kent sparks

Education:
- Masters in Divinity, Systematic Theology, 1985, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

- Bachelor of Science, Christian Education, 1982, Biola University

About Me: I was born in the Midwest and moved to Hollywood, CA with my family when I was about three years old. From there, my family moved to Orange County and I have lived here ever since. I attended Edison High School, UCLA, BIOLA, and Talbot Seminary. I finished my education with a Masters in Divinity, specializing in Systematic Theology. In 1980 while at BIOLA, I married my wife, Linda. After graduating from seminary, I started Beachcities Community Church in Huntington Beach. Since then we have had 3 children and a few dogs. Our latest version is a blond Sheba named Zelda.

Fun Facts: The word eccentric is probably the best word to describe me. I like all kinds of goofy things as well as normal, fun, and exciting things. I admit to being a coffee snob – I enjoy roasting my own coffee beans and having a great cup of coffee with those I love. I get excited about being on the hunt for great, small, cool out-of-the-way cafés and bakeries where good sweets can be enjoyed with friends. I enjoy riding my bike long distance and casually with my wife. I like racing my bike with my friends. And I like just about anything a person can do on a bicycle. I just don't like being hit by cars on my bike, which has happened to me three times. The first time when I was in eighth grade, and the accident damaged my left leg. Most people don't know my left leg it's 3/4 of an inch shorter than my right leg, so people think I'm limping when I'm just walking normal. Normal for me, the eccentric guy! Also, sometimes people think I'm not standing up straight, but this is because I really can't. But all of these things give me a nice view of reality and continue to remind me we live in a fallen world which needs Jesus. Also, I am very excited to meet Jesus, I just don't want to do it in a painful manner!

charlie koeller

Education:
- Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, 1981, University of Southern California
- Masters Degree, Christian Ministry and Leadership, 2000, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

About Me: In 1990, I was invited to the Edison High School gym to experience Beachcities Church for the first time. I was impressed by the contemporary style of ministry and a dynamic young pastor who taught the Bible with an emphasis on life application. Over the years, our family has been blessed to be part of a growing church family. As the Associate Pastor and Elder of Beachcites, my primary responsibility is to assist the Senior Pastor with the vision God has given him in fulfilling the mission statement of the church which is to “Help People Find Christ and Grow.” Over the years, my responsibilities have included counseling, pastoral care, youth ministry, administration, preaching, and mentoring. The greatest lesson I have learned in ministry is that God loves His people and wants them in a relationship with Him and others. These relationships are instruments used by God to serve others and fulfill God’s plan for His church. God has blessed me with my wife Karen. We have three kids: Kevin, Jack, and Annie. We enjoy creating memories as a family, especially now that our kids are close to leaving the nest!

brian darrow

About Me: I was born in Covina, California and was raised in Newport Beach. I gave my life to Christ when I attended Junior High School at Maranatha Christian Academy in Costa Mesa. I tagged along with my dad to a men’s Bible study that Pastor Kent was teaching when I was 14 years old. In 1985 God gave Kent the vision to start Beachcities Church. I have fond memories of lugging chairs around 27 years ago during the very first service. Beachcities has been my home ever since. I left for 4 years to attend the University of Southern California and majored in Business Administration with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship. When I graduated I went into the business world where God used me for many years. All along He was preparing me for what was to come next. I served in youth ministry for 12 years and was the High School youth pastor for 8 of those years. In 1998 I married the woman of my dreams, Caren Darrow, and 13 years later we have 3 beautiful children, Hannah (12), Levi (9), and Jedidiah(2). I am now the associate pastor and have two primary responsibilities. The first is preaching and teaching with the goal of equipping the saints. The second is to fulfill our mission of “Helping people find Christ and Grow” by equipping others to start multi-site venues. Fun Facts: I love to play basketball and I am a die-hard LA Clipper fan, I have 4 kidneys but only 1 works, my middle name is Irving…yes Irving, I love spicy food, my kids are named for specific reasons (Ask me and I'll share), USC Trojans, I love Jesus with all my heart and according to a bumper sticker I saw that makes me a "real" man, and in case you’re wondering I married over my head

clark kenyon

About Me: I grew up in Southern California and presently live in Newport Beach. I attended both Cal Berkley and UCLA while also serving 2 years in the Army. In 1984, I married the love of my life, Georgie. We now have 9 beautiful grandchildren. I was part of the original group of guys who met in a living room in Huntington Beach when Pastor Kent started his Bible studies. Out of that group, Pastor Kent established Beachcities Community Church in 1985. I've been an Elder since the beginning and it's been my privilege to serve God and my beloved Pastor for the past 26 years. Due to the fact that I got married late in life, I spent a lot of time reading everything I could get my hands on concerning marriage and counseling. My friends always wanted to meet with my dad when I was growing up because they said he gave great advice- and he did! So I grew up with a father who was a fantastic counselor. Pastor Kent asked me to provide counseling to our church family from the very start of the church. There is nothing I love doing more than serving our church in this capacity. We are all children of God and greatly valued by Him. Therefore, I love to teach others how to love well with God's kind of love.

ron binder

Education:
- Bachelor of Arts, Missiology, 1964, Biola University, La Mirada, California - Masters Degree, Linguistics, 1966, University of California, Los Angeles

About Me: I met my wife, Kathy, in high school, and she wanted to be a missionary since she was 10 years old. We both went to Biola for our undergrad work and determined that Bible translation would best allow us to engage an unreached people. After an MA in linguistics at UCLA for me and an LVN license for Kathy at Biola, we went to Colombia and Panama with Wycliffe Bible translators and worked with the Wounaan (woe-NAHN) people for 23 years in translation, literacy, training pastors, teachers and artists, community development and ethnomusicology. Along with all the wonderful things we saw God do in these areas, we had three sons—two born in Colombia and one in Panama. We've published over 70 books in the Wounaan language in addition to the New Testament and have seen God raise up some 15 churches, all of which are led by Wounaan pastors. We returned to the U.S. in 1991 and began attending Beachcities Community Church. Our ministry with Wycliffe is to multiply ourselves by helping others find and carry out what God is calling them to do, especially in the cause of Bible translation. At the request of the Wounaan churches, we've also been traveling to Panama 2-3 times a year since 2003 to develop audio, video and Scripture- based materials that have enabled the Wounaan to start new outreach and discipleship ministries among their own people.