Leadership

Brent has been serving as the senior pastor of CPC since April 2021.  He earned his BA degree from UCLA and his MDiv from Yale Divinity School.  He is passionate about teaching the Bible and helping lead the church to love and serve the city. Originally from Long Beach, CA, Brent loves to surf, read, and play music. He is married to Anita, and they have four wonderful boys: Samuel, Luke, Jude, Micah. 

Dave was called into the ministry at 17 years old. He has faithfully served CPC since 1991 focusing on Adult and Senior Ministries as well as Mission and the work of the Deacons. He is passionate about coming alongside others in their faith journey, teaching, missions, sharing God’s word and building Christian community. 

Zachary has been serving as the director of Administration and Ministry since 2022. He attended Grove City College and obtained a Master’s from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He married his wife Abbey Mae in 2018. In their spare time they enjoy playing board games, traveling, cooking, running, and exploring places in Merced.

Seth grew up in Merced, but after completing his undergraduate studies at CSU Stanislaus in 2012, he began working as the youth director at Centerville Presbyterian Church in Fremont, CA. He and Jenessa were married in 2018 and Seth then moved to DC  to be with his wife and finish seminary. He completed his Masters of Ministry and Leadership from Western Seminary in 2019, while also working with youth at National Community Church in Alexandria, VA. Now he’s back in his hometown! His hobbies include playing basketball, watching the Giants, Warriors, and Niners, eating at fun places and watching Survivor with Jenessa, playing board games, and spending time with his friends and family.

Wanda was born and raised in California. In 2014, she moved to Merced with her husband, Kirk, and their three boys, where CPC quickly became their church family. Married for 23 years, Wanda and Kirk have lived across the country, spending seven years in Palo Alto, six years in Boston, and now ten years in Merced.
Although she is an RN by heart and education, Wanda is grateful for the opportunity to serve the CPC community in her current role. She loves being active and outdoors, playing with her boys, and has a deep passion for Jesus, people, and prayer!

 Paul was raised in Merced. After spending some time playing in bands and working in tattoo shops, God called him back home. He’s grateful to be part of CPC's life again and feels blessed to serve in music ministry at the church where he grew up. His true passions are Jesus, his wonderful wife Kathryn, and some good old-fashioned punk rock.

My name is Lori Henenfent, and I’m grateful to share my life with my wonderful husband, Jeff, and our two incredible children, who are now 22 and 19. I’ve always had a passion for nurturing children. After earning my Master’s in Education, I worked as an elementary school teacher and later homeschooled my kids for eight years. Additionally, I serve as an adjunct professor at Fresno Pacific University. The kids ministry staff and I deeply value the trust you place in us when you drop off your children, and we are committed to providing them with a safe and enriching environment, guided by our love for Jesus.

 I grew up in Atwater but life has taken me to Iowa, Texas, and Tennessee before returning to Merced in 2020. For 15 years, I worked as a registered nurse, but I decided to pursue a new path that aligns with my love for organization and communication. I’ve been married to Johnny for 18 years, and together we’re raising our three kids: David, Phoebe, and Matthew.  

 

 My name is Jason Simms. I wasn't born in Merced but moved to Merced county in 7th grade and have been here since. I've been working at the church since 2022. As a custodian I handle all the setups that come my way and assist in cleaning and making sure things are up and running. In my free time you will catch me either playing Video games, reading, or watching a movie. I recently graduated from Merced College with an Associates in Administration of Justice and am planning on going back sometime this year for my Bachelors. 

Linda was born and raised in Merced and loves her hometown. She considers it an honor and privilege to serve the Lord and her church family as an office employee. She has been married to her husband, George, since 1985, and they live in Atwater with Shadow (her dog) and Rusty (their mouse and lizard chasing cat), and the new addition to their household, Murphy, the Wonder Dog. 

 Tyler is a third-year student at Merced College studying history. He has been volunteering as a junior high small group leader for a year now and is excited to be the new youth intern! When Tyler isn't at school or work, he likes to spend his time watching movies or hanging out with friends. He plans to transfer to UC Davis next year, but in the meantime, he's excited to help teach students at CPC about knowing God. A fun fact about Tyler is that he likes collecting random bits of trivia. For example, the oldest hot chocolate archaeologists have discovered was found in a 2,600-year-old jar in Belize.

 Hi! I’m Panacea, an 18-year-old recent graduate of El Capitan High School, now attending Merced Junior College. I’m serving as the Children’s Ministry intern, where I get to combine my passion for working with kids and making a positive impact. In my free time, I love hanging out with friends & hitting the slopes to ski in the winter. Fun fact: I’m Tyler’s little sister! I'm so  excited to serve on Sundays with all the kids here at CPC.