Leadership
Men of God
Our leadership have the main goal of seeking out God's will and telling others about it. They dedicate their lives to bringing God's Word to people.
Dr Joshua West
Lead Pastor
Dr. Joshua West is a pastor, evangelist, and author. He currently serves as the lead pastor of Truth Bible Church in Hollywood, Maryland. He also speaks at conferences, crusades, and churches all over the world. The goal and focus of his ministry is biblical preaching and teaching with a high view of God and the Scripture that is centered around the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He partners in life and ministry with his wife and best friend, Kiara. They live in Lexington Park, Maryland, with their son, Jameson.
He also is a speaker and advocate for the church planting ministry of Compel International. Their mission is to plant the church where it does not exist and to strengthen the church where it is weak or persecuted; by training and raising up indigenous leaders and near culture neighbors in the 10/40 window. Places like Pakistan, India, Iran, Egypt, Turkey and many others.
Dr. West holds a master’s degree in theology (Th.M), and a doctorate in systematic theology (Th.D) from Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary in Evansville, IN.
He has authored several books, including the best selling, Hard Sayings: Reconciling the Cost of Discipleship and the American Dream, Come and Die: Dying to Self and Living for Christ, and The Jaw-Dropping Beauty of Jesus. He also co-wrote The Power of Preaching, with notable authors, Voddie Baucham, Gary Wilkerson, Tim Dilena, RT Kendall, and Carter Conlon.
Dr. West spent several years as a preaching voice for World Challenge, the preaching ministry of the late David Wilkerson. He also spent nearly a decade as the pastor and program manager of Sonrise Adult and Teen Challenge in Cache, OK.
Dr. Alden Laird
Executive Pastor
Alden Laird is the Executive Pastor/Elder of Truth Bible Church. He and has wife, Sue, moved to Maryland in April of 2016. Alden has been in full time minstry for 43 years, serving as a church planter/lead Pastor in the Denver area for 20 years (Hyland Hills Community Church), as an Administrative Pastor/Counselor/and radio co-host for 11 years (Life Fellowship Family Bible Church, Return to the Word Radio) in Westminster, CO, and the last 10 years as the Senior Pastor of Visalia Evangelical Free Church in Visalia, California. He has an undergraduate degree in music and Bible from Southern Nazarene University, a Masters in Biblical Studies (Pensacola Theological Seminary), and a Doctorate in Biblical Counseling (Master's Graduate School of Divinity). Alden enjoys golf, camping, and fishing and Sue loves sight-seeing, board games and spending time with their 12 grand children! Alden and Sue are certified Biblical Counselors with IABC (International Association of Biblical Counselors) and look forward to helping TBC with 1-to-1 discipleship/counseling and establishing a Biblical counseling center in Southern Maryland.
Dr. Dennis richardson
Elder
Dr. Richardson studied at Penn State University and received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, a master’s degree in applied mathematics, and a PhD in Electrical Engineering. He also attended Baptist Bible Seminary and studied in the M.Div. program. He recently retired after a distinguished thirty-five-year career as an engineer working in both industry and civilian government.
In his role as a churchman and elder, Dennis is a seasoned preacher, Bible teacher, and expositor of God’s Word. His in-depth approach to the Bible is grounded in delving into its context and history. His knowledge of biblical Greek, coupled with an easy-to-understand teaching style, provides valuable insight into the text. He currently serves as an elder at Truth Bible Church in Hollywood, Maryland. He and his wife Donna have six children and five grandchildren.
Dan Ensminger
elder
Dan Ensminger has been serving as an elder at Truth Bible Church in Hollywood, Maryland, since February 2025. He and Beth have three adult children.
Dan has a few decades of experience teaching adult and youth Sunday School and leading Bible studies. He started preaching somewhat regularly after entering elder training in 2024. In addition to his other “elder duties,” Dan currently serves as a youth Sunday School teacher and supports TBC’s Children’s Church ministry.
Dan retired from the US Navy Reserve after 22 years of service and several active duty and reserve combat deployments. He currently works for the United States Navy as an engineer supporting flight test at NAWCAD and coaches a FIRST robotics team in his “off” time. He holds a master’s degree in systems engineering from Johns Hopkins and a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the Ohio State University.
