RBI FACULTY & INSTRUCTORS
The faculty of the River Bible Institute are educators of the highest quality who believe in excellence in education. Faculty members display a clear love and compassion for the River Bible Institute students while maintaining the level of leadership that is required.
All faculty members believe in the plan and purpose of this institution and make a commitment to vigorously strive to ensure that the highest level of excellence is achieved. Listed below is the dedicated faculty of the River Bible Institute programs.
THE PRESIDENTS
Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne
Rodney Howard-Browne was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and grew up in the Eastern Cape and Transkei. His wife, Adonica, was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and raised in Johannesburg. Rodney gave his heart to the Lord at the age of five and Adonica gave her heart to the Lord at the age of seventeen. They met and married in 1981 and immediately went full-time together into the traveling ministry. Over the next six years they traveled across Southern Africa, including Zimbabwe and Namibia, preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. In 1983, they pioneered a church in the Northeastern Cape and pastored there for two years. After that, Rodney taught classes in a leading Bible School for another two years.
During this time, they had three children: Kirsten, born in 1982, Kelly May, born in 1984, and Kenneth, born in 1987. Rodney and Adonica knew, even before they married, that they were both called to travel around the world to preach the gospel and they had a particularly strong calling toward the United States of America. In 1987 the door opened for them to go to America. Rodney visited America twice that year, preaching in several churches, and in December 1987 the whole family traveled to America to fulfill the call and plan and purpose of God and to move into the new phase of ministry that God had called them into. The Lord supernaturally provided for their air tickets and they came to America with only $300, four suitcases, and their three children, then aged five, three and seven months.
In December of 1996, Rodney and Adonica started The River at Tampa Bay Church in Tampa, FL, and the following year started the River Bible Institute.
Drs. Rodney and Adonica are the founders and Presidents of the River Bible Institute, the River School of Worship, the River School of Goverment, and the River Bible Institute Español.
THE DEAN
Pastor Mark Cabrera
In conjunction with the Dean and administrative staff, Pastor Mark leads, manages and evaluates the student enrollment process – from inquiry, through admissions, to assimilation into the school's culture. He assists with helping students locate appropriate housing as well as providing spiritual counsel and encouragement.
THE PRINCIPAL
Pastor Martha Cabrera
As the Administrator of RBI, RSW and RSG, Martha oversees the daily activities of the schools as well as assisting the student body in fulfilling the call of God on their lives through academic and spiritual advancement. She serves as the student relations liaison for our students, their families, and instructors, and facilitates the appropriate resources needed to support the overall mission and purpose of training a new breed of revivalists.
Both Pastors Mark and Martha were born and raised in Christian homes, accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior at young ages, and have been actively involved in church all their lives. Pastor Mark was born in Chicago, IL and was raised in Florida while, Pastor Martha was born and raised in Miami, FL. In July of 1999, Pastors Mark and Martha married and later moved to Tampa, FL in 2004 following the lead of the Holy Spirit for more of Him. In that search they visited The River Church of Tampa Bay in 2007 and became members that very same year after the power of God completely overwhelmed them. In 2012 the Lord confirmed the calling they knew was over their lives to be in full-time ministry and accepted scholarships given to them by Drs. Rodney and Adonica Howard-Browne to the River Bible Institute. In 2015 they came on staff in the River Bible Institute and then were named associate pastors in 2016.
In addition to their leadership roles in the River Bible Institute, Ps. Mark and Martha Cabrera advance the Gospel in the Hispanic community through the Spanish church at The River named, La Iglesia El Rio. Both are instructors for the Instituto Bíblico River (River Bible Institute in Español) where they are running with the vision of Drs. Rodney and Adonica Howard-Browne of teaching others to reach and shake the Spanish communities with the Fire of God through community outreaches, soul winning, weekly Spanish radio program named “El Gran Despertar” (The Great Awakening) and training Spanish churches on how to reach and impact their community. It is with great respect and honor that they serve this ministry.
ADMINISTRATOR
Ms. Halie Gillett
Coming soon...
LIST OF RBI INSTRUCTORS
Listed below are the dedicated instructors of the River Bible Institute programs:
Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne
Dr. Adonica Howard-Browne
Dean Mark Cabrera
Ps. Martha Cabrera
Ps. Jayson Williams
Ps. Raymond Cilliers
Ps. Derek Golding
Ps. Eric Gonyon
Ps. Jennifer Gonyon
Ps. Allen Hawes
Ps. Shannon Gilbert
Evg. Jana Pauls