Pastoral Staff Senior Pastor: Rick Harpel    Rick is responsible for preaching and staff and elder leadership. Raised in the Midwest, Rick studied economics in college, and worked in business for 5-6 years before attending Denver Seminary for ministry training.    He served in youth and adult education ministry in Colorado. For nine years he was Senior Pastor of Grace Baptist Church near New York City prior to coming to West Side in 1998.    Rick and his lovely wife, Chandra, were married in 1983 and have three children, Andy (and now daughter-in-law Bonnie), Greg and Emily.   Pastor of Administration: Steve Wolcott    Steve was born and raised in Southern California and attended Biola University and Talbot Theological Seminary where he earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Christian Education.    Before coming to West Side in 1994, he served as a Youth Pastor in Whittier, California, and as Christian Education Pastor in Tulare, California.     Steve and his wife, Holli, were married in June 1984. Holli teaches in the Yakima School District and enjoys serving as the Teen MOPs (Mothers of Preschoolers) coordinator as well as in the drama ministry at West Side. They have two sons: Dan, who is now engaged and heading off to Washington State University in the fall after serving in the U.S. Navy, and Andrew, who is studying electrical engineering at the University of Washington. Pastor of Discipleship: Scott Thielen     Scott joined West Side’s pastoral team in October 2003 following 18 years in Seattle where he served as a Senior Pastor. He holds a B.S. in Business specializing in Marketing Management from California State University Sacramento and a Master of Divinity from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon.  In his role, Scott provides leadership for all ministries to adults.     Born in the northwest, Scott and his wife Patti have three children. You may find Scott on the golf course (but not on Sunday mornings!), appreciating a ride on his motorcycle, listening to music, or just enjoying the family. Pastor of Worship & Arts: Josh Cavallo    Josh grew up serving and leading in music ministries here in Yakima before heading to the UW, where he studied many things before God’s call to full time ministry finally got answered. He met his wife Julie in Seattle, and they came to West Side with their twin daughters in February 2004. They now have four young children.        While not leading the choir, bands, drama, and tech teams, Josh enjoys keeping up with family (yes, little James is very busy) and friends, hunting, learning new music and instruments, as well as periodically humbling himself on the golf course. Youth Pastor:  Judson Guerino              Oasis Youth Website    Judson came to West Side in October of 2002. He holds a Master of Divinity from Western Seminary and a B.A. in Speech Communication from California State University in Hayward.    Judson is a native of the San Francisco Bay area and he spends his free time reading, following the Cal Bears and the Oakland A's, acting like an amateur movie critic, eating good food and seeing if he has an artistic soul.   Pastor of Outreach: Nic Natale    Nic provides leadership in missions and church planting at West Side. His desire is to live a life marked by acts of faith; to continue the movement that was started two thousand years ago by a band of misfits and rejects whose lives had been radically transformed by Jesus Christ. His passion is to see people develop a personal walk with the Lord that seeks Him above all else (Psalm 1), in relationships that run deep and purposeful (Hebrews 10) with a desire to share their spiritual journeys with friends and acquaintances (Matthew 5).    Nic and his wonderful wife, Janet, have been married for 18 years and have two boys, Jared and Evan.           Ministry Directors Mid-High: Tyler Critchlow    Born and raised in Yakima, Tyler has been on staff at West Side 2007. Already he has thrown himself into forming personal relationships with these mid-high students and they love him.    Still considered a newlywed by the rest of us, Tyler says his great loves are his wife (who is pregnant with their first child in May of 2009), their two dogs and everything outdoors, except the rain. His favorite food is steak and his personal hero is Bugs Bunny! You can often hear Tyler say, "If not now, when?" And his focus verse is John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Children:  Suzanne Dieker Suzanne came on board as Children’s Ministry Director in 1999. She holds a BS in Elementary Education from Oregon State University, and a 5th year from Central Washington University. She and her husband Rick have been part of the West Side church family since 1979.    Suzanne taught several years before raising her children, two of whom are married with the third and youngest one in college. In addition to her love of kids, Suzanne has been active in drama, music, and puppet ministries.     Early Childhood: Wendy Graham Wendy joined West Side’s staff in August of 2009. Wendy has 12 years experience as a preschool director at First Presbyterian Church and Westminster Presbyterian Church and 4 years experience as a children’s ministries director. She also has 11 years experience in human resources, for the most part at Boise Cascade Corp.    Wendy grew up in the Colorado and Utah area but has lived in Yakima since high school. She and her husband Stew have been married since 1976. They have two adult children and one son-in-law. Support Staff Receptionist: Pam Marvin     Pam has filled the receptionist position in the office since 1998. She handles all the visitors to the front desk, tries to keep tabs on everyone's schedule and coordinates the master calendar.    Born and raised in Yakima, Pam returned to the northwest after living 20 years in Wisconsin. She and her husband, Steve, have raised three sons and have two adorable grandsons, Taurin and Elijah. In her spare time, Pam enjoys reading, crocheting and especially visits to her grandchildren in Seattle. Ministry Assistant to Senior Pastor: Patsy Riker    Patsy joined the West Side staff in 1992, first as our part-time receptionist, now full-time as the ministry assistant to Pastors Rick and Nic. In addition, the bulletin, newsletter, prayer chain and purchasing are among her many and varied responsibilities. If you need to know where something is or who has what gift in the church, ask Patsy!    Patsy & her husband, Maury, are usually found at the Information Counter on Sunday mornings, welcoming guests and answering endless questions. They have three adult children and five cute grandsons. Spare time interests include quilting, shopping and spending time with her grandchildren. Ministry Assistant to Youth Pastor and Ministry Directors: Jenni Howe    New to the West Side staff in 2006, but having grown up in this church, Jenni graduated from Western Baptist College in Salem, OR, with a B.S. in Business Management.    Jenni has traveled to four continents on various mission trips and work assignments. She enjoys running and is "addicted" to shoe shopping and Starbucks (Grande Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino with whip!) Ministry Assistant to Pastors of Administration and Discipleship: Lisa Lacy    Lisa was born in Long Beach, CA but grew up in the Tacoma area. She moved to Yakima in November 2005 when her husband’s job brought them east of the mountains.    Lisa and Jim have been attending West Side actively since Fall 2006. She serves in AWANA and is now taking a more active role in the Worship & Arts ministries. Jim and Lisa were the proud “parents” of only two dogs and a cat, but they now have a son, Trevor, who was born in October 2009.    Lisa and Jim like to travel (as Trevor allows them!), visit family and friends, and watch football…GO STEELERS! And, of course, there's always those home projects. Ministry Assistant to Worship & Arts Pastor: Belinda Caldwell    Belinda has been on staff at West Side since the fall of 2000. Originally from South Africa, she moved with her husband, Rob, to the Pacific Northwest in 1991 and completed a course in desktop publishing at BCTI in Bellevue, WA.    She is heavily involved in the Worship & Arts ministries outside of her job description and also oversees the church website.    Rob and Belinda have lived in Yakima since 1993. They have five adopted children ages 13, 12, 11, 7, and 6. Belinda is an avid scrapbooker and also enjoys theatre, the NBA (Go Spurs!), travel, reading and desktop publishing. Bookkeeper: Donna Devine    Donna joined West Side’s staff in February 2010. Donna has a B.S. in accounting and brings experience in auditing, investing and financial accounting to her position.    She and her husband, Steve, moved to the Yakima Valley in 1986 and raised two daughters. They are the proud grandparents of four beautiful grandchildren – 3 boys and a little girl. Donna is an avid hiker with fellow Cascadian members and enjoys a variety of outdoor recreational activities with Steve. Her love of animals is evident in the small farm she maintains with her husband.    As members of West Side, Donna has been involved with short-term missions, women’s ministries and Sunday morning greeting.