Who We Are

NextGen Bible Media is a non-profit organization that supports BCC Media‘s mission to bring the message of the Bible to life and make it accessible for children and youth worldwide using modern technology and digital platforms.

Our legal name is Friends of BCC Media, but we are operating under the name NextGen Bible Media.

Currently, we are fundraising for the Gate Zero video game project. We plan to fund other BCC Media projects down the road.

NextGen Bible Media is registered to fundraise through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, CH75343. We are a tax-exempt organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

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Board of Trustees

Barry Couts Sr
Chairman

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Barry Couts

Chairman

Barry is proud to serve as the chairman on the NextGen Bible Media board. As the CEO of the company True Inspection Services, Barry is truly grateful for the opportunities to lead, contribute, and make a difference in both the business and nonprofit sectors. True Inspection Services was recently selected as the Entrepreneurial Business of the Year Award winner for the 2024 Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. Additionally, serving as an owner partner of the Door Shop has provided Barry with valuable entrepreneurial experience and insights.

In his role on the board for the Small Business Development Center in Springfield, Ohio, he serves as treasurer. This voluntary position allows him to support small business development in the community and make a meaningful impact through his expertise in financial matters.

One of Barry's most rewarding experiences has been assisting Urbana Christian Fellowship (UCF), which he has been a member of since 1974, in fundraising millions of dollars for nonprofit organizations. This opportunity has allowed him to contribute to important causes and showcase his dedication to philanthropy and resource mobilization for the greater good.

Michele Scanlan
Secretary & Treasurer

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Michele Scanlan

SECRETARY & TREASURER

Michele offers her 19 years of experience in fundraising as a volunteer grants consultant for NextGen Bible Media, as well as serving as the secretary and treasurer on the board.

In her professional career, Michele manages a diverse set of grant programs including a $5.5 Million portfolio at Miami City Ballet, where she has worked for 12 years. At the ballet, Michele manages all aspects of foundation and government relationships, including cultivation, proposal development, contract execution, compliant impact reporting, and stewardship.

Michele holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Minnesota and a Certificate of Nonprofit Management from the Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy.

John Gibson
Board Member

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John Gibson

BOARD MEMBER

As a philanthropist with a heart for helping the poor and needy around the world, John serves on the board of NextGen Bible Media as a consultant and advocate.

In addition, John brings two decades of experience and expertise in game development and publishing to the team, serving also as Executive Game Consultant to Bible X.

As the former CEO, co-owner, and co-founder of Tripwire Interactive, he led the team that brought hit games like Killing Floor, Maneater, and Chivalry 2 to market, selling tens of millions of copies and winning multiple game of the year awards.

John’s role at Bible X will involve business development assistance, strategic development and execution, as well as mentoring in various areas of game development to ensure the highest possible success of Gate Zero.

Fun Fact: Among his many collections, like sports cars to old video game consoles, John has a collection of old Israel coins from the 1st century that he purchased when his children were young, to help them imagine the Bible stories!

Administrative Team

Matthias Hauptmann

Chief Operating Officer, BCC Media

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Matthias Hauptmann

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, BCC MEDIA

Hailing from Germany, Matthias holds a degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA from the University of Applied Sciences in Osnabrück. After graduation, Matthias worked in different industries, focusing on business development. He also managed a media agency for six years, gaining experience in managing a team and handling complex projects.

Aside from his professional career, Matthias is passionate about the Bible and Israel. He has been leading youth tours as a tour guide in Israel since 2011, sharing his knowledge and love for the country and its culture with others. Over the years, he has led a Christian youth group, which has given him an understanding of the interests and needs of young people. Matthias lives in Norway with his wife and two young boys.

Fun Fact: As a teenager, Matthias was "addicted" to computer games. That's why he is passionate about offering gamers a meaningful alternative!

Arve Solli

Head of Studio, Gate Zero

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Arve Solli

HEAD OF STUDIO, GATE ZERO

Arve Solli’s journey in the media industry began early on, when he won a music video competition on a national broadcaster at the young age of 13. As an early teen, Arve enjoyed delving into the world of 3D Animation and gaming, teaching himself programs such as 3ds Max, Maya, Apple Shake and Nuke.

His passion for learning and experimenting with new tools has led to a diverse career spanning various media forms, including live television production, photography, camera crane operation, TV producer for multi-season shows, and animation director. As a visual effects artist, Arve has contributed to the success of feature-length films.

Arve’s love for the Bible and passion for inspiring the next generation led him to BCC Media, where he worked as producer for several live interactive Bible study shows, among other projects.

Now as the Head of Bible X and creative force behind Gate Zero, Arve continues to push boundaries and bring innovative ideas to life. His ultimate dream is to build a game that empowers young people to directly engage with the teachings of Jesus, fulfilling the Great Commission to go forth and make disciples of all nations.

Arve lives in Oslo with his wife and three children, and when he is not working, he enjoys cooking.

Robert Pledger

Major Gift Officer

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Robert Pledger

MAJOR GIFT OFFICER

Robert spent over 22 years leading a large cleaning and restoration company. His focus on leadership and building a positive culture led to significant achievements, including winning the Franchise of the Year Award four times and being the first-ever back-to-back winner in franchise history. Robert also received multiple leadership awards during this time.

Following a calling from God, Robert transitioned into the nonprofit sector as an area manager. During his time in this ministry, he had the opportunity to meet and be mentored by Bill Hautt, a highly successful fundraising consultant for nonprofits worldwide and the author of "Every Nonprofit's Buried Treasure." Robert is a Christ follower, husband to his wife Heidi, a father of 5, and a grandfather (Pops) to 5 grandchildren. He lives by the 4-F's of life: Faith, Family, Fitness, and Finances – in that order. Robert and Heidi enjoy leading a College and Career Class for young adults aged 18 to 24 at their church, Rising Hills in Canton, Georgia. According to Robert, the greatest joy comes from serving God's purpose for his life.

Robert is thrilled about the opportunity to share the Gospel through Gate Zero with billions of gamers who may have never heard the "Good News." He is also excited about working with a team of talented, dedicated Christ followers on a project that will have a significant impact on the Kingdom.

Eunice Lenk

Marketing & Community Manager, Gate Zero

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Eunice Lenk

MARKETING & COMMUNITY MANAGER, GATE ZERO

As the sole marketer for the Gate Zero project, Eunice combines her project management skills with her creativity to inspire and engage people with a gospel-spreading tool. She develops marketing campaigns including leveraging TikTok and Instagram to the tune of millions of views, and is the strategist behind Gate Zero's fast-growing social media following.

Eunice loves meeting and getting to know new people, and thrives on IRL events where she gets to connect with leaders in the ministry and gaming space, as well as fans of the Bible X community.

Having worked as a project manager and marketer with BCC Media since 2016, Eunice has managed various projects, including social media marketing, animation, website and web app development, and podcast hosting.

Get In Touch

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