Lanser
Rick Lanser earned a B.S. degree in medical technology in 1976 from Penn State University, while finding time to spend two years as a student manager of the Penn State football team under coach Joe Paterno. After subsequently working for two years in the microbiology department at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, he left to attend Biblical Theological Seminary in Hatfield, PA. Six years and three children later, he earned an M.Div. degree in Biblical studies, graduating with honors in 1986.
Having lost his hearing from spinal meningitis at age seven, after graduation from seminary Rick did not feel led to take on the communication-intensive challenges of a pastoral position. While waiting for a more clear leading from God, he used his seminary training primarily as a Sunday school teacher and board member of the Allentown, PA-based American Ministries to the Deaf. During this time he worked for 14 years as a CAD draftsman and desktop publisher for Graco Children's Products, a well-known manufacturer of baby furnishings that also employed David Saint, brother of famous missionary martyr Nate Saint, as lead designer. After earning a Webmaster Certificate from Penn State, in 2000 he left Graco to become webmaster for Schreiner Capital Management in Exton, PA, a position which continues on a part-time basis today.
Always intensely interested in the Old Testament, in 1995 Rick felt the time had come for a change. Through Dr. Robert Goette, an ABR staff member at that time who once attended his church, he learned about the ABR ministry and joined the staff to assist with desktop publishing needs. This quickly moved into serving as Website Coordinator, updating the website and answering all e-mails. As the ministry has grown, he has moved more into work with publications and research matters, and presently serves as Executive Editor of Bible and Spade magazine. His major area of research deals with the first eleven chapters of the book of Genesis, particularly the ongoing search for Noah's Ark. Rick and his wife Jeanne make their home in Elverson, PA.
Read articles by Rick Lanser.
Scott Lanser
Scott Lanser has served professionally in administrative and pastoral leadership for over 20 years. Scott was a Senior Director for the YMCA and the Business Administrator of The Salvation Army where he directed youth and family programs and provided administrative oversight. He also served as Executive Director of House of His Creation, a pro-life ministry helping pregnant teens and their children. While ministering in these roles he also served as Youth Pastor of Westgate Baptist Church and is currently Senior Pastor of New Hope Bible Fellowship. Scott earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Bible and Christian Education at Lancaster Bible College and holds an M.A. in New Testament Studies from Biblical Theological Seminary. Scott currently serves as the Executive Director of ABR.
Read articles by Scott Lanser.
Brian Janeway
Brian's initial excavation experience came in 1997 when he traveled to Israel to join ABR in the excavations of Khirbet el Maqatir. He excavated at Khirbet el Maqatir through the 2000 excavation season. His academic interest was sparked by an intensive course offered by Lancaster Bible College and taught by Dr. Bryant Wood on New Testament Archaeology and the Dead Sea Scrolls. That led him to seek an archaeology program to take up graduate studies. He took a two-year leave from his employer to pursue an M.A. in Old Testament Archaeology and Near Eastern Studies at Wheaton College, which involved a semester of study at Jerusalem University College in the old city and participation in excavations at Tel Rehov under the direction of Ami Mazar.
Brian was given the opportunity to continue his studies further, this time at the University of Toronto for a Ph.D. Beginning in 2004 and continuing to the present, he has been a member of the excavation team at Tell Tayinat, a Bronze and Iron Age site near modern Antakya (Antioch), Turkey. From this project he completed his dissertation on Aegean-style pottery known as Late Helladic IIIC, which is associated with the Early Iron Age kingdom of Palistin. Brian has also done excavations at Hazor and Tel Rehov in Israel, and Pisidian Antioch in central Turkey. Brian serves as a staff member of ABR and works as an airline pilot with American Airlines.
Read articles by Brian Janeway.
Henry B. Smith
Henry B. Smith Jr. is the Director of Development for ABR, serving in that capacity since October 2004. Born and raised in northwestern New Jersey, he graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Rutgers University in 1992. With a 13 year sales and management background, he earned an M.A. in Theology with an emphasis on Apologetics from Trinity Seminary in Indiana, graduating with high honors in 2005. In the fall of 2014, Henry will graduate from the M.A.R. program at Westminster Theological Seminary.
Henry has written numerous articles for ABR, including: Turning the Cannons on New Testament Canon Criticisms, Redeeming the Carthaginians? and Cosmic Death in Romans 8: Affirming a Recent Creation. He also published an extensive exegetical paper on Romans 8:18-23 in the March 2007 Journal of Creation entitled: Cosmic and Universal Death from Adam's Fall, defending a six, 24-hour day understanding of Genesis 1-3 from an exegetical and theological perspective. He also published Canaanite Child Sacrifice, Abortion, and the Bible in the Journal of Ministry and Theology of Bible Baptist Seminary in the fall of 2013.
Henry served as a volunteer at the Hazor excavations in 2007, and was the host of the ABR Biblical Egypt Study Tour in 2008. He also is the Administrative Director of the Khirbet el-Maqatir excavations and is a square supervisor. Henry resides in PA with his wife Birzavit and their daughter, Ava. Read articles by Henry B. Smith.
Scott Stripling
Scott is the Director of Excavations at Shiloh. Previously Stripling directed the excavations at Khirbet el-Maqatir from 2013-2016, served as Field Supervisor of the Tall el-Hammam Excavation Project in from 2005 to 2010, and as a supervisor of the Jerusalem Temple Mount Salvage Project in Jerusalem. His academic affiliation is with The Bible Seminary in Katy (Houston), Texas where he serves as the Provost. A native Texan with 36 years of experience serving professionally as a pastor, principal, and professor, Stripling began his career in college working in youth ministry, then worked in public education, then full-time professional ministry and Christian education, and then a combination of public and private education and ministry. Former Department Chair of Humanities at Wharton County Junior College, he has also taught at Houston Baptist University, Belhaven University, International Bible College, and Texas Southmost College/University of Brownsville. A popular speaker and author of The Trowel and the Truth, Somebody Call 9:11, and numerous other publications, Stripling has served on a variety of community, education and ministry Boards and organizations, currently serving on the Board of the Near East Archaeological Society. He and his wife, Janet, have four children and two grandchildren.
Dr. Bryant G. Wood
Bryant Wood was born and raised in Endicott NY. After graduating from high school, he attended Syracuse University on an athletic scholarship, graduating with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering. While at S.U., Wood participated in cross-country and track, setting school records in the 880-yard and mile events and serving as captain of both the cross-country and track teams in his senior year. He also was named Siekaly Scholar for outstanding athletic and academic achievement, was inducted into Pi Tau Sigma, a mechanical engineering honorary society, and was president of the Engineering Student Council.
Wood then worked for the General Electric Company in Schenectady NY. His employment with G.E. was interrupted by a two-year term of service as a lieutenant in the Army Security Agency. During this time he was a member of the U.S. inter-service cross-country team, participating in international competition in Europe, and the All-Army track team. While with G.E., Wood held various positions at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory related to the design, fabrication and testing of nuclear reactors, and earned a M.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy NY.
In 1973 Wood left G.E. to pursue Biblical and archaeological studies. He earned an M.A. degree in Biblical History from the University of Michigan in 1974, and a Ph.D. degree in Syro-Palestinian archaeology from the University of Toronto in 1985. Dr. Wood joined the staff of the Associates for Biblical Research in Akron PA (ABR) in 1986. In 1989–90, he was visiting professor in the Department of Near Eastern Studies at the University of Toronto. Dr. Wood was the Director of ABR from 1995 to 2000 and is currently Director of Research. He was Editor of their quarterly publication Bible and Spade from 1995 to 2012 and is now Consulting Editor. In addition, he has served as adjunct professor at Biblical Theological Seminary, Hatfield PA; Evangelical School of Theology, Myerstown PA; Faith Theological Seminary, Los Angeles; Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster PA; Messiah College, Grantham PA; Toronto Baptist Seminary, Toronto; and Tyndale University College and Seminary (formerly Ontario Bible College), Toronto.
Dr. Wood's extensive archaeological field work includes serving as co-director of a survey of three reservoir areas in northern Jordan, 1978; area supervisor for the Wadi Tumilat Project excavation at Tell el-Maskhuta, Egypt, 1979, 1981, and 1983; volunteer at the Ben Gurion University of the Negev excavation at Haruvit in the northern Sinai, 1981; member of the Wadi Tumilat Project survey of the Wadi Tumilat, Egypt, 1983; field archaeologist for the Associates for Biblical Research excavation at Khirbet Nisya, Israel, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994; Director of the Kh. el-Maqatir excavation, Israel, 1995–2013; and Ceramic Typologist for the Kh. el-Maqatir excavation, 2014–2016.
Wood is a specialist in Canaanite pottery of the Late Bronze Age. He is author of The Sociology of Pottery in Ancient Palestine: The Ceramic Industry and the Diffusion of Ceramic Style in the Bronze and Iron Ages (1990), as well as numerous articles on archaeological subjects published in various academic journals. Dr. Wood received international media attention for his research on ancient Jericho that demonstrated the historicity of the Biblical account of the capture of the city by the Israelites. He is listed in Who's Who in Biblical Studies and Archaeology, 1993; Who's Who in the East, 1995–1996; Who's Who in the World, 1996; International Who's Who of Professionals, 1999; Strathmore's Who's Who, 2002–2003; 2000 Outstanding Academics of the 21st Century, 2004; and the 2013 Edition of the Christian Who's Who.
Dr. Wood has been awarded travel grants from the Endowment for Biblical Research (1981) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (1989, 1992) to carry on his archaeological research. In 2011, 2014 and 2015 he received National Science Foundation grants to do neutron activation analysis of pottery from Kh. el-Maqatir. He is on the Board of Directors of the Near East Archaeological Society. Bryant and his wife Faith reside in Manheim PA. They have four children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandaughter.
Bryan Windle
Bryan Windle is a pastor, youth leader and Bible teacher in Northern Ontario, Canada. He and his wife Jennifer have four children and currently live in Richards Landing on St. Joseph Island. Bryan spent two years at Redeemer University College in Ancaster, ON, before graduating from Nipissing University in North Bay, ON with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Bachelor of Education degree. He began his professional career as an elementary school teacher, then entered the ministry as a Bible camp director, and finally answered God's call to become the pastor of Island Bible Chapel (IslandBibleChapel.com). For over 20 years, Bryan has taught in churches and youth groups with a passion for highlighting the historical context of each passage and revealing how archaeology demonstrates the reliability of Scripture. In 2018, Bryan co-founded the Ready Answers Apologetics Conference (ReadyAnswers.ca) to equip Christians in northern Ontario to have a ready defense of Christianity. He follows the latest happenings in the world of biblical archaeology with a particular interest in New Testament history and blogs regularly at BryanWindle.com. Bryan serves ABR by regularly updating the Current Events section at BibleArchaeology.org