Our elder team consists of Eric Kowes, David Morris, and Joe Segura. To listen to the message preached on the day we affirmed Eric and Joe as elders, click here.
Eric Kowes
Eric grew up in Woodland, Ca., where he was blessed to be raised by loving parents who walked closely with the Lord and lived that out in their daily lives. Through this upbringing and God's grace, Eric accepted the Lord as his Savior at a young age. Eric married his high school sweetheart, Jennifer, and they have been married for 21 years. Eric and Jennifer have been blessed with four children, Jeffrey, Emma, Jacob, and Ellie. Eric received his degree in business management from Phoenix University where he went into the agricultural field. Eric's life verse is Mathew 6:33-34: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Eric tries to live out this verse in his life by seeking Christ first everyday. Eric enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, adventures with family, entertaining friends, golfing, and hunting. Eric’s life goals are to love his wife, always point his children to Christ, and always being available and willing to do what God calls him to do.
David Morris
David was born in South Carolina before his family moved to Pennsylvania so David's dad could become a lead pastor. God was kind to give David Christian parents who loved him and taught him the gospel, which he believed when he was six years old. David has been married to Cathy for 21 years, and God has given them Silas, Raina, Meg, and Luca. David got his Masters of Divinity degree at the Master’s Seminary before moving to Kingsburg, CA to help plant Grace Church of the Valley. After serving there for thirteen years, David moved to Ripon to plant Christ Community Church. David enjoys sports, reading, and family time. His favorite Bible books are Romans and Hebrews and his life goals are to faithfully love his wife, disciple his children, and shepherd Christ’s church until he dies.
Joe Segura
Joe was born and raised in Manteca and moved to Ripon in 2008. He married his junior high sweetheart, Erica, and God has blessed them with five wonderful children. God was gracious to Joe and placed several people in his life that taught him who Jesus was and about church, but it wasn’t until his early 20’s that Joe came to truly know Jesus as his Lord and Savior. It was through the reading and studying of God’s word, in particular Joe’s favorite passage of scripture (Eph 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast”) that the grace of God truly started to make sense to Joe and gave him an understanding of God’s love and His sovereign choosing. Joe loves God’s church and people and is excited to serve in any area he can but has a particular passion for leadership and marriage and family ministries.
Joe works for a utility company and in his free time he likes to spend time with his wife and kids, cooking and entertaining for friends and family, golfing, and fishing…although he admits he’s a terrible fisherman!