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.

My name is Caden Vom Steeg and I am the Middle School Coordinator here at Malibu Pacific Church. I graduated from UC Santa Barbara in December 2024 with a degree in Economics. I also played 4 years of Division 1 college soccer at UCSB. I love being outdoors, reading, hanging out with friends, and learning new things.

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!

Lorien Ayabe serves as an assistant in Malibu Pacific Kids.. She recently graduated with her bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Pepperdine University. Lorien has been a part of MPC since her freshman year of college and has jumped at every opportunity to help out in the community. Beyond the church, she loves to read, write, and learn about random things, such as the different types of commercial airplanes you’ll see flying in and out of LAX.

Brittany grew up in the local church and has been serving in various ministry roles for most of her life. She has a deep love for connecting with people and is especially passionate about mentoring youth and college-aged young adults. Supporting church leadership and helping ministries thrive has always been close to her heart.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Christian Ministries with a minor in Psychology from Fresno Pacific University. Brittany previously served as an Executive Assistant at a church in Fresno, where she supported pastoral leadership and church ministries. She has thrived in supportive roles where she helped teams become organized, focused, and moving forward with excellence.

Brittany lives in Clovis, California with her wonderful husband and their two adventurous boys. In her spare time, she enjoys making sourdough bread, gardening, raising quail, and spending time outdoors, especially near the ocean.

Grace is a music studio owner in North Hollywood with a deep passion for students and education. She spent several years teaching in her hometown of Burbank, but her love for Malibu began much earlier—she often begged her parents to take her to Point Dume, creating some of her earliest and most cherished memories. She truly believes Malibu Pacific is one of the best places in the world and feels incredibly honored to serve this community and to have been welcomed so warmly. When she’s not at the church, Grace enjoys writing songs, traveling, and finding any excuse to make a new friend.

She is a mom of four amazing kids, supported by an incredibly caring husband, and her family is truly at the center of her life. She homeschools two of her children, a meaningful journey marked by learning, growth, and many special moments together. As a family, they love spending time outdoors—especially hiking—where they can connect and explore side by side.

Dancing has been a passion of hers for over 15 years. She has had the opportunity to perform in many places and teach elementary-aged children, and she finds great joy in sharing and celebrating Mexican culture through dance. It is a beautiful expression of her creativity, heritage, and connection with others.

She also has a heart for hospitality and genuinely enjoys creating spaces where people feel welcomed, comfortable, and valued. Whether through a warm conversation or simply helping someone feel at ease, she finds joy in making others feel at home.

She is grateful to be part of her church community, where she continues to grow in her faith, help lead her family closer to God in their own walk, and build meaningful relationships along the way.

Joshua is a husband to Teri and father to 4 beautiful children ages 0-12.
He's a 2nd Generation filmmaker, and tech enthusiast, Joshua started early in his education with graphic design, video editing, and website development. He's had a lifetime of opportunities as an entrepreneur who has had the opportunities  to interview hundreds of key experts spanning from heads-of-state to whistleblowers to Church leaders. His biggest passion in life  is drawn from the Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam (תיקון עולם)  — a foundational concept meaning "repairing the world." Basically spreading the Love of the Lord and to raise children who do the same. Usually seen behind the camera or an editing bay, Joshua love all things media and story related. 

Savannah graduated Summa Cum Laude from Pepperdine University with a double major in Finance and Business Administration. She is passionate about serving the local church and helping create an environment where people can grow in their faith, build meaningful relationships, and experience the love of Christ.
Originally from Colorado, Savannah is grateful to now call Southern California home. In her free time, she enjoys spending time at the beach, hiking, traveling, reading, and discovering new coffee shops. She loves making the most of California's sunshine, spending time with friends and family, and is thankful to be part of the Malibu Pacific Church family.

Josh recently made the cross-country move to California and is excited to be part of the Malibu Pacific Church family. He has a heart for students and is passionate about pointing them to Jesus, helping them grow in their faith, and walking with them through every season of life. His hope is to prepare hearts, plant seeds, and lead students to take steps towards Jesus.

Josh is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. He attended the University of Utah, where he played Division I lacrosse and football before graduating in 2024. After college, he returned to Atlanta to be part of the North Point Residency Program. During that time, he worked with high school students at Browns Bridge Church while earning a Master's in Biblical and Theological Studies from Wheaton College.

When he's not at church, you'll probably find Josh watching or quoting movie lines, spending time on the lake/beach, or looking for every opportunity to surf.
He's excited to experience California and looks forward to getting to know the students and families at MPC.

Brett is a junior at Azusa Pacific University, where he is studying accounting. He grew up in Thousand Oaks and has been part of the Malibu Pacific Church community for the past few years. Brett now serves as the fourth and fifth grade class assistant and enjoys helping make church a welcoming and fun place for students. When he is not at church or studying, Brett enjoys playing basketball, watching the Dodgers, golfing, and surfing. He is grateful for the opportunity to serve the students and families at Malibu Pacific Church and looks forward to continuing to build relationships within the community.

Sage is a junior at Pepperdine University, where she is studying accounting with a minor in Hispanic Studies. Having grown up in Pacific Palisades and Malibu, she has always felt a strong connection to the local community and is grateful to serve at Malibu Pacific Church. Sage first began working with the preschool class and now teaches the fourth and fifth grade students. She loves helping students grow in their faith, learn more about Jesus, and feel known and supported at church. Her hope is to create a welcoming environment where every student feels encouraged to ask questions and take meaningful steps in their relationship with God. When she is not at church or studying, Sage enjoys surfing, spending time at the beach, and grabbing coffee. She feels honored to continue serving the church community that has played an important role in her life.