Brian Culbertson

Founding Pastor

I was the kid who get up Mormon. I was the agnostic who worked near a MegaChurch and would joke that someday they would all drink the blue Kool-Aid. I was the guy who started showing up to church because of the free child care (and on more than one occasion left to go to Starbucks, while the nursery watched my kid). How did I end up a pastor at Refuge.Church? Jesus!!! His grace flipped my world upside down. (full story here).

Today, I’m just a beggar who has found some bread, and want to share that never ending supply with others. I have a particular passion for those who are trying to find their way out of Mormonism (or other works based religions) and moving the Church (capital C) towards full affirmation and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community.

Outside Refuge

My wife Karen and I are High-School sweethearts (married 25-years). We live in Alva with three daughters, a chocolate Labrador (who won AFV for being so bad), a poodle (long story), a golden doodle (I blame my wife) and two cats (I don’t even like cats) . It’s a zoo. I love boating, traveling, technology, Indiana Basketball and all things music.

A Few of My Favorites

Movies // Pulp Fiction, The Matrix, The Shawshank Redemption, Rocky (1-4), The Star Wars Saga (minus 1-3)
Music // 90’s Alt Rock, Jack Johnson, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, Weezer, REM, Nirvana, etc.
Current Podcasts // Stuff You Should Know, The Bible for Normal People, The Daily, The Journal, Broken Record with Rick Rubin and of course the Refuge.Church Podcast!
Recommended Christian Books // Searching for Sunday (Rachel Held Evans), God and the Gay Christian (Matthew Vine), The Bible Tells Me So (Pete Enns), The Jesus I Never Knew (Phillip Yancy), Irresistible Revolution (Shane Claiborne) and anything ever written by C.S. Lewis.