Pastors Ronnie & Kim Holmes - Senior Pastors

Pastors Ronnie and Kim Holmes serve Open Door as its founding pastors.  They have a vision to help people receive Jesus and fulfill their purpose in Him.  Pastor Ronnie is a Waco native.  After being born again at about six years of age, he continued to grow in the Lord.  He became involved in music ministry at about ten.  In his twenties, the anointing to teach the Word of God became increasingly evident.  He was ordained into the ministry in 1988.  After serving in different areas of leading worship, teaching and preaching, the call to pastor led to the forming of  Church of the Open Door.  The confirmation of that call continues to be revealed as people come into a caring environment where they can grow in their relationship with God.  

Pastor Ronnie and Kim have been married since 1984 and have two daughters and one son.  Ashley is married to Stephen Byrd (daughters Kinley, Kambri and Kyler), and Chastity is married to Isaac Elder (daughters, Bryslan, Callie and Remi).

Pastor Ronnie and Kim were also been blessed with Austin, their son by choice through adoption, who has been with them since 2012.

Meet Our Pastors

  • Associate Pastor Cody Ochoa

    Pastor Cody is responsible for Sunday School and other programs for various departments and ministries. He is also a member of the speaking Pastoral Staff.

  • Pastor Austin Holmes - Youth Pastor

    Pastor Austin oversees the Youth Ministry (7th-12th Grades) and the Single Young Adult Ministry (18 years-20somethings).  He and his wife, Ashley, have been involved in ministering to youth even before getting married in 2018.

                They are passionate about seeing youth discover their purpose and develop in their individual callings and giftings in the power of the Holy Spirit.

  • Pastor Terry Dobbs - Children's Pastor

    Terry has served in Children's Ministry at Open Door since 2000. Her greatest joy is to see kids come to personally know Jesus and then to see them develop and grow in Him as discover their own places of service. The kids’ ministry team is passionate to teach children about their identities in Christ and how they can make a difference in their world, by the power of the Holy Spirit!

  • Pastor Marihelen Ochoa - Worship Pastor

    Pastor Marihelen oversees the Music and Worship Ministry for Youth and Adult Services. She is an anointed Worship Leader as she, along with the Worship Team, help usher the congregation into the presence of God.

  • Pastor Nilsa Latimer Smith - House Where Jesus Shine

    Nilsa has served at the House Where Jesus Shines since 1997, where she worked alongside her husband, until his death in 2005.

    It was evident that she carried the anointing to continue to oversee and direct this ministry, although she no longer resides there. She is assisted by staff who actually live at the facility.Nilsa has been married to Charles Smith since 2013. Some years ago, Nilsa also recognized that there was a great need in our community for men and women on parole or probation to experience Christ-centered recovery. So she became the Director of Overcomers Recovery Support groups in Waco, training facilitators and overseeing meetings at the House Where Jesus Shines, at Church of the Open Door, and in Gatesville prisons.