Leadership

God is making all things new through Jesus!
That gives Mark hope and joy as he leads New Life Community. He was raised in the Central Valley and returned with a love for its people and culture. Mark  received his Master of Divinity degree from FPU Biblical Seminary and has led churches in California, Oklahoma and Kansas. Mark and Laurie live in Dinuba and have four grown children and three grandchildren.

Elaine is originally from Washington State, where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in English.  She wears several hats in the office while supporting the staff and congregation.  She and husband Steve live in Reedley and have two married children and two grandchildren.

Jessica loves kids, especially the little ones! She is a Preschool Teacher for Kings Canyon USD. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Fresno Pacific University and is working to complete her Master's Degree in Social and Emotional Learning at National University. Jessica desires to provide a safe place for children to learn about God's amazing love for them. She and her husband Joshua live in  Orange Cove with their six amazing children.

Joanna and Lafayette, Sr. first brought their five kids to New Life Community in July 2021 for VBS.  She loves kids and caring for the little ones in the nursery. Joanna also provides and coordinates childcare for Celebrate Recovery on Thursday evenings.  
The Brooks family lives in Dinuba.

Joe, and his wife, Carolyn, have been part of New Life Community for decades. They have a grown son and his family in Southern California, and three grown daughters and their families in and around Dinuba.

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Bruce currently serves as Executive Director of Tulare-Kings County Youth For Christ, and has a background in Christian camping.  They have three married children and a new puppy.

Josh started out as a prison evangelist at 19 years of age through a local Baptist church in the LA county area and also served in the youth and children outreach/discipleship programs. He was ordained in the Baptist denomination in 2009 and in 2010 pastored a local Baptist church in the Fresno county area for 8 years. The church eventually became non-denominational. Josh took a sabbatical for 2 years but still served in ministry at a local Presbyterian church. The Lord called us to join NLC during the COVID outbreak in 2020, and this church family has now become our church home and a thriving community that we have grown to love and faithfully serve.  In January 2023, I was affirmed as an elder and am grateful to God to be a servant leader to my church family. My life verse is Ephesians 3:19 "...to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Besides what you can read about Mark above, his life verse is Philippians 2:13 - "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." I can't, but God can! 

Otto and Marjorie recently retired from church planting ministry in Portugal, but maintain close ties with the churches there.  They have three adult children, with grandchildren close enough to visit.