Meet the team

The remnants of a new church plant that almost didn’t make it through Covid have been rebuilding their team, redefining their mission, and are well on their way to becoming a mission congregation.

This team is in the beginning stages of recruiting, formation, and groundwork in partnership with Bethlehem SCV and under the leadership of mission leader Vanessa March.

FIFA soccer coach, I.S., is a seminary student and missionary to the San Fernando Valley with extensive church planting experience. He and his family landed in Granada Hills in early summer 2025. He uses soccer to build connections with the Arab-speaking community among whom he already is gathering 3 mission communities which he intends to form into mission congregations over the next months.

In partnership with 1st Lutheran of Venice, Pastor John Palka, and mission leader Jeremy Matthews are in the process of planning and building a team that will start a new gospel-focused recovery ministry to serve the people of Venice.

Evangelist Eric Schulken is using the redemption in Christ that he’s experienced in his life to build recovery communities in South Orange County. So far in 2025, he has build 3 different communities who are being discipled toward freedom in Christ. Since July 2025, over 30 people have been baptized through his ministry, and he is partnering with several churches in South Orange County and North San Diego County.

Through the relationships he’s building through surfing, recovering ministries, and other relationships, Evangelist Eric Schulken is working with a newly forming mission team in San Clemente with the intention of planting what will become new mission congregation.

Sheri Esswein, member of Bethany Lutheran in Long Beach had a vision to start a pickleball club in her retirement as a way to bring friends together and make new ones. Her ministry has grown to multiple locations with dozens of pickle ballers playing each week. The courts have been a great place to build relationships with gospel-intentionality.

As part of a 3 church plant initiative in the greater Long Beach area, we are opening up an interest group for those who may be interested in joining this project. We anticipate prep work to begin for this plant in mid-late 2026.

As part of a 3 church plant initiative in the greater Long Beach area, we are opening up an interest group for those who may be interested in joining this project. We anticipate prep work to begin for this plant in 2027.

As part of a 3 church plant initiative in the greater Long Beach area, we are opening up an interest group for those who may be interested in joining this project. We anticipate prep work to begin for this plant in 2027.

A team is forming in the Rancho Mission Viejo/Ladera Ranch area. If you are interested in this project, please join the interest list and we’ll keep you up to date on events, gatherings, equipping, and movement.