Pastor Allen has been married to Valerie since 1981 and has two sons, Ryan and Andrew. He comes to Bethel Church with a wealth of experience and an extensive leadership background. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University, author of three leadership books, a college level instructor, youth minister, national and international leadership speaker/trainer, founder and president of Tool Zone 4 Leaders, and more...
Art Gorman
Senior Associate Pastor
Art has served on the staff of Bethel Church since 1999, first as Pastor of Single Adults and Seniors, and now serves as Senior Associate Pastor. Art and his wife Kay have been married for 32 years and raised two children. They began ministry together in 1978 helping to pioneer a church in Arnold, California. From there they moved to San Jose where they served on a large church staff and later assisted in another pioneering work.
Art graduated from Bethany College in Scotts Valley and has been a Credentialed Minister with the Assemblies of God since 1990. He has served as a Youth Pastor, Associate Pastor, Senior Pastor, Christian School Principal, Worship Leader and Custodian. He enjoys teaching, airplanes, woodworking and Disneyland.
George Negrete
Executive Administrator
Young Marrieds Pastor
Pastor George Negrete is an ordained minister with the Northern California-Nevada Assemblies of God. He joined the Bethel Church staff in 2007. George was born in Stockton, CA before moving to San Jose where he was raised and graduated from high school. He later graduated from Southern Arizona Bible College with honors in 1995 before earning another degree in Business Administration in Sacramento, California. George began his ministry as an elementary school teacher before serving with his wife, Edeen, as associate pastors for 3 years in San Jose, CA. In August of 1998, George and Edeen relocated to Sacramento CA, where George joined the Northern California-Nevada Assemblies of God District Resource Center staff. George served there for nearly 10 years; 5 years as the Director of Church Enrichment and Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent.
George's ministry and leadership experiences include, coordinating the Northern California-Nevada kids missions education program (BGMC), which saw nearly $1.3 million given to missions under his leadership, coordinating one of the largest lay leadership training conferences on the West Coast (Lay Leadership Summit), and implementing special projects from the District Superintendent such as an annual Minister's Retreat. George also served as the Information Technology Administrator at the District Resource Center.
George enjoys cycling, computers, technology and spending time with his family. George and Edeen have been married for 13 years and have three young boys; George, Eddie and Gabriel.
Gerry Lopas
Pastor Emeritus
Gerry Lopas is a graduate of Northwest College, Seattle, WA and has pastored 3 churches: New Meadows, Cascade, Grangeville - all in Idaho. Then spent 9 years in missionary work on the island of Guam. He pioneered a church in Guam in 1968, ministering to the Guamanians, Military personel, Filipinos, and U.S. school teachers. He has been on staff for a total of 21 years - 10 years in Accounting and 11 years as Minister of Pastoral Care. He has 3 daughters, 5 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild.
Pastor Gerry's Vision for Ministry:
To let our people know that we do care for them - outside the church walls as well as inside - and that we will be able to draw alongside people and be a comfort and encouragement to them and to their families.
Jon Lugo
Creative Arts Pastor
Jon has been serving as pastor of Creative Arts since 1989. He was born and raised in the Bay Area and earned his piano performance degree from Cal State University Hayward. Jon oversees the programming and content of all services and special productions. He leads worship and conducts the Voices of Bethel sanctuary choir. Jon is a keyboardist, arranger, and producer. Along with his writing partner Laurey Berteig, Jon has written numerous single works, a Christmas musical and most recently "An American Requiem" (written in remembrance of the victims of 9/11).
Jon believes the Arts help transform what can appear to be a large and impersonal venue into a welcoming and intimate house of worship. His axiom of ministry is to “facilitate corporate worship by allowing the congregation to participate in music that is sensitively chosen, intelligently programmed and well presented.”
Jon and his wife Gina live in Saratoga and enjoy cooking and entertaining. Jon also enjoys extremely spicy foods and collects hot powders and sauces. They have two children, Jonathan and Dominique.
Harold Litfin
Creative Arts Associate Pastor
Director of Bethel School of Music
Harold has been serving as Associate Fine Arts Director at Bethel since 1991 and also as the Director of the Bethel School of Music since 2001. He was born and raised in San Jose and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from San Jose State University in 1990 and his Master of Arts degree in 1998. His areas of study include composition, arranging, conducting, instrumental, choral and electronic music. Harold currently works in the areas of service programming, productions, drama, orchestra, special music, and overseeing the Bethel School of Music.
Harold believes that music and the fine arts are an extraordinary means of communication, expression, and worship, and that they should be used for the glory of God with the utmost in quality and excellence.
Harold and his wife, Brigitta, have two young children, Nathan and Janelle.
Tom Witt
Senior Adults
After graduation from Central Bible College, in Springfield, Mo. in 1954 Tom and Trella married. They have two wonderful sons and five ‘grand,' grandchildren.
Together they have served as Dean of Boys at the National Children's Home in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and pastored five churches in California. Tom has served on various Boards of the Northern California-Nevada District of Assemblies of God and Bethany University.
Upon retirement from full-time pastoring in 1989, they have served as staff pastor, interim pastor of ten churches and presently serve as the District Home Missions Director of Region III, overseeing the care of 26 churches.
Together they have enjoyed fifty three years of ministry. And wished they had fifty more years to give.
Robert Stefani
Director of Student Ministries and Sports
Robert has been serving at Bethel since 1998 as the Student Ministries Pastor, and as the Sports Ministry Pastor since 2003. He also serves on the Youth Advisory Board for the Nor/Cal Nevada District. He is a member of the National Network of Youth Ministries. Robert travels and speaks to various ministries and schools throughout the United States as well as leading youth mission teams to other countries.
Before coming on staff he served as a volunteer in the Student Ministries Department for 16 years; while he was a partner in a local insurance and financial services practice.
Robert and his wife, Dione, have been married for 27 years and have three children.
Robert's passion for ministry is to:
Love students
To teach the truth of Jesus Christ
To equip students to express the talents and gifts that God has given them
Matt Blankenship
High School Pastor
Pastor Matt and Sarah have been married and serving in youth ministry together since 2003. They are both originally from the West Coast and have just returned from serving in the Mid-West. They are excited to serve the students of San Jose and join the Bethel Family.
Pastor Matt began serving in youth ministry in 1997 under Pastor Bret Allen at Calvary Temple Assembly in Concord, CA as an intern and then an associate youth pastor. During this time, he received his education from CSU East Bay with a major in Psychology. He spent the last four and half years in Ozark, MO at James River Assembly as the High School Pastor.
He has a heart to see young people saved, discipled in Christ and allowed to develop into the leaders that they can and should be. He and Sarah are ready to serve at Bethel as the High School Pastors and work to impact a generation.
Jared Stefani
Jr. High Director
Jared Stefani has attended Bethel Church his entire life. He graduated from the High School ministry and went directly into ministry as an intern. He was an intern in the Bethel Student Ministries department for several years and then served as interim Youth Pastor at South Bay Christian Center. He has been involved in ministry at Bethel Church for over 6 years.
Currently Jared is finishing his Church Leadership degree from Bethany University, with an emphasis on Student Ministries. He loves to see a spiritual change in the lives of young people and wants to see God's will flourish in their lives. Jared plays drums for the college and career service and loves to see people worship.
Matt and Elaine Miller
Pastor and Associate Pastor of Children's Ministries
Matt and Elaine joined the pastoral staff at Bethel Church in July of 2001. Born and raised in the Bay Area, they attended Bethel Church as children and participated in the Children's and Youth Ministries while growing up (although they didn't become acquainted until 1982 – and were married at Bethel in 1985).
In 1987, they left the Bay Area to live and work in the Placerville and Lake Tahoe area, where Matt was a Fire Captain/Paramedic with the El Dorado County Fire District. In addition to his full-time career in the fire service, Matt also served as worship leader and elder at South Shore Christian Assembly in South Lake Tahoe California for over nine years.
Elaine graduated from SJSU in 1986 and worked in graphic design and advertising, along with owning/operating Tamarack Creek Bed & Breakfast, she was the Music Director and Missionettes Coordinator at South Shore Christian Assembly in South Lake Tahoe, CA.
Ministry to children has always been an important part of their life together. Matt and his wife Elaine have been foster parents for over fifteen years caring for dozens of children whose lives and families had been turned upside down for various reasons. They have schooled their children through public, home, and private Christian education.
The Miller's vision for ministry: To assure that every child knows that they are loved by God and that He has a unique plan and purpose for their life.
Matt and Elaine live in San Jose with their four children: Saryne, Jennifer, Andrew, and Daniel.
Julie Kennedy
Bethel Preschool & Kindergarten Director
Julie has been serving as Bethel's Preschool & Kindergarten Director since June of 2002. Born and raised in Washington state, Julie began her early childhood ministry there in 1991. Julie has a background of teaching and administration and holds a two year internship in Children's Ministry. Julie's most recent accomplishment is the completion of her Bachelors Degree in Business Management at St. Mary's College in Moraga. Julie's primary responsibility is for Bethel's nursery, preschool, and kindergarten and includes the management of the school and its 21 staff members.
Julie's Vision for Ministry:
Loving children unconditionally demonstrates the love that Jesus has for all of us. Reaching children at an early age and exposing them to God's word gives us an opportunity to share his love. Bethel's preschool and kindergarten offers social and emotional opportunity, academic opportunity, and most of all the spiritual opportunity to know God and to experience his love.
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12
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