Leadership

Growing up in Brazil as the son of missionaries, Andy moved with his family to the States at the age of 12.  Andy only spoke Portuguese and had to learn English.  He is a graduate of Asbury University and Asbury Seminary.  Andy has been the solo or lead pastor in three congregations where God has used him to lead significant growth, primarily through conversion, as many have become brand new disciples of Jesus Christ.  In two of those churches, he led each congregation in reaching people of different ethnicities, including a small Anglo congregation in Richmond, California, to become fully multi-cultural.  His last lead pastor role was in Santa Rosa, California, where he spent twenty-one years seeing a congregation grow from 70 in attendance to well over 900 in attendance again, much of that growth coming through people who became brand new disciples of Jesus.  As Andy told the PNC, “we had atheists who sat in the back row for five years who finally came to Jesus and are now elders in the congregation.”  For the last year, he has been on the Executive Lead team at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church where he has overseen the staff, six campuses, and the virtual service of this mega-church of over 6000 people.

Andy married his high school sweetheart Kelli and they have now been married for 33 years.  They have three adult children who all work in the Southern California area.  Kelli has a background in Elementary Education and has served in children’s ministries over the years.

Andy sees himself at MPC for the next 15-20 years.  His ministry philosophy is to create a congregation where unchurched people love to come and engage with other believers and then meet Jesus Christ and follow him.  He wants a congregation where unbelievers can ask honest questions, express their doubts, and experience both grace and truth.  He believes the local church is to follow their leader to seek and save those who are lost.  He sees believers following the teaching of the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians of finding the role God has for them in the Body of Christ and working together with other believers to create a healthy functioning body.

Amy loves to see people connect with one another and take their next step with Jesus. She is passionate about helping every person to find belonging here whether they are Churched, Unchurched, or Anti-Church. Amy is a California native with a deep heritage of faith. She fell in love with ministry while studying at USC through leading small groups and is incredibly excited to help others to know and trust Jesus through small groups as well.

Before coming to our team, Amy served as a family pastor helping equip families to live the full and abundant life that Jesus offers to all of us.

Amy is married to the love of her life, Garrett, who is a professor at Pepperdine University. They have three amazing children ages 17, 14 and 10. She loves adventures, especially ones that include the ocean and the sand. You can find her hiking in the hills, biking on the boardwalk, stand up paddle boarding, or cozying up with a latte.

Darren joined the team here at Malibu Pacific in August 2024. The son of missionaries, he spent his formative years living in the highlands of Papua New Guinea before returning to his homeland of Australia to attend high school. While studying to become a school teacher, he was given a chance opportunity to tour as a session musician, and spent the next 6 years performing all across Australasia with some of the biggest Christian artist of the time.

In 1994 he met and married Bree, and moved to Perth in Western Australia, beginning three decades of full time church ministry in some of the largest churches in Australia (Hillsong, Riverview Church, C3 Oxford Falls) and in the USA, planting a number of Churches as Lead Pastor, and working extensively in the US and Canada as a consultant in numerous denominations.

Darren and Bree have two incredible children, Dakota and Paris, who have equally amazing spouses, Moriah and Wes - each serving as leaders in their local churches.

Darren wears his love for the local church on his sleeve, and spending anytime with him is sure to inspire you to find your place in God’s house. He has a keen love for music and the arts, and when blended with a sharp Australian wit and humor, he has a unique and compelling communication style that is challenging, practical and entertaining.

Darren serves on the Executive at MPC with a focus on strategic planning, team building and service direction.

Kelli has been involved in children’s ministry for over 40 years, beginning as a volunteer shortly after she accepted Christ as a teenager!   She joined the staff at Malibu Pacific Church as the Children’s Director in December of 2021.  Kelli’s heart and passion is for kids and education. She has spent over 30 years substitute teaching in the CA public school system. Her passion for children’s ministry stems from many years experiencing the joy of introducing children to Jesus and leading them in a growing relationship with Him.   She also loves equipping and encouraging faithful volunteers to use their gifts in ministry to help kids explore faith each week, and to grow their own faith in the process.

In her spare time, Kelli enjoys spending time outdoors.  She loves to go for long hikes and explore new places.  She also enjoys spending time with her three adult children and their spouses,  and her ever expanding brood of grandchildren, who all currently live in Orange County.  Kelli also enjoys meeting new people and hearing the story of their life journeys.  She looks forward to a time to connect with you!

Stewart is a recent graduate of Baylor University  and received degrees in Religion and Philosophy, concentrating in theology and ethics. Stewart above all wants to love God, love people, and make disciples, and he is expectant of all that the Lord will continue to do in Malibu!

When Stewart isn’t at church, you might find him surfing, running, drinking coffee, or reading a book. He ran his first half-marathon in March 2023 and most certainly plans on running more. Stewart is a learner at heart and his favorite authors are C.S. Lewis, Henri Nouwen, John Mark Comer, and Eugene Peterson, but he may also dabble in some fiction every once in a while. Stewart always loves to talk theology, but is most excited to do life with his church community as we all pursue the Lord together.

Kelli loves Malibu Pacific church and joined the team to help let others know that our church doesn’t suck. Helping to create an environment that is inclusive, kind and welcoming is her passion and always her main goal here at MPC. She is from Ohio originally but definitely prefers the beach.

Kelli is married but we don’t get to see Jake often as he is currently serving elsewhere in the US Army. She’s stays busy with their 3 daughters, Taylor, Izzie & Averie. In her spare time she loves to travel, go to Disney, or just spending time with her family on any kind of adventure.

Shannon has been serving at Malibu Pacific  since July of 2019.  Previously, she served as the Director of Malibu Presbyterian Nursery School for 3 years and taught there for 4 years prior to that. She also spent a year on staff at Malibu Pres. in 2004 as the coordinator of Jr. High Ministry. Shannon has been attending Malibu Pres. since she was in 3rd grade (1992) and her relationship with Jesus began while in the 5th grade program at this church.  As the Director of Next Steps, Shannon gets to help people connect to their Next Steps at Malibu Pacific through many different avenues. If you’re looking for your place to belong, reach out! We have a place for you. 
Shannon has a BA degree in Youth Ministry from Colorado Christian University where she graduated in 2007. She finished her Masters of Theology with an emphasis in Youth, Family, and Culture from Fuller Seminary in June of 2022. Shannon has been married to Joel since 2009. They met working at Forest Home Christian Camps together where they both served in Youth Ministry. They have 3 children, 2 cats, and a dog named Dude. 

Joel has been a part of MPC since 2014 when he became the Youth Ministries Director here at Malibu Pacific Church but as of March 2020 he pivoted into a new role. Joel's journey in Ministry began in 2003 when he was a  student and accepted a Summer Camp job at Forest Home in Forest Falls, CA. After working at Forest Home for numerous years he continuously felt a calling to be a Youth Director. He accepted a calling at  St. John's Presbyterian Church as the Youth Director and was there for 7+ years in West Los Angeles. After his first daughter was born he felt a calling to his wife's home church Malibu Pacific Church and joined the staff in 2014 as the youth director. During covid Joel shifted to take on the new role of Service Programmer to reach The Churched, Un-Churched, and Anti-Church in this exciting way and he has shifted roles again and is part of the charge in the Online Campus here at Malibu Pacific Church. Joel has lead a handful of ministries in California and was the Camp Director on Catalina Island at Campus By The Sea and is an author to various curriculums and games that are used in churches around the world. In 2020, Joel became a Certified Lay Pastor through the ECO Presbytery. Joel has been married since 2009 and has 3 amazing kids.

Tammy (remotely) joined the Malibu Pacific Church family all the way from Tulsa. Tammy Adams was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma but has called the Tulsa area her home for most of her life. She considers her faith and family to be most important to her.

If she isn't spending time at her local church or with her friends and family, you can find her snuggling with her goofy Rottweiler, Archer, or hanging out with her 27 year old son, Charlie.