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Senior Pastor
We are humbled and so grateful for God's clear call to us to go into vocational ministry. From our first mission trip together in the summer of 1982, we knew God had called us as "partners in ministry." We joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ shortly after we were married on September 4th, 1982.
Our ministry theme verse has been 1 Thessalonians 2:8, "Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us." This verse highlights our passion to love people with the Truth of God's Word and invest our very lives into theirs.
We served with campus ministries at the University of Southern California and New Mexico State University. We then trained seminary students on campus as we both attended the International School of Theology. I received a Master of Divinity degree and Sandy earned a "Partners in Ministry" certificate.
We have three terrific kids, Chelsea, Chad and Kyra, each of whom has grown into a dynamic adult. We echo John's words in 3 John 1:4, "I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the Truth."
I served at Church of the Woods as an Interim Pastor beginning in January, 1995. I was called to be the Senior Pastor in July, 1995. I have learned so much as this gracious church family has loved and encouraged me through it all. Obviously, there have been challenges along the way too. But God continues to transform lives. And we are privileged to be His servants. Keeping a good sense of humor helps us to persevere through all the stages of life.
And we are privileged to be His servants. Keeping a good sense of humor helps us to persevere through all the stages of life. Our passion is to finish well the ministry God has called us to. We want to be known as genuine people who authentically - Love God, Love People, and Preach the Truth. Please come join us in worship either in person or through video.
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Youth Pastor
I was born in New Zealand, the third son in a family of four boys. I grew up on a farm, learning how to deal with sheep and other furry creatures, (a skill which comes in quite handy with my particular call to ministry.)
After graduating from high school, I attended Canterbury University where I studied microbiology and psychology and earned a Bachelor of Science degree (by the skin of my teeth.) Understanding the psychology of microbes also helps in my call to youth ministry.
It was during this time that I felt the call on my life to serve in ministry confirmed. In a desire to extend my horizons, I attended Spirit Life Bible College in California. It was there that I met my future wife, Rynna (an American no less), graduated, moved back to serve as the youth pastor in my home church in New Zealand and later, lured my girl back to New Zealand. Remarkably, I somehow convinced her to marry me.
After spending seven and half years in New Zealand, Rynna and I moved back to California, where upon taking a year off of ministry, found our way to Lake Arrowhead and, ultimately, to my position as Youth Pastor at Church of the Woods.
I am passionate about helping students deal with the challenges they face as they encounter the undeniable reality of God's presence in their lives. I see my role as a partner with parents in discipleship, training and teaching. I consider it a privilege to be a part of students' lives, helping them walk through the inevitable highs and lows of life as a teenager and, eventually, as adults.
Learn about youth events by clicking on the COTW Encounter Youth Page.
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Worship Leader
I have been involved with church music since I gave my life to Christ at age 11. I met and married my husband Michael in 1987 while playing on the worship team at Calvary Chapel Capistrano Beach, under the leadership of Rick Founds (author of "Lord I Lift Your Name on High"). We moved to Lake Arrowhead in 1988 and became the proud parents of our beautiful daughter, Darby, in 1995. I have been leading worship at churches, retreats and special events since 1992. My ministry work at Church of the Woods began in January, 2004.
My ministry mission statement is fourfold:
1) To Glorify God
2) To Unify the Body of Christ
3) To Magnify His great works
4) To Testify of His great love
It is my desire to provide an atmosphere of music that encourages people to enter into worship. I see people from all walks of life represented in the Church of the Woods congregation. My hope is to reflect that variety in the music I choose.
As you look around here, you will see that there are a variety of ages and backgrounds represented in our congregation. Each person who comes into this building is precious and valuable. This diversity will bring many opinions regarding music. We will do our best to represent that variety in our worship.
You will notice that it is not unusual for us to have a hymn followed by a contemporary song. It is my prayer that we, as a church, will always stay focused on the BIG PICTURE: The Lord God Almighty is worthy to be praised - that is the essence of worship. When that concept is firmly in place, style becomes the secondary and far less important issue. We seek to honor the Lord with our lives and our heartfelt praises. While the musical backdrop for that will take many forms, tempos and volumes, the heart of the matter will consistently remain Christ-centered.
My main criteria for selecting worship songs are that they be glorifying to the Lord and encouraging to His people. My dream as a worship leader is that my voice would be drowned out by the voices of the congregation as we enter into His presence with total abandon, singing with all our might to our Great God. HE IS WORTHY OF ALL OUR PRAISE!
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Director of Children's Ministry
As the daughter of a pastor and missionary, I grew up in the church and on the mission fields of Trinidad, Germany and Norway. I accepted the Lord when I was eight years old, as a result of the seeds that were planted in my life by my parent's love and guidance, and through the instruction and nurturing of the Children's Ministry teachers in the church where I spent the early years of my childhood.
I have continued in these footsteps by following the call on my life to guide children into a living and real relationship with Jesus Christ. Here's a little about my background in Christian education. For 15 years, I was the executive director of a private Christian preschool and elementary school that served 300 families in San Bernardino. In that capacity, I served on numerous ACSI Accreditation teams and community advisory boards.
Married for 28 years, my husband, Joe, and I have four children and three grandchildren. We raised our family, here, in beautiful Lake Arrowhead, and have enjoyed seeing them marry and start their own families. We have been members here at Church of the Woods for the past five years. In the summer of 2008, I joined Church of the Woods staff as the full-time Children's Ministry Director, where I count it an honor and privilege to work with our little ones, guiding them to Jesus.
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Office Manager
I started working as the secretary of Church of the Woods in June of 1997 after Pastor Rod approached me one Sunday and asked me to consider the position. He seemed more concerned with my "friendly disposition" than my 18 years of secretarial experience! I now understand that this position is more than just a job, it's a ministry and, as Pastor Rod tells the staff, "People come first."
It was a part-time position back then (176 church attendees), which has now grown into a full-time job (530 attendees). In August of 2007, I was promoted to the position of office manager and I want you to know that, after almost 12 years, I still love what I do and the people who attend this church. I am blessed to have so many, who love, encourage and support me as I serve this body of believers whom God has called me to.
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Troy Black is the Audio Visual director of Church of the Woods. He has been working in that capacity for almost a year.
After attending the church for awhile, Troy was asked if he was interested in assuming the leadership mantle for the AV ministry. His love for the Lord and Bachelor of Science degree in telecommunications made him a natural choice for the position.
Troy’s tasks include managing the stage, including everything related to audio and video ministries. He enjoys his job very much and loves using his skills. Troy considers it a privilege to have a career that doesn’t feel like a job. In his free time, he enjoys video production.
Micki Black had been the Nursery Coordinator at Church of the Woods for nine months. She enjoys children and babies very much. So her job is very important to her.
Micki’s daily activates include watching over the children and taking care of the nursery. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her kids and home schooling them.
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Beverley Campbell has been working at Church of the Woods since the church was built in 1984. She first came to Church of the Woods when she and a friend decided it was time to return to church.
Beverly works in the kitchen and does a little custodial work, too. She keeps busy by buying all the food and doing some of the office cleaning. Her favorite part of the job is…everything!
She says it is her home-away-from-home and is a wonderful place to be. When Beverley is not working, she likes to spend time with her grandchildren. And she looks forward to staying busy, helping out with her newborn grandchild, as well.
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