Staff
tammy barrett
office administratorContact Information: tbarrett@beachcities.org
714.698.0668 ext 17
I Started Working at Beachcities in: November 2009
ABOUT ME: This first time I attended BCC, in 1989, was a time change weekend and I was there an hour too early. Pastor Kent married Dave and I on October 20, 1990. We picked that date 10/20/90 so that Dave would remember it. We adopted our twins, Nicholas and Nathan, right before their third birthday. I have been one of the Breakaway leaders since its inception in 2004. I love our 4th and 5th graders.I graduated from CSULB in 1982 and after working for the Segerstrom’s at South Coast Plaza for a couple of years, I decided to get my CPA license. After working in public accounting for few years, I received my license in 1988. I owned my own firm from 1985 until I sold the practice in 2009. I had been assisting the accounting department at BCC for quite a while and when I retired from public accounting, this position opened up and I started working here December 2009. I am so blessed to be able to share my gifts with the people of BCC.
FUN FACTS: I am an avid Angels Baseball fan, I have had season tickets since 2005 and I was at Game 6 of the 2002 World Series. My twin boys and I all share the same birthday, August 11, although just a few years apart. My husband, Dave works at the happiest place on Earth so we get to visit whenever we want.
MY JOB IN 10 WORDS OR LESS: Directing office traffic and handling all of the financial matters concerning BCC.
andrew gutierrez
director of film & productionContact Information: andrewg@beachcities.org
I Started Working at Beachcities in: March 2010
ABOUT ME:Born in the San Francisco Bay Area, I was exposed to television and film production at an early age. My father, Al Gutierrez, was producer/host of a local television program on KTVU, which is now the FOX affiliate. It was during sick days from school and the occasional need for a child actor that I began my career. At the age of 13, I purchased a Super 8 film camera, and began shooting short movies and learning basic camera technique. After graduating high school, I completed a Film Studies degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara. One of my early opportunities came from Luis Valdez (director of La Bamba and Zoot Suit). While at Mr. Valdez’ theatrical playhouse El Teatro Campesino, I served as stage manager for several theatrical productions and 1st Assistant Director on A Soldiers Ballad. Shortly thereafter I went to work on the Warner Bros.-Esparza/Katz Major Motion Picture, Selena. Upon completion of that film, I moved to Southern California, where I worked as an editor and production coordinator for several production companies. Since then, I have worked as a producer with some of the most popular and most prominent people in film and television: Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Angela Bassett. Never losing my passion for story telling, in the beginning of 2008, my short film, SHADOWS, was accepted to the International Family Film Festival. In 2010, Kent shared his vision for the future of Beachcities and asked me to help achieve those goals. It was an easy choice to make, by blending my career experience with a ministry focus I accepted easily.
FUN FACTS: I took ballroom and disco dancing lessons in college. I am a Certified Emergency Response Team member for the city of Huntington Beach. My favorite film is Citizen Kane I have travelled to 13 countries, including: Israel, Morocco, Jordan, Fiji, Indonesia and France. I have marched in the 4th of July parade for Huntington Beach. I play the ukulele.
MY JOB IN 10 WORDS OR LESS: If I do my job right, you shouldn’t notice.
jared ammann
technology directorContact Information: E-mail: jared@beachcities.org Twitter:Dirtyjared
I Started Working at Beachcities in: June 2004
ABOUT ME:I grew up in San Diego and moved to Orange County to attend Devry University in the year 2000. After graduating college in 2003 with a degree in Telecommunications Management, I was working at Blockbuster Video and one of the regular customers started bringing me to Beachcities. I started volunteering and, before you know it, I had a full-time job halfway through 2004. I have been here ever since and thoroughly enjoy all the tinkering, producing, building, imagining and creating that I get to do on a daily basis. I have a beautiful wife Susan, who I have been happily married to for the past 5 years and our first daughter, Genesis joined our family in April of 2010.
FUN FACTS: I am pretty good at most anything I do, I am extremely humble, I don’t drink coffee. I like Costco water, I have no problems with sharing, I am extremely opinionated but don’t share unless asked. Nickname is Dirty—you will get used to saying it after a while.
MY JOB IN 10 WORDS OR LESS: Fixing broken technology and building things for the future.
nikole sparks
design director Contact Information: nikole@beachcities.org
I started Working at Beachcities in: 2001
ABOUT ME: Hi! My name is Nikole, and yes, it does have a "k". I've grown up, and lived in, Huntington Beach my whole life. I love the culture of the beach community infused with the influence of LA city life. I graduated from BIOLA University in 2011 with a BFA in Graphic Design, along with a minor in Biblical Studies. Looking back on my entire (short) life I can see how God has pursued me, and through His grace, brought me to Him. God has been faithful to continue to show me how to cast all my cares on Him, and I am continuing to learn how to love God more fully and purely everyday. I lived and worked in the mountains the summer of 2009, at Hume Lake Christian Camps, creating daily videos for camp--that summer at Hume is where I solidified my desire to be involved in vocational ministry full time. So here I am! I’ve worked at Beachcities for a while, doing numerous different tasks, but have settled into my role here as our Graphics Director since 2010. I absolutely love my job, as well as the opportunity I get to work alongside some of my best friends. Two things you should know about me: I want to love God more fully every day, and I’m passionate about sharing God's love with others. I love using my job, and free time, to figure out creative ways to show people that love.
FUN FACTS:I’m a total design nerd and definitely judge books (and tons of other stuff) by their cover. I am recently a proud Vespa owner. I love traveling, and going on road trips. I can’t work in silence (I always have music playing everywhere I am). I get super excited to talk design details with people (pantone colors and printing processes--keys to my heart!). I get really excited about little things. I like to know how things work. I read instruction manuels. I’m attached to my iPhone, I should get it robotically inserted into my forearm. I have too many Apple products. I love coffee, tea, and reading, but if I had to choose, I probably love coffee the most. I dance with only my hands, which is a pretty great conversation starter. And mostly I love to listen to other people’s stories and share meaningful life in community.
MY JOB IN 10 WORDS OR LESS: I click, arrange, typeset, colorize, undo, redo, edit, print, scrap, start over, click, click, coffee, cut, color, type, print, cut, draw, scan, click, all types of things your eyes see.
marissa schneider
church administratorContact Information: marissas@beachcities.org
I Started Working at Beachcities in: September 2010
ABOUT ME: I started attending Beachcities in March of 2003 as a jr. high student in the Rock. Although I grew up in a non-Christian home, it was only a matter of weeks after I started coming to Beachcities that I accepted the Lord and I have been faithfully walking with Him ever since. My husband and I met at the high school group and started dating when I was just 15 years old. Five years later, in June of 2010, we got married and started our new lives together! In May of 2011 I graduated from Biola University with a Bachelors Degree in Communications Studies and a minor in Biblical Studies. I love using my gifts and areas of interest to serve others, and I am blessed to work at a job where I am able to do just that.
FUN FACTS:I love wittiness and puns (the cheesier the better). Anyone who knows me well knows that I am highly competitive, although you might not guess that upon first glance. I love board games, especially Phase 10 and Taboo. I have a special affinity for words. I love to read (sometimes even while I’m driving.) I have a fraternal twin sister and, no, we don’t look alike. Ryan and I love to travel! We got engaged in Egypt on the Red Sea. Peanut butter and Cheez-Its are my favorite foods, but not together.
MY JOB IN 10 WORDS OR LESS: Supporting the leadership & staff so that they can help people find Christ and grow.
david pettway
head worship leaderContact Information: davep@beachcities.org
I Started Working at Beachcities in: September 2001
ABOUT ME: I was a Navy brat growing up and I was born in the bay area near San Francisco, California. Our family got used to moving from place to place. We lived in Panama in Central America where my younger sister was born and, after a year or so, we moved back to the states. When I was 6 or 7 we moved to Long Beach, CA where I went to church at Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church. This was the same church that Linda Sparks attended. We were the same age, but didn't know each other until many years later at Long Beach Community College where we studied music. It was there that Linda (Denham, back then) and her two sisters Sandy and Debbie introduced me to a traveling music ministry called the Continental Singers. I had the opportunity to travel with them for one summer to the south Pacific. I ran into Linda and her husband, Kent 11 years later in 1990 through a mutual friend who said that Pastor Kent Sparks was looking for a piano player to round out his praise team. I took his offer and led worship for the first time for a little less than 2 years. I concluded my duties there and went on to Saddleback Valley Community Church and volunteered for the music ministry there in 1993 for 4 years. After that, I was a full-time worship leader at SeaRidge Community Church in Laguna Hills California from 97 to 99. After I finished my first recording project called "In The Process," I did some traveling and singing for several years and received a fateful phone call from the Sparks' saying that they needed a worship leader again. Only, this time, I was so in love with touring and singing my own music that I didn't want to consider working on staff at a church, but you know how it is when God is calling your name for an assignment. Cautiously, I said yes and, ten years later, here I am.
FUN FACTS: I definitely like soul food, but I can't eat it all the time, I like to exercise three times a week, I enjoy watching movies, and my other passion is music (haha). I love foreign languages and meeting people from other cultures, I enjoy traveling, especially to far away places.
MY JOB IN 10 WORDS OR LESS:To lead people to connect with God in worship through music.
TAYLOR SMITH
worship leaderContact information: taylor@beachcities.org
I started working at Beachcities in: May, 2008
ABOUT ME: Hi! My name is Taylor and I’ve been attending Beachcities since 2004. Growing up in a Christian home, I’ve been around church and ministry my entire life, but solidified my faith for myself while attending The Edge, which is the high school ministry here at the church. Once that happened, my guitar playing and singing quickly turned into worship songs and worship leading, and the rest is history! I’ve been eagerly and faithfully leading worship ever since, briefly moving to Sydney, Australia to study worship music at Hillsong Church. 5 months later, I found my way home to Beachcities to begin gearing up for our Sunday Night service! I love people, I love music, and I have a passionate desire to glorify our Creator through song, and lead others in the process. Outside of ministry, I’m a huge Laker fan, love playing basketball, and have the WORST eating habits on the planet. People say I’m going to die young because of it. They’re probably right.
FUN FACTS: I have a scooter that I ride around town and her name is Zoey. She’s pretty classy. I often find myself pushing the limits on what I can fit on her if I need to take things somewhere: guitars, keyboards, 5 Starbucks drinks (none spilled, ptl). If you see me around town with random items on my scooter, feel free to point and laugh. Oh, and I’m obsessed with every Apple product ever made, and I put Tapatio or rooster sauce on just about everything I eat.
MY JOB IN 10 WORDS OR LESS:To create an atmosphere of musical worship that has one single purpose: Glorify our Creator and give Him the worship He doesn’t need, but deserves.
LINDA SPARKS
director of assimilation, women's, small groups and worship ministriesContact information: lsparks@beachcities.org
I started working at Beachcities in: 2001
ABOUT ME: I’m Linda Sparks – I am so happy to be married to our pastor! I was born in Long Beach, California and grew up in a very musical family. My mother had my sisters and I singing and playing instruments in a vocal and musical trio from a very early age – in fact as long as I can remember. We sang and played in churches all over the southern California area and when I was in High School we sang and played weekly on Christian television. While being saturated with music, I chose not to make music my career. I went to college and graduated with a degree in Respiratory Therapy. I enjoyed working in many hospitals for over 17 years. I met my husband at the church I was attending, we started dating and married in 1980. I worked in the medical field while Kent finished up his undergraduate and graduate degrees while also working as an intern in a local church. After Kent graduated from seminary, we ended up starting Beachcities church with a group men who he discipled. We have 3 children that are mostly grown – which means that we’re still paying off college bills! I’ve volunteered in almost every ministry in the church from being the church pianist to working in the nursery, making coffee to moving chairs. I started working for the church in 2004 overseeing Women’s Ministry and small groups. I’ve added Assimilation and Worship to my responsibilities over the last several years. If you run into me – you’ll probably see me with earphones in talking on the phone, sipping coffee and oblivious to anything around me – I’m probably talking to a small group leader or trying to plug someone into a small group! I absolutely love my job, love working with my husband and love creating community at our church!
FUN FACTS: I was born with two different color eyes, I am expressive – always using my hands to talk – and by the way did I say I love to talk? I love coffee – I don’t mean to be drinking it all day long – seriously…..I love sitting and enjoying community and conversation, love to sew and cook and I love to be on an adventure with my hubby – we take lots of adventures. I LOVE to laugh and I can find humor in almost anything.
MY JOB IN 10 WORDS OR LESS:Taking people from the streets to the seats pulling them into the life of the church.
Michelle Hennes
Assistant Director of Adult MinistriesContact Information: mhennes@beachcities.org
I Started Working at Beachcities in: February 2013
ABOUT ME:I was born in Newport Beach, and have grown up in Huntington Beach my entire life. Although I have been blessed with several opportunities to travel across the world, and would love any future possibility to travel, I can’t imagine calling anywhere but Orange County my home. I first attended Beachcities as a student in Jr. High and then returned to the church as an adult in 2011. Even before I joined the staff at Beachcities, I was inspired by an alluring sense of community that was present within the church. Almost immediately, I began volunteering and found myself serving in three different ministries at Beachcities as a children’s ministry leader, a high school youth leader, and the house manager for our Sunday night venue. I felt so incredibly blessed when Pastor Kent and Linda approached me with an opportunity to join the staff at Beachcities, and I am so excited to use my spiritual gifts to support the growth of our church and to help others find joy in serving our church-family the way that I do.
FUN FACTS: I drink a ridiculous amount of coffee on a daily basis, and you can usually find me drinking it from a straw, even when it’s hot. I have a twin brother who, ironically, is my polar opposite, almost to absurdity. I thrive in the company of others and often spend as little time as possible alone. My friends have diagnosed me with a made up disease they call “FOMO,” (which stands for fear of missing out) because I simply cannot resist quality time spent with my friends or family and often times struggle to say no when extended an invitation to join in on an adventure for the absolute fear that I might miss out on a great experience.
MY JOB IN 10 WORDS OR LESS: To motivate and inspire the Beachcities community to get involved and find joy in serving God and each other.
muna bohn
co-director of childrens ministryContact Information: muna@beachcities.org
I Started Working at Beachcities in: June 2002
ABOUT ME:As a child I was told that my name means happiness in Arabic. I later learned that my name, more literally, means “dreams and aspirations.” That pretty much describes me. I am a happy child of God with big dreams and aspirations of sharing the gospel with as many children and their parents as possible! I grew up in Huntington Beach and was incredibly blessed to have learned about Jesus at a very young age. When I was five I knew that I wanted to go to heaven someday so I prayed with my Sunday School teacher and asked Jesus to forgive my sins and to be my Lord and Savior. Don’t worry…..I won’t go decade by decade through my life, but I will share a little more. After Edison, OCC and Vanguard University graduating with my degree in Sociology, I knew God had something really cool in store for me. In 1997 I started attending Beachcities with my sister and brother-in-law and shortly started singing on the Worship Team. Volunteering in Children’s Ministry was not yet on my radar until I learned that “The Gift Is The Call.” You see, there were plenty of talented altos singing at that time but not as many hyper/spastic Children’s Bible Teachers. Plus, the Children’s Director was recruiting my, then, boyfriend, now, husband, Eric James Bohn to volunteer with the kids. My handsome bass player boyfriend was planning to join Children’s Ministry so I followed him. We started bouncing back and forth from Worship Team in the auditorium to jumping up and down singing kid’s songs and teaching the 4th and 5th graders together in 1999. Eric and I got married in July of 2000 and when I was 9 months pregnant with our 1st child in 2002 I responded to God’s call to Co-Direct Children’s Ministry alongside Adalyn Roberts. I genuinely believe that I get to do my dream job! Eric and I still do serve in both ministries: Worship Team and Children’s Ministry, and I know that with 14 years of ministry, 11 years of marriage and two beautiful daughters who have both accepted God’s gift of salvation, that I am exactly where God wants me to be.
FUN FACTS:I have never played an organized sport in my life, although I am highly competitive. I worked at Liberty Christian School for 11 years and loved being the school’s resident substitute teacher in all grades K-12. I have several physical oddities that I love showing people including my whale tongue and my moving crossed-eye trick. I have been on short-term missions trips to Indonesia, Ecuador and Thailand as well as over 20 trips across the border to run Vacation Bible School or build houses in Mexico. Hablo Espanol un poco. Me gusta cantar canciones en Espanol sobre Jesu Cristo. I love trampolines and karaoke! I love singing in the car at the top of my lungs with Eric, Mia and Lily. I want to be on a game show someday and I have been excited about my 40th birthday for the past 9 years and I finally get to celebrate it in February of 2012! Yahoo!
MY JOB IN 10 WORDS OR LESS: Training others to share God’s love with kids and parents.
adalyn roberts
co-director of childrens ministryContact Information: childrens@beachcities.org
714-290-8410
I Started Working at Beachcities in: October 2001
ABOUT ME: I am the fourth generation that has lived in Southern California. I Went to Perry Elementary School, Dwyer Middle School and Huntington Beach High School. I married Tony Roberts at the age of 20 and together we have raised three children, Angie, Kyle and Autumn. Most of my childhood was spent in the Mormon church, but by the grace of God I came to know Him when I was a senior in high school. My family came to Beachcities in 1990 and it has been our home ever since. My husband and I started working in Children’s Ministry to give back to where our children were involved and we never left. Every weekend truly seems like a family reunion!
FUN FACTS: I love to sing, but can’t carry a tune, love to organize anything and wish I had a room that was filled with fabric and a TV so I could escape and watch movies and sew! I once played on a silver division women’s roller hockey team and my dream vacation is going to the world’s longest yard sale!
MY JOB IN 10 WORDS OR LESS: Creating a fun environment for kids to want to keep coming back to!
paul binnquist
director of high school ministryContact Information:pbinnquist@beachcities.org
I Started Working at Beachcities in: 2011
ABOUT ME: I grew up in Costa Mesa and have lived here all my life. I grew up surfing and riding motorcycles. I’ve been going to Beachcities Church for 17 years. I have grown up under the direction, leadership and preaching of Pastor Kent. My wife, Becci and I have been married for almost 15 years. We have a son Cooper (age 10) and a daughter Kamea (age 8). God has always led me to various jobs to gain insight into new things whether it was leadership, hard work, organization, teaching, or customer service. Now I can see how each job has led me to where God has brought me today as the High School Youth Director. If you would have asked me 10 years ago to work with High School kids I would have said, “NO WAY!” But God had other plans and with Kent and Linda consistently praying for me and continually putting the bug in my ear, I really felt that after Kent asked me AGAIN last December, God was strongly telling me, “It’s time!” I’m so thrilled to be a part of this exciting ministry and can’t imagine doing anything else. My responsibilities as the High School Youth Director are to help direct our youth volunteers so that they can connect with the high school students. I also work with many volunteers to organize our Thursday night outreaches as well as our Sunday mornings. I’m in charge of calendaring and organizing special events. Our biggest outreach is Hume Lake Christian Camp which gets the ball rolling for our high school kids and gets them excited about growing in Christ.
FUN FACTS: I love to surf! I used to race speedway. I have a green thumb. I enjoy being outdoors doing just about anything. I hate texting! Just call me. I keep it real (whether you like it or not).
MY JOB IN 10 WORDS OR LESS: Supporting parents in growing godly teenagers.
darryl watson
facilitiesContact Information:darrylwatson@beachcities.org
I Started Working at Beachcities in: October 2010
ABOUT ME: I was born in Newport Beach and raised in Huntington Beach. I became a Christian when I was 8 years old and have followed the Lord ever since. I've always been involved in ministry in some way or another. My passion is to see people come to a life saving relationship with Jesus. I spent the last 16 years working for Macy's department stores in operations management. In September 2010 I met with Peter Winscott about leading the college group and that's when the ministry opportunity opened up for me to work full time for Beachcities. This has always been home for me, so to be able to serve full-time is a dream come true and a answer to many prayers. Our God is truly amazing!!!!
FUN FACTS: I love Angel Baseball, bacon, Red meat, I have no rhythm and ice cream is an essential. Going to the movies is fun too.
MY JOB IN 10 WORDS OR LESS: Always make sure facility is running at top efficiency.