MISSION ADVANCEMENT TEAM

Dr. Dave DeVries

Dr. Dave DeVries

I was born in Northridge Hospital and grew up in Canoga Park with a few early years in Pomona. I serve as the Executive Director of Vinia and I love being in this role because I get to encourage and strengthen leaders and pastors! Since I enjoy so many kinds of food, choosing a favorite is hard. I love ribs and pizza and sushi – and a favorite choice is Indian!

Rev. Doug Colby

I am from Oxnard, CA, and am the Lead Pastor at Ventura Missionary Church. I love serving our church and our community! My favorite food is my wife’s cooking. (I cook also, but hers is always better!)

Conrad Wozniak

I was born and raised in Irvine, California but I have lived off and on in the Conejo Valley for four years. Currently, I serve as the Executive Associate Pastor at Living Oaks Church and what I love most about my job is helping others to discover God’s design for their life and how they can live for Kingdom impact. In order to fuel this passion, I stock up on burritos, pizza, sushi, tic-tacs, donuts, and chips and guac.

Dave Schmutte

I was born and raised in California. I am retired and enjoy American food.

Rev. Phil Graf

I was born in Stony Brook, NY. I have several jobs: with Vinia, I’m the Assistant Executive Director and Director of Coaching; with the Global Training Network, Senior Executive Lead Team member, and co-founder of Divine Expedition; with The Barn, church planter, team leader, and coach; and with Hidden Manna, team leader. In all those roles, I enjoy engaging those who are not yet followers of Christ and introducing them to Him, coaching church planters, walking people through deep pain and into freedom, and empowering leaders for Kingdom movement. I love any food my wife Laina makes that doesn’t include coconut or brussel sprouts, and chocolate.

Amy Jackson

I was born, raised and still reside in the San Fernando Valley. My husband and I bought my grandmother’s house 30 years ago and never left! I have been on staff at As You Are Missionary Church in Reseda, California, for 15 years and am currently serving as the Pastor of Discipleship Ministries. What I love most about my job is working alongside ministry leaders and being able to equip, encourage and build up their confidence as leaders. If I had to pick a favorite food, it would have to be Tacos.

Dr. Dave Stegman

I am a mid-westerner, born in Marshalltown, Iowa. I went to Notre Dame for pre-med, medical school at Creighton in Omaha, internship in Minneapolis and family practice residency in Ventura (68-70). I was drafted during Vietnam and spent 4 years in Europe (SETAF) where I met an army nurse – the love of my life – Linda, now my wife of 46 years. I returned to California to practice family medicine in Santa Paula and Fillmore. I retired in 2002, volunteered at the Salvation Army clinic for 12 years and went on short term medical missionary trips to Mexico, Honduras and Nigeria. I have been a member of VMC for 37 years. We have two grown children living in the area and two grandchildren. I have been abundantly blessed by God. I eat anything and like to try new foods.

Charles Clemons

I was born in Long Branch, New Jersey. I serve as Chaplain Resident for UCLA Health and I love coming alongside people to share Christ during difficult times and to see His Kingdom advance among different kinds of people. I enjoy barbeque & soul food (Beef & Pork Ribs, Mac & Cheese, Collard Greens, Red Beans & Rice, and Sweet Potato Pie).

Rev. Louis DeLuca

Louis has been a pastor for over 25 years. He has served at many different levels of ministry, beginning as a high school leader, college and career ministry leader, pastoral intern, associate pastor, lead pastor, Church Planter, and denominational board member. Louis loves preaching and teaching and, in particular, loves “teaching preaching,” something he continues to do to this day. He is passionate about spending time with his wife and two daughters. They love games of all types, water sports, art, and architecture as a family. In addition, Louis loves hunting and going on long, arduous backpacking trips with friends. He also enjoys building design and construction and is currently remodeling his house. Louis is passionate about Jesus and His gospel and loves how the gospel liberates people. His drive in ministry is to make disciples and to help those disciples make other disciples. He also loves leadership development and seeing people use their gifts to impact the world.

Rev. Edwin Recinos

I was born in Guatemala City, Central America. I’m so blessed to be married to the girl with whom I’ve been in love since 1983. We have two adult children and four grandchildren. I’m a naturalized citizen of this my new beloved country, the USA.

I’m the founder and lead pastor of CITY ON A HILL CHURCH in Santa Clarita, California. We planted this congregation in 1994. We have first, second, third and fourth generations of Latinos in the USA.

I love to serve and teach the Word of God; I also love to see people transformed by a genuine relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

I love every type of food. In fact, I like to explore and find out which restaurant serves the best ethnic dishes. But if I had to choose right now, I would go for a thick juicy Prime Rib with a big baked potato.

In 2018 I received an Honorary PhD in Divinity from El Camino Christian College of Southern California.

Sandi Balli

Sandi Balli is a woman who loves God and His Word and desires that all women would intimately know Him. She acknowledges that her identity is deeply rooted in the fact that she is a daughter of the King. She finds her sole purpose in pursuing more of Him each and every day. As she has sought His presence, He continues to develop her purpose in life. She is the wife of a pastor, a mother of four adult children, the grandmother of six, a sister, a friend, a Bible teacher, a counselor, a coach, and an encourager. Twenty years ago, God called her on a mission trip to Uganda. That trip birthed a new love and clarified one more of her purposes to expand the kingdom of God in Uganda. She is now the CEO of a non-profit ministry “AICM” that meets the needs of the most vulnerable children in Uganda. Besides helping her husband lead and love the congregation in Turlock, California, and running the non-profit, she finds deep joy in teaching women how to love and follow God.

Larry Wolf

I grew up in the foothills of Santa Barbara, California, the 5th of 7 children, in cul-de-sac neighborhood with 25 kids running around! I moved to Ventura when I was 20 years old and have lived in Ventura County for the past 35 years. I have been in full time ministry for 10 years of my adult life and 25 years in business. I currently own my own company, Wolf Media, that helps businesses, school districts, and non-profits with managing and developing their online platforms. I love helping companies solve very difficult and exasperating problems. I love that most of our work is remote (we were remote, before it was “cool” to be remote!) I love the flexibility in my work schedule, to be able to have time to do ministry things and family activities. Favorite types of food are SoCal Mexican like surf tacos, burritos (Snapper Jack’s), Gourmet Fish (Lure Fish House), and an excellent burger (In N Out, Finney’s).

Advisors

Rev. Mike Somers

I live in Camarillo, Ca and grew up in So Cal. I’m the regional executive pastor. I love the HUGE variety of tasks and relationships I get to engage in. Collaborating with our great team makes the job especially rewarding. My favorite food is a nice filet with Parmesan risotto and cheese cake and coffee for dessert. Yumm!

Rev. Toby Lazo

Pastor Toby was born in El Salvador and came to the US when he was 17 years old. He is married to Rosa and they have three children. In 2004, Pastor Toby started Ministerio Casa de Dios in Burbank, CA. In 2006, he began his role with the MCWR. And he has been involved with the Keystone Project since 2008.

Rev. Rick Dunn

Rick grew up in Montclair, CA, outside of Los Angeles, and he now lives in Point Loma, CA. In his free time, he enjoys bicycling, collecting classic cars, cooking, gardening, and reading good books. If he could go anywhere in the world, it would be New Zealand.

Tim Kanter

Tim has spent his entire life in Southern California and lives in Thousand Oaks, California, with his wife Angela, and two daughters, Megan and Emma. Tim is the Director of Engagement for Vinia and loves that he gets to support and encourage our pastors and church leaders to help them to live out their calling. In his free time, he loves to go on long, arduous backpacking trips with friends, watching movies, and hanging out with his family. His favorite kind of food is Italian, but more specifically, Tim loves lasagna. And he’s not picky. He loves lasagna with mozzarella and ricotta, or lasagna with a good bechamel sauce. As long as it’s a meat lasagna anyway…