Staff

Pastor Dean Esskew

Pastor Dean is Ordained through the Southern Baptist Convention. He has Pastored many churches in the state of Oklahoma with his wife, Debbie Eskkew, serving alongside of him. Pastor Dean is also a church planter. In 2002, Dean was presented an offer to become the Pastor for Calling For Christ. After some time in prayer, Pastor Dean felt that this was where God wanted him to serve. Pastor Dean has spent the last ten years learning the lifestyle's and the different environments that umpires frequent. God has been using Pastor Dean to teach and train umpires how to become Men of God even while serving and working in the game of baseball. Pastor Dean also travels during the season to encourage umpires and bring them joy and comfort through a very long season on the road.

Reverend Ted Barrett

Ted is one of the Co-Founders of Calling For Christ and has been a full-time Major League Umpire since 1999. Ted is a husband to Tina Barrett and a father to Andrew, Amanda, and Adam. Ted was called into ministry after becoming a MLB Umpire. God told Ted that his ministry field was the field of Professional Baseball, more specifically, Umpires! Because of Ted's obedience and willingness, God has used him in many different ways, especially as an Ordained Minister through Calling For Christ. Ted has a heart for discipling umpires in the name of Jesus!

Joel Myers

Joel was a Minor League Umpire from 2007-2011. He became a true follower of Jesus in 2007 at his first Calling For Christ Retreat. Joel leads Bible studies with umpires as well as encouraging and discipling them during both the season and the off-season. Joel is a Licensed Minister through Calling For Chirst and his heart is to lead men in their relationship with Jesus and with their families.

Debbie Esskew

Debbie has been serving alongside of Pastor Dean in ministry for over 20 years. Debbie has served as a leader for children's ministry, women's ministry, and as a motivational speaker. She has been the leader/teacher for the Umpire Wives and Fiancee's Ministry for Calling For Christ since 2008. Debbie has experienced the lifestyle of what the wives and fiancee's go through during the season while their husbands are on the road for over 7 straight months. Debbie has made many relationships with the wives and fiancee's and encourages them throughout the season.