Pastors
Jon Ireland - Originally from the Bay Area, Jon has been in ministry in the Santa Barbara area since 1985. He is the founding pastor of Ocean Hillls and lives in downtown Santa Barbara with his wife Nathalie and daughter Shannon. Jon earned both his Master's of Divinity and Doctorate of Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary.
- Who are you listening to on your ipod?
Sting, Marvin Gaye, U2, Coldplay, Claude Debussy, Frank Sinatra - What’s your favorite restaurant?
La Super Rica - What is your favorite vacation spot?
We go somewhere different every year - What is at the top of your list of things to do before you die?
Go to Australia, Antarctica, the Kentucky Derby, and the Final Four - What do you hate?
Mac & Cheese - Life Sripture:
Acts 20:24—"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."
John 10:10—Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
Jono Shaffer - Jono grew up in the bay area before he went to Northwestern University. There he earned his undergraduate degree, but more importantly, he met his wife of ten years, Erin. He did youth and college ministry for 6 years in L.A. while going to Fuller Seminary for his Master’s of Divinity, and recently was ordained into the Evangelical Covenant Church. Currently Jono is the pastor of Creative Arts and Missions at Ocean Hills and has been serving here for five years. Jono and Erin have two little boys, Nathan and Kyle.
- Who are you listening to on your ipod?
U2, Tyrone Wells, Hillsongs United, Lincoln Brewster, Brendan McCarthy - What’s your favorite restaurant?
Elements - What is your favorite vacation spot?
Lake Tahoe - What is at the top of your list of things to do before you die?
Go to the US Open and Wimbledon, go heli-boarding, go to Alaska - What do you hate?
Brussel Sprouts - Life Sripture:
John 12:28—“Father, glorify Your name!”
Philippians 3:8—“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.”
Laurie Polich Short - Laurie is from Dana Point, CA., and has a background in youth ministry, college ministry and small groups. Prior to coming to Ocean Hills, Laurie was a full time speaker and author—and she has published several books for youth and youth workers. She has her Bachelor of Arts from UCLA, and her Master of Arts from Fuller Seminary. Her interests include running, hiking, skiing, good food and living near the beach! Laurie is excited about serving the community of Ocean Hills and helping people to connect more deeply to Jesus Christ and each other, in Spiritual formation and Discipleship. She is also newly married to Jere, and has a stepson, Jordan, who is 6, and the second love of her life!!
- Who are you listening to on your ipod?
John Mayer, Michael Buble, James Taylor - What’s your favorite restaurant?
Palazzio - What is your favorite vacation spot?
Maui - What is at the top of your list of things to do before you die?
Go skydiving, travel to Tuscany - What do you hate?
Seeing others suffer - Life Sripture:
Jeremiah 29:11—"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"
Proverbs 3:5-6—"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
Staff
Uriah Venegas - Uriah oversees our Children's Ministries Program at Ocean Hills. Originally from Kailua, Hawaii, she is a graduate of Westmont College and has a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Child Development. Uriah and her husband Jeff were married in October 2001 and have a son Keola and twin daughters Leilani & Malia. They love traveling, surfing, foreign foods & films, and live music and can often be found in the outdoors or at the beach with their beloved dog, Sierra.
- Who are you listening to on your ipod?
Can’t seem to get my ipod to work, but I love listening to U2, Pearl Jam, & Sting - What’s your favorite restaurant?
L & L Hawaiian BBQ - What is your favorite vacation spot?
At home in Kailua, Hawaii (anytime) or Mammoth in the winter - What is at the top of your list of things to do before you die?
For my husband & I to have lots of grandchildren to spoil rotten - What do you hate?
Selfishness and materialism - Life Sripture:
1 Timothy 6:11-12—“Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.”
Ryan Warner - Ryan grew up on the east coast in Vienna, Va. He found Santa Barbara by going to Westmont College where he played soccer and tennis. After graduating Ryan has had ministry experiences as a missionary in Tonga, Hungary, and Mississippi, as a high school soccer coach, as a Wilderness camp director for inner city youth and as a lead counselor at Hume Lake Christian Camps. Ryan is passionate about living life to the fullest in Jesus.
- Who are you listening to on your ipod?
U2, George Strait, Mat Kearney - What’s your favorite restaurant?
California Pizza Kitchen - What is your favorite vacation spot?
Prouts Neck, Maine - What is at the top of your list of things to do before you die?
Make the Olympics - What do you hate?
Giving up. - Life Sripture:
Psalm 63:3—"Because His love is better than life my lips will praise Him."
Jonny Gaspardis - I was born and raised in Santa Barbara to two Argentine parents, making Spanish my first language. I have two siblings, one is 12, one is 23, and I'm 21. I love to do all sports besides baseball, never have and probably never will, but I love futbol (soccer), hockey, basketball, tennis, football, swimming, and water polo. Basically sports are my life, therefore I am very competitive but in a healthy way... I think. I Go to school at SBCC with a major in Philosophy in the works and have worked at Ocean Hills as a volunteer for 7 years and have gone to the church for 10.
- Who are you listening to on your ipod?
Taylor Swift, Leona Lewis - What’s your favorite restaurant?
Habit or Kahuna Grill - What is your favorite vacation spot?
Argentina! - What is at the top of your list of things to do before you die?
Travel England following the footsteps of C.S. Lewis and also Shakespeare - What do you hate?
Is this a trick question? - Life Sripture:
Ephesians 4:29-32—"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Teyler Sorenson - Teyler grew up in the Bay Area until recently when he began to attend Westmont College in Santa Barbara. Currently a Junior, Teyler is studying Religious Studies and plans to attend Fuller Seminary after he graduates to obtain his BA in Bible. His dad was a pastor at Crossroads Covenant Church in Concord, CA for 10 years where Teyler was involved with teaching Sunday school and Jr high. His family faithfully stepped out last year to become full time Missionaries in Guam, Micronesia causing Teyler to put 100% of his faith in God. Teyler's current job is teaching, praying and mentoring the 5th and 6th grade boys and girls at Ocean Hills.
- Who are you listening to on your ipod?
I am for sure bumping some 50 cent!!!!!!! Not, Weezer, Underoath, Angels & Airwaves, Coldplay, Jack Johnson, Newsboys, The Offspring, Set Your Goals, Stars & Stripes, Slightly Stoopid, Sublime, Tim Hughes, U2 and Wolfmother - What’s your favorite restaurant?
Red Robin and Kahuna Grill - What is your favorite vacation spot?
I haven't been there yet but Indonesia would be awesome because of the massive and barreling surf!!!!!!!! - What is at the top of your list of things to do before you die?
Travel to Indonesia and surf Mavericks - What do you hate?
Hate is a strong word, I really don't hate anything or anyone - Life Sripture:
Isaiah 30:21—The promise of God is that whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way; walk in it."
Ephesians 3:17-19—"May God strengthen you with the power through His spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith. We pray that you, being rooted and established in love may have power with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Allan Anderson - Allan is our Director of Finances. He and his wife Joyce moved to Santa Barbara in 1998 to help start Ocean Hills. Before moving here, Allan served as the Vice-President of Covenant Ministries of Benevolence located in Chicago. Allan and Joyce have been married for 47 years and have three children, two grandsons, and one granddaughter. Allan and Joyce love bike-riding, hiking, traveling the world, but especially visiting their grandsons in West Hartford, CT.
