Pastor

Biography of Erich P. McCandless, DMin

Pastor Erich McCandless was born 25 July 1969 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Growing up on a property a short distance from this small township, he became a bit of a "country boy" without regular church attendance of any sort due to the distance to town. The Lord used this in a unique way in July of 1982 when circumstances led Pastor McCandless to spend the summer working for a campground in the highlands of the Rocky Mountians. It was here he heard the Gospel - the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, and felt the deep conviction that he too must spiritually die to himself in repentance in order to hope for the ressurection of a new life in Christ and the ultimate ressurection at that last day.

Immediately after receiving Christ as his Lord and Saviour, Pastor McCandless felt the deep urge to "preach" towards others about the peace he had just found. Through some struggles over the next 5 years, 1 Cor 12:13 became incredibly visible to him as the very Spirit of Christ led him to a Baptist Church where he was Baptized in 1987. With his Pastor's leadership, Pastor McCandless made plans for being trained for the ministry and began to close down the various secular aspect of his life including contracts for a very successful snow removal buisness he co-owned.

It was during his early days training for the ministry where he met his wife, then Jennifer Tottingham. They married right here at EBT in June of 1990. The Lord blessed them with 2 boys (Joshua and E. Ronald) born at Sioux Valley Hospital before the Lord moved the McCandlesses to Australia to do Mission work.

In Australia the McCandlesses were blessed to be part of the forming of several mission works in conjunction with other missionaries and national Pastors. He organized the first and successive annual Pastor's Retreats which have nation-wide acceptance as a place where true Baptist Pastors and Missionaries can come to "re-charge". He also established an international Baptist newspaper, The South Pacific Anchor.

During their nearly 10 years in Australia, the Lord blessed the McCandlesses with 3 more "Aussie" children (Richard, Jessica and Chevelyn). The ministry in Australia was a very fulfilling one, however the Lord moved them back to their home church in April of 2004 to co-pastor with Pastor Tottingham.

Pastor McCandless holds an earned Doctorate of Ministries degree. He has served within this and other Churches in various capacities - from a full-time janitor to a full-time Pastor.

Under Pastor

Biography of Ronald Leslie Tottingham, PhD, LitD

Chaplain, Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force Auxiliary
US Marine Corps 1963-1969, Combat Action, Vietnam, 1965

Pastor Tottingham was raised on a dairy farm in southern Missouri and enlisted in the US Marine Corps Reserves in March 1963, going on active duty in June 1963, and serving three years seven months active, including combat action in Vietnam in 1965. After returning from Vietnam and two years and one month overseas service, he served nine months as a military policeman before reentering USMC Reserves October 1966. He completed six years service March of 1969.

Upon returning to the USMC Reserves he joined the work force and in September of 1968 he entered the ministry as an Independent Baptist, and entered college. Between 1968 and 1981 he earned his Bachelor, Masters and PhD degrees. In October, 1983 he entered the US Air Force Auxiliary as a Second Lieutenant, in November, 1983 was granted an ecclesiastical endorsement, and in January 1984 was appointed into the Chaplain Service and promoted to Major. He received his PhD in counseling psychology and has done consultant counseling for military reservists under the direction of military mental health services. Chaplain Tottingham served on the staff of the US Air Force Auxiliary National Staff College for 4 years and was appointed Region Chaplain for the seven state North Central Region July 1999.

His years of Gospel ministry since 1968 have been diversified, working primarily as a long-time pastor of Empire Baptist Temple, Sioux Falls, SD, the church he established in April 1974. Through his long-time pastorate he has been instrumental in leading the church to establish, and has served as President of, Great Plains Baptist Divinity School since 1977. The church has established an elementary/high school, corrections ministry, self-defense academy, singing group (Temple-Heirs), printing ministry, international mission outreach and other ministries. As of January, 2006 EBT has established eleven churches with some still in the mission stage.

In addition to pastoring he has served as a Chaplain (contractual employee) for South Dakota State Penitentiary, the US Federal Corrections system, and Minnehaha County Regional jail. In 1980 he established SD People Serious About Liberty and Morality (SD-PSALM), a lobby to the South Dakota Legislature. For 1999 to 2000 he was appointed by the SD Governor to serve on a disaster relief committee, and in 2002 he was appointed by the Mayor of Sioux Falls to serve on the city's Community Development Advisory Committee to 2008. Pastor Tottingham has written 40 books/booklets.

Pastor T (or Dr T, as he is called) is listed in seven professional registries for Who's Who and three Halls of Fame. In 1988 he was commissioned a 'Kentucky Colonel' by the Governor of Kentucky, in 1994 was awarded the 'Estimado Amigo' title by the Governor of New Mexico, twice honored with 'The Rev. Dr. Ron Tottingham Day' by the Governor of South Dakota (1996, 2002), twice nominated for the 'Jefferson Award' for outstanding public service (1990, 1997), and in 1997 was awarded 'National Chaplain of the Year' award by the USAF Auxiliary. In 2004 he was honored with the declaration of 'Rev. Dr. Ron Tottingham Day' by the Mayor of Sioux Falls, SD and was presented with the "Key To The City" of Sioux Falls for city, state and national public service on his 30th anniversary as EBT's Pastor. He is a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans Assn., Marine Corps League, Military Order of Devil Dogs and American Rifleman Assn. and is a 9th degree Black Belt Grandmaster in the "Jehovah Way Defense" style of self defense.

While in the Marines he appeared in two films: "In Harm's Way" (starring John Wayne, made in Hawaii in 1964), and an episode of "The Lieutenant" a series about the US Marine Corps, filmed in San Diego, CA in 1963 with Robert Vaughn and Gary Lockwood, spending two weeks beside both Vaughn and Lockwood.

His highest USMC, Republic of Vietnam and USAF Auxiliary decorations include: USMC: Combat Action Ribbon, Navy/Marine Presidential Unit Citation (Silver Star Equal), Army Presidential Unit Citation, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, etc; VIETNAM: (2) Gallantry Cross Medal (personal, Bronze Star Equal), Civil Actions Unit Medal, Gallantry Cross Unit Medal with gold star, Hazardous Duty Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal; USAF Aux: (6) Exceptional Service Medal), (5) Meritorious Service Medal, (11) Commander's Commendation, the Service Medal with 20 year attachment, etc.

Married since May 1967 to the former Linda L. Morris, they have three children and nine grandchildren as of 2005.

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