Kevin and Mindy O'Connor - Lead Pastor

 

Kevin was a city boy, born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mindy was a country girl, born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley, here in California.

Kevin knew as a young boy that he was called to become a minister and has been a pastor all of his adult life. Mindy has only been a pastor’s wife since the fall of 2005, but Kevin tells her this is what she was born to do.

Two people from opposite sides of the country, with completely different lives, found something they love to call “destiny.”

Mindy’s first husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer at the young age of 47. At that time Kevin was living in Merced, CA, which is exactly one-hundred miles from where Mindy was living. They had never met, but God had placed a burden on Mindy’s heart to pray for a “broken pastor.” So for six months she prayed for that broken pastor, whoever he was and wherever he was.

During the darkest spiritual and emotional storms in each of their lives, God gave them strength to continue serving and trusting Him, even when it seemed that things didn’t make sense and weren’t fair. In God’s goodness, He sent a rainbow to each of them as a reminder that even during the dark days, God still keeps His promises. It was at the end of their rainbows that Kevin and Mindy found each other.

Mindy says Kevin was her knight in shining armor who rescued her and her 14 year old daughter Hannah...But Kevin says “No, it was Mindy that prayed for, encouraged and rescued him, 'the broken pastor'”.

If you haven’t heard their testimony and the short version of how they came to be husband and wife, serving God together here in Merced, you can order their DVD titled “The Journey Continues” from our church bookstore, The Sonlight Resource Center. The DVD was created for the purpose of sharing their personal testimonies with new believers and those who attend Christian Life Center.

Kevin is a gifted speaker and communicator. He enjoys playing golf and going on bike rides with Mindy. Mindy enjoys sharing with ladies one-on-one and in small groups. She loves to share how she’s grown in her personal intimacy with God while discovering the secrets of effective journaling. She has developed a website to encourage and equip women in the church and she updates that site regularly. To learn more about Mindy and get ideas to strengthen your faith, you can check out her website, "Visit With Our Pastor's Wife." Besides the normal day to day activities of a pastor’s wife, Mindy also hopes to one day write a book about their story. These days she’s enjoying the journey God’s given her and considers it an honor to help her husband fulfill his call to ministry. “For a time such as this…”

This couple’s story will leave you in awe as to how God can even work tragedy together for good when you love Him and are called by Him. Kevin is available to speak at retreats; men’s, pastor's and couple's retreats. Mindy is available for coffee if you want to hear more of their story in greater detail. She would love the opportunity give God the honor for what He has done and continues to do.

kevino@clcmerced.com

buntingoconnor@sbcglobal.net 

Gwen Breinig - Administrative Pastor

 

Gwen’s father Dr. Earl McMilin was the founding Pastor of Christian Life Center 38 years ago. She has been on staff for the past 33 years and genuinely loves her ministry here. If you asked her what her passion is, she’d tell you she’s living it every day of her life in serving the people at CLC.

Gwen and her husband Eug have 4 wonderful children, and 7 adorable grandchildren. Being a grandparent is truly a wonderful experience and she loves spoiling each one of them.

A little over three years ago, Eug and Gwen started a new church for bikers, “This Ain’t Your Mama’s Church”. This has been a very exciting outreach especially since Gwen is not really a “Biker”. “It’s exciting to see how God can take you into the different areas of ministry, if you are willing to be open to His will”, says Gwen.

She enjoys being with her family, singing, cooking, fishing and of course shopping.

gwenb@clcmerced.com

JoAnn James - Worship/Arts Pastor

 

Jo Ann is a fun loving, total people person.  Her greatest satisfaction is recruiting people and getting them involved in Kingdom Music.  She accepted Christ at the young age of 6 years.  She has had the extreme joy of serving Christ faithfully since then.  She and her husband Ron have three children, Curt, Andrea and Brent.  Both Andrea and Brent are in full time ministry.

 

At the young age of 8 years old, Jo Ann became totally consumed by piano.  She made sure her mom got her to church 30 minutes early so she could run and get to the piano.  The pianist of the church, Clara Sexauer saw this great desire in her and knew something was special.  She loaned her own piano to Jo Ann’s parents for a year during which time JoAnn became totally obsessed, playing five hours a day, driving her parents crazy. With just three months of “Basic Piano Book One” from Clara she was on her way to a career in music.   By the tender age of 12 she began playing full time in church, youth rallies, and then conventions, high school choir and healing crusades.  She directed two traveling singing groups and has played keyboard for many well known singers.   Jo Ann even had the joy of doing a Billy Graham Crusade.  This natural gift of music was truly a blessing bestowed on her by God.

 

Jo Ann took over the Music program at CLC in August of 1981.  She has served all four pastors of ChristianLifeCenter faithfully.  The Passion of Music is still VERY MUCH ALIVE in her today.   Her duties have expanded immensely!  She directs Choir, plays keyboard, directs the Contemporary Worship Team and Band, and loves developing new talent.  Along with all of that, she produces seasonal productions attended by thousands.

 

A fun day for Jo Ann would be shopping in San Francisco.  She loves fashion and all the latest styles.  She would start the day going to “El Faro’s Burritos” at 20th & Folsom in San Francisco.   “It’s the best in the WORLD!”  Dinner would be Grotto Number 9 on the Wharf for any kind of shell fish as the lights of the city come on. Then on to finish the day at Nordstrom’s covering seven stories of stores.  That’s after covering three city blocks of stores in Union Square.

 

Jo Ann loves reading, especially the Bible, biographies and ladies magazines.   She would hop on the plane to Europe tomorrow to see the beautiful sites and history found there but she’s open to go most anywhere to discover new things and people. She sees no reason to live if there wasn’t Pepsi!

jajames7085@sbcglobal.net

Cindie Johnson - Children's Administrative Director

Cindie attended her first church service at the tender age of four days old. She was baptised at age eight and her favorite event was always summer church camp. She grew up in the small town of Delhi and graduated from Livingston High School in 1997. She then went on to get an Associate's Degree in Child Development at Merced Junior College. She volunteered in many school programs, children's camps, and vacation bible schools, as well as helping with children at her church. She went on to work for three years at a group home for under-privileged teenage girls. She continued to take her strong belief in Christ everywhere she went.

In April 2004 she married R.J. Johnson from Turlock; they met working together at a movie theatre. He also has been raised in church. R.J. is currently the Second Service Head Usher as well as a Men's Ministry Leader. They have two beautiful little girls, Hannah, who is turning five in August, and Allondra, who turned two in May. They love the Lord with all their hearts and are raising a strong Christian family.

cindie@clcmerced.com

Mack Reynolds - Media/Technology

 

Mack grew up in central Texas where he graduated from Cleburne High School in 1974.  After high school he attended Oklahoma Christian College then moved to Manteca, CA. in 1977.  While living in Manteca he served two years in full time youth ministry then relocated to Merced in 1990 where he began attending Christian Life Center in 1991.  He married his wife Nobie in November of 1996.  Since coming to CLC he has served as Worship Leader, Media Director, Director of Development and Executive Pastor.  He is presently serving as Media/Technology Director overseeing the CLC web site, phones, data network, audio, video and lighting.  Mack is passionate about CLC and its potential to have a real and lasting impact on Merced and the surrounding communities.

His favorite activities include fishing, singing and producing music.

mackr@clcmerced.com

Gary Zelesky - Corporate America

zmanspeaks@comcast.net

Support Staff

Ceasar Johnson - Jr. High Pastor   cflo7@netzero.com

Josh Wilson - Worship Leader   joshnsarahw@att.net

Kim Carrillo - Bookstore Manager   kimc@clcmerced.com