Church Staff

James gave his life to the Lord in 1999, and went to Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrieta, CA, not long after. It was there that he met his wife Larissa, whom he married just after finishing Bible College in 2001. James served at Maranatha Chapel in San Diego for several years before coming on staff in 2005. While on staff at Maranatha he served as the Junior High Pastor, the High School Pastor, and he also taught the Sunday Evening Service. In 2011, James became the Senior Pastor at Calvary Chapel Hidden Valley in Escondido, which later changed their name to Revive. He served as the Senior Pastor at Revive until 2017, when he answered the call to come to Calvary Chapel Santee. God has blessed James with a wonderful wife, and four fantastic kids.

Pastor Gary answered the call to the Ministry by attending the School of Evangelism at Calvary Chapel of San Diego in 1979. It was there he met and married Martha (Meef) and they both began serving in the Youth ministry at Calvary Chapel of El Cajon under Pastor Ray Bentley. After four fruitful years serving the body in El Cajon, the Lord called Gary and Meef to the East Coast. Gary was then the founding and Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel of Vineland N J. in 1985. A thriving church that continues to impact the north-east area of the U.S. through weekly services, a variety of ministries and a radio station that broadcasts throughout the southern NJ area. Additionally, three other congregations were successfully planted from the church in Vineland, which exist today in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

In 1998 Gary and Meef returned to San Diego and joined the staff at Maranatha Chapel where he was an Assistant to Pastor Ray Bentley. In Addition to teaching the weekly Sunday Evening Services, Gary, along with the senior staff, was responsible for overseeing the pastoral, support staff and Maranatha Christian School. He provided Marriage and premarital counseling for the members of the church body and has often been a speaker on Marriage Weekends for other Calvary Chapel churches. Gary also served as Mission Pastor for the congregation, training and leading short-term teams to Romania , Ireland , Bolivia , Sudan , Uganda , Kenya , Philippines , China and Mexico. The outreach teams provided medical help, evangelism, music events, preaching tours and biblical training.

In September of 2010 Gary and Meef accepted the invitation to join the family at Calvary Chapel of Santee as their new Senior Pastor. Their vision is focused on clear bible teaching, to equip the believers to grow and serve, and impact the World with good news of Jesus Christ in the East County and beyond. Gary served as the Senior Pastor at Calvary Chapel Santee for 14 years.

Gary has been married to his wife Meef for more than 30 years. They have 4 adult children, 12 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
- Acts 2:42

Chris started his journey with the Lord in 1995, when he responded to the gospel and got baptized at a youth summer retreat. Ever since then he has had a heart and a passion for teaching the Bible. Chris, and his wife Amanda, started getting involved with the youth ministry at Calvary Chapel Santee in 2007 — and he served as the youth pastor from 2010-2024. He also has a graphic design degree from Point Loma Nazarene University. Chris now serves as Associate Pastor as well as Media and Art Director at the church. Chris and his wife Amanda were married in 2004 and have 3 kids.

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
- Phillippians 1:21

Dan grew up in Orange county and moved to San Diego in 1970, accepted Christ in 1973. He graduated from the Horizon School of Evangelism in 1979 along with Pastor Gary, then spent one year in Kauai, Hi., helping with a Calvary Chapel church plant. Dan married Nancy Lawton in 1983. Breanna  was born in 1989 and Shannon was born in 1991. Dan has served as a worship leader for close to 20 years while working in the food industry, followed by 10 years with Family Discipleship Ministries with his good friend,  Pastor Craig Caster, as an office administrator and family discipler. He also spent 4 years as a family discipler and worship leader at Calvary Chapel Ramona alongside Pastor Rob Hubbard. Dan is realizing a lifelong opportunity to minister alongside Pastor Gary, his lifelong friend.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
- Colossians 3:17

Matt is a lifelong San Diego native, who gave his life to the Lord at the age of 4 at a Billy Graham crusade. Matt has served in Youth ministry in some capacity on and off since the age of 18.  From a young age Matt has had a passion for teaching God's Word and pouring into the next generation. Matt started attending CC Santee with his wife Kayleigh in 2018 and started to get involved in youth ministry at CC Santee in 2019, serving with Pastor Chris for a little over 5 years.  Matt took over as the full time youth pastor at CC Santee in 2024. Matt and his wife Kayleigh were married in 2018 and have three sweet kids.

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."
- Jeremiah 33:3

Patrick was saved as a kindergartener while he attended a baptist school in the city of Lancaster.  He attended this school for two years and this laid the foundation of his faith for the remainder of his youth. In 2008 Patrick and his family attended Calvary Chapel Santee and this became his home church. He would then go to Calvary Chapel Murrieta for 2 years graduating with an associates in Theology. After graduating he found that he was called to missions for a short season. He has been on numerous mission trips including a one year trip in Kenya. After this season was over, Patrick began serving alongside Mark Grisez the former children’s ministry pastor at CC Santee where he met his lovely wife Jennifer.
 

Amanda DuFour grew up in a Christian home, and gave her life to Christ as a 4 year old in her Sunday School class.  At the age of 18, Amanda moved to San Diego to attend college and graduate school, where she met her husband Chris.  They married in 2004 and answered the call to serve the youth of Calvary Chapel Santee in 2008.   Chris and Amanda have 3 amazing kids.  Amanda currently serves as the Children's Ministry Administrator / Assistant and also teaches and serves on the Women's Ministry board.
 

Staci accepted Christ in the summer of 1996 and has been attending Calvary Chapel Santee since 2000. She has been happily married to her husband Mickey, who is the drummer on the Worship team, since 2003 and they have 3 boys (Jordan, Jacob, and Jaxon). Staci has been the Administrative Assistant for Pastor Gary since 2017 and serves in any capacity she can at church.

“The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever”
- Isaiah 40:8

Kristina became a believer in 1996, finding her home at Calvary Chapel El Cajon where she served in Children’s Ministry, Jr High, and Women's Ministry. Kristina and her family started attending Calvary Santee in 2016. Kristina and her husband, Thom, were married in 1997. They are blessed with two adult sons, Wade and Noah, and a daughter-in-love, Madalyn, who is married to their oldest son, Wade. Kristina is the church bookkeeper, payroll administrator, and is also active in the Women’s Ministry. You can find Kristina at the Welcome Desk most Sundays.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
- Proverbs 3:5-6

Audra and Rob both grew up in El Cajon and have been married since 1994. Both became believers and committed to Christ in 1997 and have been attending Calvary Chapel since that time. Rob is a retired Battalion Chief for the City of Chula Vista Fire Department and Audra was a stay-at-home mom who homeschooled their children for 15 years. They have two adult sons.

Since 2020, Audra and Rob have been serving the families of Calvary Chapel Santee as the Director and Principal of CC Santee’s educational ministry, Summit Christian Academy. They are passionate about making a difference in education and the family unit for the next generation. Their God-given love for homeschooling and desire to come alongside families to help them take control over the education of their children was the inspiration for Summit Christian Academy.

“One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.”
- Psalm 145:4

Brian was born and raised in a Christian home in El Cajon. He gave his life to Christ after a Billy Graham crusade in 1976. He started attending Calvary Chapel Santee in 2013. Brian retired as a Fire Captain for the City of Coronado in 2017, and started serving in the Kitchen and Children’s Ministry. He is currently serving as the Facilities and Cleaning Ministry Manager. Brian is blessed to be the 4th-6th Grade Bible teacher at Summit Christian Academy. Brian loves to share what God has done for us through Jesus, and loves the pleading of Paul in 1 Timothy 1:15. Brian met his lovely wife Kacee at CC Santee, and they were married in 2023.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9