OUR STORY

Why Gospel First exists

The message of the gospel can only reach those who have not yet become disciples when it is shared with clarity and conviction. This is the great commission we must all take up and fulfill.

SEE WHAT STARTED IT

THE STUDY THAT STARTED IT ALL

6%

of pastors studied preached a clear presentation of the gospel.

David Nicholas believed a clear understanding of the gospel is the key to making disciples. So he partnered with Ed Stetzer and Lifeway Research on a national study, assessing the presence of the gospel in 1,000 sermons from across the United States, spanning many denominations and contexts.

LIFEWAY RESEARCH · 1,000 SERMONS

OUR HISTORY

From one pastor's burden to a global ministry

  1. 2009

    Created by David Nicholas

    Gospel First Ministries was created to meet the needs of church planters wanting to start gospel centered churches that reach the lost around the world.

  2. BOCA RATON, FL

    Spanish River Church and Acts29

    David believed the gospel calls disciples to make disciples and churches to plant churches. As Senior Pastor of Spanish River Church, he founded the Spanish River Church Planting Network, cofounded Acts29, and served as President of Knox Theological Seminary.

  3. 1,000 SERMONS

    A heart for discipleship

    With Ed Stetzer and Lifeway Research, David led a national study of 1,000 sermons. Only 6% of pastors preached a clear presentation of the gospel.

  4. GOSPEL BOOT CAMPS

    Training launched

    Gospel First and its Gospel Boot Camps launched so church planters, pastors, and ministry leaders could present the gospel from any passage, in any conversation, and in any context.

  5. 2011

    David goes home to Jesus

    His widow Nori Nicholas led the ministry to become an international organization, overseeing translation of the GF7 curriculum into multiple languages and building partnerships with leading gospel centered organizations.

  6. 2022

    The next generation of leaders

    When Nori retired, she passed the baton to Ryan McInerney, David's Church Planting Strategist and a Gospel Boot Camp facilitator, who remains an essential partner. In June 2022, Dr. Bob Orner assumed leadership.

Dr. Bob Orner
10+ yearstraining with Gospel Boot Camps

LEADERSHIP

Dr. Bob Orner

Leading Gospel First since June 2022

Bob presently serves as a pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He has served as a youth pastor, senior pastor, and church planter, helped start church planting networks, and continues to serve as a church planting coach. For four years he was Dean of Students and Guest Lecturer of Practical Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando.

Bob grew up in East Africa, where God built in him a passion to equip leaders for the global community who are biblically and theologically grounded, gospel motivated, and culturally intelligent. He and his wife Chris, a Licensed Professional Counselor, have one adult son.

  • EDUCATIONDoctor of Ministry, Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando
  • CHURCHCovenant Presbyterian, Cherry Hill, NJ
  • ROOTSGrew up in East Africa
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THE STORY CONTINUES

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