Our Leadership Team

I have had the privilege of serving as Sr. Pastor at First Baptist Church of Salinas since September 2016, and I consider it one of the greatest privileges of my life to serve here as pastor. Since graduating from Wheaton College in 1988, I have served in three churches (Wichita, Kansas and Scottsdale, Arizona) in various capacities before accepting the call to serve as Sr. Pastor at FBC Salinas in the fall of 2016.

I have a wonderful wife, Dawn (34+ years married), two grown daughters, one son-in-law, and four of the most precious granddaughters on the planet.

If you can't find me at the church, there's a chance I'm on a golf course playing the most wonderful game in the world.

I was born and raised in a Christian home in Taiwan. After graduating from pharmacy school, I came to the US in 1979 for my master's program in pharmacology at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA.

Before I left Taiwan, I met my future wife, Marji, at a YMCA where she was my English teacher. We have three children: two sons and one daughter. Marji had a profound influence on my spiritual walk with Christ — God had never been so personal to me until I met her. I thank God every day for graciously sharing Marji with me for 40 years. I am still learning to rejoice always and to give thanks in all circumstances.

I worked as a pharmacist for over thirty years and retired at the end of 2017. I have taught small group Bible studies since 2008 and occasionally teach Spiritual Formation classes. Chuck Swindoll was my spiritual mentor during my formative years as a Christ follower. I enjoy reading, playing guitar and piano, and I love to play tennis and go bike riding. The pictures of my two grandchildren I get from my children always make my day.

At the age of 28, I accepted the Lord as my personal Savior and was baptized here. I became involved with the property committee and feel blessed to be part of the many building projects through the years. I feel called to this opportunity of serving as an elder and am excited to see what God has planned for our church. I am married to my wife, Sandy, and we have two adult children, who are both married and serving the Lord with their spouses. I have been blessed with two beautiful grandchildren.

I was raised in a Christian home at a time when Sunday morning began with kids in the neighborhood gathering on the corner to wait for the Sunday School bus to church. I gave my heart to the Lord as an early teen and was baptized at the Glad Tidings Temple in San Francisco. A career in the produce industry brought our family to Salinas in 1990 and to FBC in 1992.

I first became involved in church leadership as an adult Sunday School teacher. Over the years I have also served as Sunday School Superintendent, Moderator, and on various committees. My passion continues to be teaching in any format that edifies God's people and encourages others. I love to read, study, listen to sermons, and attend two pastoral conferences a year, including the Shepherd's Conference in Sun Valley, California. Among my favorite authors are James Montgomery Boice, R.C. Sproul, Mark Dever, and John MacArthur.

My wife, Johnna, and I raised two wonderful sons who are both married and serving the Lord in their respective churches. We have four beautiful grandchildren who bring joy to our lives.

I came to First Baptist Church because of Streets of Bethlehem. I came from México with an unusual illness that left me quadriplegic. Through accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I was healed. I serve as a Spiritual Care Volunteer at Salinas Memorial Hospital, and I help bring encouragement and the word of God to people at Victory Mission.

I am married to a great man, James Aguirre, and we have adult children — I love being a parent. We have been married for 39 years, and commitment has been the key to our success in marriage. I've enjoyed volunteering in the Children's Ministry since age 22. My career was administrative work in the medical field until the Lord opened doors for me here at First Baptist Church Salinas 12 years ago. In 2017, I was hired as the Children's Ministry Director. This is my "Heaven on Earth." My hobbies are exercising, spending time with myself, meditating in nature, and embracing life.

I'm a Christian learning each day what it means to serve God faithfully and care for the people around me. I work as the Administrative Assistant at First Baptist Church of Salinas, where I'm grateful for the opportunity to support the church and its ministries. My faith is the foundation of my life, and I try to approach my responsibilities with humility, integrity, discipline, and compassion. I still have plenty of room to grow, and I look forward to what God will teach me. I hope to use my gifts to encourage others, serve, and follow wherever He leads.

"God has been leading me on an amazing journey!"

I grew up in the Sacramento area, then traveled to Fresno for college. In Fresno, I gained years of experience with youth, college, and inner-city ministries. I earned a bachelor's degree in counseling from Fresno State University and a Master of Divinity from Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary.

Here at FBC, I have been volunteering since 2010 in various ministries, including music, college/young adult, women's ministry, missions committee, and youth. God led me to come on staff with FBC starting in February 2023! My role at FBC includes Bible studies, community outreach, and more.

When I'm not at church, I continue my role as the "Pie Lady" (bakery manager) at The Farm off Hwy 68.

I have been happily married to Dave since 2006 and have lived in the Salinas Valley since 2009.

Having worked many years in retail and with ten years of banking experience, I began as office manager at First Baptist Church and Melody Park Christian School in 1996. Becoming business manager in 2006, I have enjoyed a variety of financial responsibilities, problem solving, and making connections with the families of Melody Park.

God became real in my life when I was baptized at the age of eight. I have moved in and out of His presence at times, knowing Him better and growing in Him as the years pass. I am delighted and humbled by His mercy to me and rest in His saving grace.

My husband, Don, and I are blessed with two grown sons who serve the Lord, and four beautiful grandchildren. Any leisure time I have is spent reading, watching English production TV, traveling to love on my grandchildren, and cooking and trying new recipes.

We are excited to share leadership of the Music & Tech Ministry here at FBC Salinas. As leaders, we understand that a congregation learns its theology by the songs it sings, not just by what is preached. We want the music we select, whether old or new, to be Christ-exalting, Gospel-rich, and God-centered. We want the lyrics to be solid and the songs to be beautiful. Everyone has unique opinions about music — it's a medium that reaches us at an emotional level. We understand this, which is why we work hard to provide a variety of musical styles and genres.

We met each other during a worship service at this church in 2010. Jennifer was singing on the worship team, and Adam was a new attendee. Both being teachers with a profound fondness for music, we instantly found a connection and were married in 2012. Ten years later, in 2022, we joined as co-directors of the ministry. We value the time we spend with our church LifeGroup and have three children who are active in our church's AWANAs program. We look forward to worshiping with you every Sunday!

I serve as the Student Ministries Director at First Baptist Church, where I lead and disciple middle school, high school, and young adults. With more than a decade of experience in student ministry, I am passionate about helping the next generation know Jesus, grow in their faith, and discover how God can use their lives to impact others.

As a United States Air Force veteran, I bring a love for people, teaching God's Word, and building authentic community to ministry. When I'm not hanging out with students, you'll probably find me working on a creative project or cheering on my Pittsburgh Steelers.