Meet Our Ministry Staff

Senior Pastor Ken Van Vliet
Ken Van Vliet's grassroots upbringing has given him the unique ability to minister in the central valley. His heart for people, for preaching God's Word, and for challenging the congregation to become more like Jesus combine to foster a great environment at Monte Vista Chapel. Ken and his wife, Michelle, have two young children, Ben and Rebekah. Ken also enjoys most outdoor activities including fishing, skiing, and riding his motorcycle.
Click HERE to e-mail Pastor Ken.

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Associate Pastor Matt Seadore
Matt Seadore loves people and ministry. He helps develop and launch new ministry initiatives here at Monte Vista Chapel, serves on the executive staff team, and oversees the support staff.  He also heads up Central Valley Conferences through which we seek to build up local churches in the valley.  Matt has been on staff since 2001.  He is married to Lorna and they have two little girls, Jaida and Brooklin. He also shows that one grows through suffering, as he serves on staff with his mother-in-law. Matt sees this as an opportunity to deepen his character as trials often do.
Click HERE to e-mail Pastor Matt.

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Associate Pastor Jon Tacoma
Jon Tacoma is a small town boy at heart. Rasied in a rural farm town in Michigan, he graduated from Ferris State University, and later on, recieved his seminary degree from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He and his family, wife Holly, and kids Alexa and Jaron, recently moved here to California from St. Cloud, Minnesota, where he was serving as a pastor of discipleship and spiritual formation. Jon is excited about what God has in store for him here in Turlock. God has wired him with a deep passion about discipling people and a fire in his bones for the church and the work of leading it to be the kind of City on a Hill that Christ envisions it to be.
Click HERE to e-mail Pastor Jon.

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Christian Education Director Judy Jeter
Judy Jeter's passion is to see the followers of Jesus reflect His nature and character in their homes, marriages, work, neighborhoods, community and world. A key part of that vision is equipping every believer with the truth of God's word and practical ways to live out those truths as contagious Christians. She has served in various ministries at MVC for 25+ years, and currently leads the Christian Education team. She is married to John, and has two adult children and one grandson, Wyatt.
Click HERE to e-mail Judy.
Click HERE to visit the Christian Education webpage.

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Missions Pastor Gary S.
Monte Vista Chapel is Gary S.'s home church. Gary has the heart of an evangelist and has developed our Sending Team program which is an innovative approach to supporting missionaries. Gary came on staff in 1993. He is married to Doreen and they have five children. Gary also serves as the Administrator.
Click HERE to e-mail Pastor Gary.
Click HERE to visit our Missions webpage.

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Senior High Pastor Dave Nieuwsma
Dave Nieuwsma has a primary focus on Senior High Youth. He also oversees the Junior High staff. Dave's easy-going style and integrity make him easily approachable and accessible for teens. He and his wife, Deb, have four children. Dave has been actively serving at Monte Vista since August 1998.
Click HERE to e-mail Pastor Dave.
Click HERE to visit our Face2Face webpage.

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Juinior High Pastor Vance Yarbrough
Vance Yarbrough is truly committed to Junior Highers; he thrives on the energy generated by spending time with them. He communicates God's Word to them in a way they can understand. Vance came to Monte Vista Chapel in 1993, and married Gina in 2002. The couple have one son, Samuel.
Click HERE to e-mail Pastor Vance.
Click HERE to visit the Wrecking Crew webpage.

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Children's Ministry Director Susan Bunch
Susan Bunch is truly a child at heart. She dearly loves children and has a deep desire to see their young lives impacted by Jesus. She is married to Troy and they have two grown children. They also have four beautiful grand-daughters!  Susan also serves on staff with her son-in-law, Matt, who eagerly fetches her coffee each morning and offers her foot massages each afternoon.
Click HERE to e-Mail Susan.
Click HERE to visit our Children's Ministry webpage.

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College & Single Adults Pastor Rick Ryan
Rick Ryan has been leading the college ministry as a volunteer but the elders of MVC approved his hiring for the position of Pastor to College and Single Adults effective August 1, 2005. Rick been married to Kate for seven years and they have two children: a daughter, Hannah, and a son, Luke. Rick became a Christian as a college student, and it totally changed his life, so he feels he is naturally drawn to that age group. For fun, Rick enjoys anything outdoors - hiking, camping - and he enjoys spending time with his family.
Click HERE to e-mail Pastor Rick.
Click HERE to visit the Monument webpage.

College Ministry Intern Steve Harris
Born and raised in Turlock, Steve Harris began attending Monte Vista Chapel in 1994. He has been a part of Monument since 2005. Steve loves using his gifts wherever he's at, and the college ministry internship is a perfect fit. He's excited to see what God is going to do with the college students and young adults of Turlock.
Click HERE to e-Mail Steve.

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Worship Arts Director Mark Wright
Mark has been on staff with Monte Vista Chapel since 2006 but began as an intern back in 2002. He has been a worship leader since high school and a lead worshipper for even longer. Although Mark graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with an engineering degree, he has a love for music, big heart for worship and a leadership style that invites people of all ages into a powerful and worshipful encounter with God. In his free time, you can find him playing the piano, reading car enthusiast magazines, working out, or finding a great hiking or biking trail. Mark is a newlywed! He and his lovely wife Laura were married in August of 2008.
Click HERE to e-mail Mark.
Click HERE to visit the Worship Arts webpage.

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Peacemaker Ministry Director Jackie Vallier
Jackie grew up around the globe as a military kid, but has lived in the Turlock area since marrying her high school sweetheart, Bob. She enjoyed getting to know God personally through the study of his word in Bible Study Fellowship, then came on staff at MVC in the area of women's ministry in 2001.  Currently she is leading the reconciliation/peacemaker ministries of MVC which helps people be more like Jesus in the way they do relationships and handle conflicts.  Jackie and Bob have two grown children and 2 grandchildren.

Click HERE to e-mail Jackie.

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Women's Ministry Director Jan Lindquist
Jan Lindquist has attended this congregation for over 30 years, first as a questioning college student, and now as Women's Ministry Director. Her years at Monte Vista Chapel have included interning in music, junior and senior high departments, women's ministries, Mom's Club, and most recently with 1st Friday's where she and her husband have enjoyed working with engaged and newly married couples. Jan and Peter have been married since 1980 and have three sons and a daughter in law. Andrew and Michele, Daniel, and Jordan. Monte Vista Chapel is a place where she is encouraged to live out her faith. She hopes to bring to this ministry her deep love for our church and the truth that God uses the ordinary to accomplish His purposes.
Click HERE to e-mail Jan.
Click HERE to visit the Women's Ministry webpage.

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Support Groups & Church Library Director -  Michael Swanson
Michael has a sincere desire to help people know the fullness of life that Jesus offers. By leading the Support & Recovery Group ministry, he seeks to provide opportunities for people to heal from wounds, gain freedom from addiction, and be transformed in Christ's likeness. But Michael is also passionate about helping people think as faithful followers of Christ regarding all areas of life. Thus, Michael is in the process of building a library for MVC that will provide the best books available that are helpful for developing a Christian worldview. Michael is also a scholar, thus he writes and speaks when he's not doing church ministry. He is happily married to Ansley.

Click HERE to E-mail Michael Swanson
Click HERE to visit our Support & Recovery Groups page

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Production Director Jeremy Applegate
Jeremy Applegate oversees the sound/lights/video function for weekend church services, conferences, and other events. He received an Advanced Diploma in Ministry at the Hillsong International Leadership College in Sydney, Australia in 2006 and began working for Hillsong Church (an internationally known multi-thousand member congregation) as the Production Manager for the Hills Campus, creating services and conferences of impact and inspiration for the Sydney Metro area, Australia, and the global Christian movement. Jeremy  His passion is to equip the local church to be a place of excellence for the glory of God. A thrill seeker at heart, Jeremy enjoys being outdoors, at the lake, traveling, or anywhere adventure is at a maximum. 
Click HERE to e-mail Jeremy.

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Facilities Director David Ottis
David was raised in a small farming community on the Gulf Coast.  His family farmed rice, soybeans, and wheat.  He graduated from Texas State Technical Institute in diesel and agricultural equipment mechanics with experience in instrumentation and electronics.  He continues his education in energy management, heating-ventilation-air conditioning, and refrigeration.
He moved to California in 1987 and married his wife Diane here at Monte Vista Chapel in 1988.  He and Diane have three wonderful boys: Ryan, Tyler, and Joshua.
David worked as a cabinet maker and a project superintendent for a local residential construction company.  David volunteered at Monte Vista Chapel in the buildings and grounds department from 1988-1993.  He was hired on staff in 1993 and became facilities manager in 1996.
His passion is maintaining God's house to a level of excellence for all to enjoy.
He enjoys the outdoors, mainly hunting, fishing and spending time with his family and his dogs; Lady and Cayenne.
Click HERE to e-mail David.