Jim Osman
Pastor/Teacher

Jim Osman was born in May of 1972 and has lived in Sandpoint since he was 3 years old. He achieved his life’s ambition by graduating from Sandpoint High School in 1990. Jim came to know Christ through the ministry of Cocolalla Lake Bible Camp. Kootenai Community Church has always been his home church, attending Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and Youth Group.

After graduating from High School, he attended Millar College of the Bible in Pambrun, Saskatchewan. It was at Bible College that Jim met his wife to be, Diedre who was also enrolled as a student. Jim graduated with a three year diploma in April of 1993 and married Diedre in August of that same year. He returned to Millar to further his education in September of 1994 and graduated from the Fourth Year Internship Program with a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Ministries in April of 1995.

Jim and Diedre returned to Sandpoint where Jim began working in construction and as a Roofing Materials Application Specialist (roofer) until he was asked to take over as the Preaching Elder of Kootenai Community Church in December of 1996. Now he counts it as his greatest privilege to be involved in ministering in the Church that ministered to him for so many years. It has been a great adventure!

Jim and Diedre have four children: Taryn, Shepley, Ayden and Liam.

Dave Rich
Teaching Elder
Student Ministries
Awana Commander

Dave Rich was born in Libby, MT and grew up in southern Idaho. He attended college at the University of Idaho and graduate school at the University of Washington. Dave came to Christ as a freshman at University of Idaho in 1984. He married his wife Diane in 1986.

Dave began working with youth as a youth leader and Sunday School teacher in 1988 in Seattle’s Tabernacle Baptist Church and has been working with youth ever since. Dave helped start a youth group in Seattle and in Columbus, Ohio’s Bethesda Baptist Church.

Dave moved to Sandpoint in 1999 with wife Diane and three daughters: Megan, Jamie, and Kellie. They have attended Kootenai Community Church since 1999. Both Dave and Diane are active in Sunday School and Kootenai Community Church’s Awana ministry. Dave has been an Elder since September, 2001.

Jess Whetsel
Adult Sunday School Teacher

Jess Whetsel was born and raised in Northern California. He married his wife, Marcia, in 1965. They moved to Idaho along with their two children in 1977. Jess was saved in 1977 through the ministry of Southside Community Church, Cocolalla, ID.

Jess and Marcia were discipled one -on -one for three years using a Bible School curriculum. He then taught Sunday School, was involved in a Prison Ministry, Bible studies and discipleship. Jess was a cabinet maker by trade and when construction slowed down in 1983, he moved his family to Hayden Lake. He became a lay pastor in a local church there for 10 years.

After their two children were married, they moved back to the Sandpoint area. They began attending Kootenai Community Church in 2000. Jess has been active in teaching adult Sunday School, Bible Studies, and discipleship. Jess has been an elder since June of 2003.