KEVIN FINKBINER

Lead Pastor

kfinkbiner@grace-church.com

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Kevin was born and raised in Glendora California.  Feeling a call to ministry in college, he spent 6 years pioneering college campus ministry work on university campuses in Northern California.  When an opportunity to lead a church in Northern California came about, he spent the next 11 years leading that church community until God called him back to Southern California, to lead at Real Life Church as the Valencia Campus Pastor. In March of 2024 Kevin accepted the invitation to serve as the Lead Pastor of Grace Church.

Kevin is an avid surfer and beach-dweller, a Chicago Bears fan (which is also a prayer request), a dad-joke-teller, and a seeker of adventure and fun.  He is married to Maria, and together they have 2 kids, 2 dogs, and 2 cats.

Kevin is a down-to-earth communicator and brings his  passion for helping people find and follow Jesus into everything he does at Grace.

ERIKA WATKINS

Executive Pastor

ewatkins@grace-church.com

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Birthplace: Lexington, Kentucky

Family: Husband Kevin, 4 kids & spouses, and 7 grandkids.

Describe your job: I support our Lead Pastor’s vision for Grace Church by helping the team run in the same direction.

Favorite drink:  Black coffee in the mornings and water all day! 

In my free time, I enjoy… painting, being in nature, visiting new places. 

Favorite thing to do in LA County…  too many favs…The Getty museum, hiking, the beach. 

One place I’ve always wanted to visit is…  The Holy Land  

One thing on my bucket list: Walk the Camino de Santiago

ANGGELO RAMIREZ

Spanish Pastor

aramirez@grace-church.com

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Hometown:  Bogotá, Colombia.

Family:  Kathy (Wife), Maria and Ana (Daughters), Lucas (Dog)

Describe your job: I help my Latino people to have a relationship with God. Additionally, I oversee the Creative and Communication Department of Grace Chuch.

Favorite place to eat: Any BBQ or Colombian Restaurant

Favorite drink: Coffee

In my free time, I enjoy…  Spend time with my family and read.

Favorite thing to do in LA County… Go to Pasadena and getting to know something new.

One place I’ve always wanted to visit is…  Bora Bora and  Switzerland

Favorite movie of all time:  Fast and Furious

One thing on my bucket list:  Write a book(s)

JOHN VOLBEDA

Chief Stewardship Officer

jvolbeda@grace-church.com

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Hometown:  Sneek, Holland

Family:  Married, five children ages 47-33 and eleven grandchildren

Describe your job:   I serve to manage all the business areas of the church including financial affairs and the church infrastructure and facilities.  I also serve with many teams and support staff at Grace Church behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly, including hospitality and the sports ministry.

Favorite place to eat: Mission Inn, Riverside

Favorite drink:  Sunkist diet orange

In my free time, I enjoy…  Woodworking

Favorite thing to do in LA County… LA County Fair  

One place I’ve always wanted to visit is…  Grand Canyon

Favorite movie of all time:  The Three Amigos

One thing on my bucket list:  Holy Land Tour

AMBER BAKER

Family Pastor

abaker@grace-church.com

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Hometown:  Aberdeen, SD

Family:   Josh, Ashley, Samuel, Josiah, Daniel

Describe your job: I have the privilege of overseeing birth – 18 and all the staff & strategy’s connected.  I get to partner with parents in the faith development of their children.

Favorite place to eatAny Mexican food!

Favorite drink:  Hot Americano, sugar free vanilla with a splash of half & half.

In my free time, I enjoy…   Spending time with my family

Favorite thing to do in LA County… I love the beach

One place I’ve always wanted to visit is…  New York

Favorite movie of all time:  Bye Bye Birdie

One thing on my bucket list:  To own a vacation home at the beach

JOSH BAKER

Young Adults & Connect Group Pastor

jbaker@grace-church.com

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Hometown:   Riverside, CA.

Family:   Amber, Ashley, Samuel, Josiah, and Daniel

Describe your job:    The Connect Group Pastor’s role is to connect people to God and others. By cultivating effective pathways for all members of the church to connect with others and grow in their faith. 

The young adult pastor’s role is to inspire and engage young adults 18-26 years old to express Christ in their daily lives as they are in a season of adulting and growing in their faith.

Favorite place to eat:  Sushi

Favorite drink:   Sugar-Free Iced coffee with a splash of half and half

In my free time, I enjoy…  Coaching boys in Soccer 

Favorite thing to do in LA County…  Watch the LA Galaxy 

One place I’ve always wanted to visit is…   Iceland 

Favorite movie of all time:   The Princes Bride

One thing on my bucket list:   Own tones of land and be a homesteader

MONICA GIRON

Hospitality Director

mgiron@grace-church.com

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Hometown:  San Salvador, El Salvador

Family:  One Son.

Describe your job: Leader of the fun squad!  It’s an honor to serve in the role of Hospitality Director and office manager.  You can always find me and my team at the heart of all that goes on here at Grace.  During the week, I work with the front desk to ensure the smooth running of the office on a daily basis

Favorite place to eatAny place with good sushi.

Favorite drink:  Iced Coffee

In my free time, I enjoy…   Traveling to new places.

Favorite thing to do in LA County… Go to a dodger game! Go Blue!

One place I’ve always wanted to visit is…  Greece

Favorite movie of all time:  Top Gun

One thing on my bucket list:  Skydiving

KIM HARP

Student Pastor

kharp@grace-church.com

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Hometown:  Long Beach, CA

Family:   My husband Kevin, our two kids Madalyn & Caden.

Describe your job: I have the privilege to lead and pastor our students into deeper + authentic faith in Jesus Christ.

Favorite place to eatI love any place with tacos, chips and salsa.

Favorite drink:  Iced Americano or Cold Brew Coffee

In my free time, I enjoy…   Hiking and paddle boarding.  I also love to head down to the beach.

Favorite thing to do in LA County… Go to the beach!

One place I’ve always wanted to visit is…  Bora Bora

Favorite movie of all time:  13 Going on 30

One thing on my bucket list:  One day I’m going to write a book!

MIKE PEDEVILL

Facilities Manager

mpedevill@grace-church.com

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Hometown:  Glendora, CA

Family:  Wife Ginny, daughter Grace, step daughter Caitlin, and step son Patrick

Describe your job: As Facilities Manager, I have the privilege of overseeing 8+ acres of the Grace Church campus. From the maintenance, cleaning and gardening services to overseeing the facilities team for all event setups and tear downs and whatever else needs to be done. I am always looking for volunteers to help inside and out. My main goal is to maintain our campus so that it is always inviting and welcoming to our regular attenders as well as our many visitors. I have a great team that comprise the facilities team and could not do my job without them!

Favorite place to eat: Many places but really enjoy Cafe Allegro in LaVerne and some places in Claremont. 

Favorite drink:  Coffee

In my free time, I enjoy…  Mountain bike riding, riding my motorcycle, meditating on God’s word and his goodness, dinners with family and friends, reading, woodworking, spending time in nature.

Favorite thing to do in LA County…  Hiking

One place I’ve always wanted to visit is…  Italy

Favorite movie of all time:  It’s a Wonderful Life

One thing on my bucket list:  Learning to fly an airplane which may or may not happen hear on this side of heaven 🙂

DANAE FAHEY

Bookkeeper

dfahey@grace-church.com

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Hometown:  Austin, TX

Family:   Jeremy, Ethan, Jackson, Brooklyn

Describe your job: Facilitate / record all financial transactions

Favorite place to eatI love any place with tacos, chips and salsa.

Favorite drink:  Diet Mountain Dew

In my free time, I enjoy…   Reading, puzzles, hiking, shopping with friends

One place I’ve always wanted to visit is…  France

One thing on my bucket list:  Own a corvette stingray

MARK COOK

Worship Leader

mcook@grace-church.com

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Hometown:  Alhambra, CA

Family:   Heidi, Married 41 years, children: Kyle, Natalie, Candace Vinje, Jonathan

Describe your job: I wear many hats but at grace I lead the traditional worship service.

Favorite place to eatDoe’s Eat Place

Favorite drink:  Diet Coke

In my free time, I enjoy…   Traveling, college football

One place I’ve always wanted to visit is…  The islands of Greece

Favorite movie of all time:  Young Frankenstein

One thing on my bucket list:  Not to kick it.

HAILEY BIRD

Communication and Creative Assistant

hbird@grace-church.com

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Hometown: Glendora, CA

Family: I come from a very close family! I am the oldest of my parents’ three kids. I have a younger brother & sister + a bonus sister, brother in-law, and their kiddos

Describe your job:  I am the Communications/Creative Assistant here at Grace Church. I have the fun job of managing everything from Social Media & Photography to behind the scenes in making sure that Sunday services run smoothly!

Favorite place to eat:  As a true Califonian, In-n-out

Favorite drink: Dr. Pepper & Sweet Tea

In my free time, I enjoy… Going to concerts, Going to Disneyland, & Line dancing!

Favorite thing to do in LA County… Trying new restaurants & coffee shops

One place I’ve always wanted to visit is… Scotland

Favorite movie of all time: 10 things I hate about you

One thing on my bucket list: To travel to Israel

RANESH PEIRIS

Sports Director

JRLPeera@gmail.com

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Hometown:  Colombo, Sri Lanka

Family:   My wife Shehani & son Sheran  (my brother Heshan and sister in law Ianthie reside in Sri Lanka).

Describe your job: PART-TIME – I coordinate the Grace Sports Reach Out Ministry & it is a privilege.  Our business is to reach kids and parents via sports, leading them to a relationship with Jesus.  The current vehicles are T-Ball/Baseball, Flag Football & Soccer.

FULL TIME – Financial Analyst at Ernst & Young LLP.

Favorite place to eat:  I love any place with spicy and flavorful food – seafood preferred!  Sri Lankan preferably.

Favorite drink:  Iced Ginger Beer, Iced Lime Juice and Iced Coffee with milk. Minimal sugar!

In my free time, I enjoy…   Watching Cricket, Rugby & Soccer live on TV; Compering events in the Sri Lankan community, Philately (stamp collecting), reading espionage and historical fiction novels; movies & TV – action, suspense & mystery.

Favorite thing to do in LA County… No one thing that is special.  I love driving, especially to the mountains and beaches!

One place I’ve always wanted to visit is…  Israel

Favorite movie of all time:  Rainman

One thing on my bucket list:  Vatican City – Restricted Museum!

SARAH GRUBB

Interim Worship Director

sgrubb@grace-church.com

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Hometown: I grew up in Portsmouth, Va.

Family: My husband is Matt and we have two kids in college, Enoch & Indie.

Describe your “Job”:  I get to lead the worship team, helping create an environment where people can connect with God. 

Favorite place to eat: Mexican food every day

Favorite drink: Strong coffee with cool whip

In my free time, I enjoy… Hiking, exploring Southern California and planning family trips

Favorite thing to do in LA County… Go to Leo Carrillo Beach

One place I’ve always wanted to visit is… Switzerland 

Favorite movie of all time:  The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 

One thing on my bucket list:  Live at the beach

LAUREN BRASESCO

Worship Leader

lbrasesco@grace-church.com

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Hometown:  Twain Harte, CADescribe your “job”:
I have the honor of leading as a worship leader here at Grace Church.Favorite place to eat: Anywhere they serve pizzaFavorite drink: Lavender infused lemonadeIn my free time, I enjoy… : Playing and listening to music, hiking, and learning new things!Favorite thing to do in LA County…  Go to Concerts, eat good food!One place I’ve always wanted to visit is…  Italy to see my family!Favorite movie of all time: Flushed AwayOne thing on my bucket list: Lead worship at a conference