• Casey groves- Pastor

    I was born and raised in a small town in rural Iowa.  Jesus became my Lord and Savior when I was 5 years old and I continued to grow in my knowledge and love for Him throughout my adolescence.  When I was 19, I moved to Southern California to attend Eternity Bible College.  In school I gained a heart for full-time ministry, met and married my wife and then moved back to Iowa.  Natalie and I lived in Iowa for 10 years directing a small Bible camp.  During our time there we developed a Jr High and High School youth group, an after school program for elementary kids, planted a church and led worship together at the church.  I spent many of those years designing and building a few of the buildings on the camp, including the church building and dining hall.  


    We moved to Solvang in January 2019 and it is our heart's desire to know Christ and to make Him known throughout the Santa Ynez Valley through evangelism and discipleship of youth.

  • Aaron lonny BUbert- Youth Pastor

    I'm originally from Nuevo, CA, a small town in Riverside County, but my wife Chloe and I have lived all over the country! After attending Azusa Pacific University, I moved up to Santa Barbara, married Chloe, and we moved to Wilmore, Kentucky so that I could attend Asbury Theological Seminary. Around the time I graduated, we moved to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and then came back to Santa Barbara at the end of 2020! Whew! 

     

    I grew up attending a small, tight-knit youth group, but it wasn't until I was 20 that I surrendered my life to Jesus. It was a few years later that I heard the call to become a pastor and started seminary. I have always loved student ministry - I spent several summers working at Forest Home and chose many youth placements during my seminary experience. I am so pumped to join the VCF team and connect with the students of the Valley through laughter, fun adventures, and studying scripture together. Chloe and I hope to share the love of Jesus with these students and provide a safe place for them to explore their faith. 

  • I grew up in a church that never taught the Bible. When I went to college a friend asked me to go to a Bible study. I said, "What's that? Only the clergy can understand the Bible." I was hooked after one Bible discussion. I admitted I was a sinner, asked Jesus to lead my life and suddenly I could understand the Bible! I joined a Bible study every night of the week because I was so hungry for God's truth. 


    I love ministering in the Santa Ynez Valley. My passion is to provide practical Bible teaching with dynamic worship and authentic small groups so everyone in our Valley can become fully  devoted followers of Christ and glorify God.


    For a more detailed bio on Pastor Jay, click the following link: Pastor_Jay_Bio.pdf

  • I am originally from Tulsa, OK, but have spent that last twelve years working as a professional musician in Nashville, TN. I have been blessed with the opportunity to tour and minister with bands such as, FFH, The Henningsens, Guy Penrod, Dennis Jernigan, Warren Barfield, 33 Miles, and with my wife in our band called NewFire. In addition to touring, I have enjoyed working as a studio musician and as a producer making albums for stores such as LifeWay, Family Christian Stores, and Hobby Lobby. 


    I have been married to my wife, Allison, since 2005 and we have two beautiful daughters named Gracie Kate and Millie Anne. I am so excited to be part of what God is doing at VCF and here in the Valley. Music and worship have helped me build a personal relationship with God, and I am so honored to be part of leading that worship in a corporate setting at VCF!

  • Lorraine Shipman- Youth PRogram Director

    I'm a California/Texan, spent my first 19 years in San Diego and the next 18 years in Ft Worth (but that doesn't include my last 8 years in Pennsylvania).  If you are now wondering how I made it to the Santa Ynez Valley in 2019, that's a whole different story and you should ask me...summary, I found my birth family and they have lived here in the Valley for over 35 years.


    I fell in love with the church at a very young age.  Church provided a place where  I felt loved and secure, opposite of what I felt at home.  It was at Jr High Camp where I made the decision to follow hard after Jesus.  God placed amazing people in my life, and they invested and cared for me which helped me to stay grounded in my faith despite all my hardships.


    I have worked in Student Ministry over the years in various capacities, both as a volunteer and as a Director of Student Ministry before coming to work here at Valley Christian Fellowship.  We all know life is tough, and everyone wants a place to belong and be loved...I want students to find that in Christ, along with a community of believers to walk along side of them; and I hope every student can find that at VCF. 

  • My whole life God has put on my heart the need to help others. I was blessed to help those affected by Disaster for 35 years by working for the American Red Cross where I was able to help those who had lost everything. Upon leaving Red Cross God brought me to work for VCF as the Director of Special Projects. I married my incredible husband in 1990 and love him more every day. 


    My passion is to help those who are struggling in life and come along them and support, pray and encourage them. I have been blessed to do missions in several countries through different Church’s and to help those who have less than we do.

  • I have been involved in ministry since I was 14-the year I became the church pianist! Over the years I have been the women's director at various churches, and been involved in the worship ministry, connections, pastoral search and recruitment, and serving my pastor (who is also my husband) in whatever he needs! 


    My favorite ministry and biggest accomplishment has been being the mom of three sons who are now grown and serving our Lord in various capacities! I am delighted to serve the women at VCF!

  • I grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley, leaving after high school to go to college in Thousand Oaks.  After college, I moved to Eugene, OR where I met my wonderful husband, Reid.  We were married in 2011, and now have two beautiful daughters, Addison and Evelyn.  We moved around a bit but settled back in the Santa Ynez Valley in 2017.  


    We started attending VCF in 2017 and I got involved working in the Nursery as well as teaching in AWANAS.  I began working for the church in May 2019 as the Administrative Assistant.  It is my pleasure to assist in the happenings of VCF.  

Elders

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  • Andy Trabucco- Elder

    I grew up in Orange County, California and was raised by incredible Christ following parents who taught me Respect, Responsibility, and Adventure.  I attended a private Lutheran school from K-8.  There, I developed an understanding of Jesus and the Bible, but it wasn’t until attending a Campus Life retreat in the summer of ’72 that I first gave my life to Him.  Robin and I re-committed our lives to Christ at a Keith Green concert in 1978.

    Robin (my girlfriend of 45 years and my wife of 41 years) and I moved to the “Valley” in 2004 from a long time in Santa Barbara.  We have two grown and married children.  We also have three amazing grandkids with another on the way.

    We are so blessed to call VCF our church home.  

  • Bill Malloy- Elder

    I grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My mother was faithful to go to church every Sunday and my siblings and I went with her. It was important to her that we attend church. During my younger years I developed a lot of “head” knowledge about God, but it wasn’t until I was in college that I was challenged to give my life to Christ.


    God had plans for me over the years as he provided me with a wonderful wife, Pam, and two precious daughters, Sara and Rebekah. We have had great opportunities over the years to live all over the United States and have attended several Bible-believing churches where we were active. Pam and I have been involved in several ministries including youth, college/career, young parents, music, missions, and small group Bible studies. God brought us to SYVCF in 2018 and we immediately fell in love with the Bible-teaching church, where there was so much energy and Christ was proclaimed! Both of us are now retired and God continues to guide us and open doors where we can minister. 

  • Thom Garret- Elder

    My wife, Sue, and I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and have now been married for 55 years.  We retired from a career in the corporate world in 2000 and moved to the Santa Ynez Valley in 2009, joining Valley Christian Fellowship shortly thereafter.  We chose to relocate here to be close to our two adult children, both of who attended Westmont College.  We chose VCF as our church home because it offers strong Bible based teaching, is a multi-generational fellowship, has an amazing youth outreach in the community, focuses on small group participation and supports missionaries, both locally and internationally.  


    I was raised in a Christian family and accepted Christ as my Savior as a young teenager.  My faith grew and solidified through 17 years of participation in Bible Study Fellowship through which I was amazed by and fell in love with God's Holy Word.  I believe that VCF has had and will continue to have a huge impact for the Lord in the Santa Ynez Valley and beyond, and Sue and I are committed to being a part of that. 

  • Troy Piersma- Elder

    I started life as a pastor’s kid in Oregon and came to Christ at an early age.  Our family moved to California during my middle school years where I ultimately received a bachelor’s degree at Cal Poly Pomona in Computer Information Systems.

     

    In 1996, I met my future wife, Aimee. We were married in 2004 and now have two daughters, Amelia (14) and Jillian (11). 

     

    One of the topics I get really excited about is home groups. Before I was married, God used my affinity for hospitality to host home groups for college and career-aged people. This college group was pivotal in my life as we studied Romans and created community together.  As a family, Aimee and I, along with the kids have been in a church community home group in every place we’ve lived, including Studio City, Charlotte NC, Solvang, Williamsburg VA, and Buellton (in that order!). We moved back to the Valley for many reasons, VCF being among the top.   The authenticity and deep friendships that develop in home groups are a constant source of joy and spiritual growth for me.  I love how the apostle Paul instructs Timothy to foster community in 1 Timothy 1:5, 'But the goal of our instruction is love, from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith'.

     

    While I’ve worn various hats in the church during my lifetime, including music ministry, middle school ministry, Awana, and volunteering at Wycliffe, my favorite is being able to get God’s people together periodically, encouraging, strengthening and sharpening each other as iron sharpens iron.