Pastors & Staff

Brian Bell

Senior Pastor

Brian is the senior pastor and shepherd here at Calvary Murrieta. Brian’s passion to bring Jesus to the nations has led him to approximately 40 countries and is now focused on our two specific unreached people groups.

Brian and his wife Kelly have worked fervently since 2011 to bring justice for women and children who have been exploited in human trafficking. This continues to make a meaningful impact within our valley and across the globe.

Brian fell in love with his high school sweetheart, dated for five years, and has been married now for forty one wonderful years. He has two adult children and five grandchildren. What really warms his heart is playing with his grandchildren. What fuels him physically is surfing and hiking. What moves his soul is leading Calvary Murrieta forward, and having the opportunity to strategize, pray for, and visit our unreached people groups.

Kelly Bell

Leader - Women

Kelly is the leaders of Women’s Ministry and Justice Ministries. She loves being a wife, mom, and grandma, but most of all, she loves the opportunity to serve Jesus full time. She is passionate about reading, writing, teaching, running, cycling, talking about Jesus, and fighting for justice.

Andrew Lacasse

Pastor - Education

Andrew has been on staff since 2007 and serves as the Assistant Pastor for Adult Ministries and Education and as a member of the church and school boards. He and his wife, Madeline have a three-year-old daughter. Andrew’s passion in ministry is to see our church come to know God more fully and have our lives shaped by His Word.

Dan Effinger

Pastor - Biblical Counseling

Dan is pastor over Biblical Counseling and Hope Ministries, as well as a Church Board member. He has been on staff since 1999. Dan has a daughter who is married, a son living on the road climbing tall peaks in a single bound, and a wife who continuously adds jewels to her heavenly crown by being married to Dan. His hobbies include just about anything, but he is particularly addicted to surfing and photography.

Tony Schaffner

Assistant Pastor

Tony has been on staff with Calvary Murrieta since 2000 where he currently serves as an Assistant Pastor and Church Board member.  His passion for ministry is matched by his love for spending time with his wife, as they embark on the many adventures life brings their way.  Whether in the church or at home, Tony is committed to building relationships and serving others.

Larry Hansen

Pastor - Missions

Larry Hansen has been on staff at Calvary Murrieta since 2001, serving as the Missions Pastor. God has moved him to passionately pursue unreached people across the globe, and he has embraced the Great Commission as his personal calling. Larry combines missions education, first-hand experience, and strategic partnerships to advance efforts in reaching the unreached. He has a strong desire to develop effective missionary care and support for those serving in the field and invests in providing the tools and preparation needed for global service. Larry is committed to being a continuous learner and listener so that he can best fulfill the role he has been called to. In addition to being the Missions Pastor, Larry is also a member of the Church and School Board.

Jasmine Boucher

Director - Children's Ministry

Jasmine is the Calvary Kids Director. She has been attending Calvary Murrieta for 12 years and has been on staff for 7 years. She is a mom and wife who loves to travel, relax at home and spend time with her family and friends. Leading volunteers as they support and love the children in Calvary Kids is one of her favorite parts of her job. Teaching children about Jesus and watching them grow in their relationship with the Lord is her true joy in life.

Jason Bell

Leader - Young Adults

Jason serves as the Director of our Young Adults Ministry (YAMS), where he is dedicated to guiding and mentoring the next generation of believers and finding ways to bridge the gap between high school and the larger church body. He has a passion for developing meaningful relationships, studying the word of God, and making God known in a way that is real and relevant.

In addition to his role with YAMS, Jason oversees the Benevolence Department here at Calvary Murrieta and has been incredibly blessed to come alongside those in the community in need of prayer and support. Jason has been on staff since 2001, working for both the school and the church. He lives in Murrieta with his wife, Jessica, and their two children, Jaidyn and Jax.

Romulo Costa

Leader - Worship

Romulo is the Worship Music Ministry leader at Calvary Murrieta. He has been at Calvary Murrieta for 18 years. He was born and raised in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. He came to America when he was 16, met his beautiful wife when he was 18, have been married for 17 years, and have two amazing kids. He loves using the gift of music to lead God’s people to His throne. He also enjoys God’s Word, a good book, meaningful conversations with his friends, laughing and making people laugh, Brazil’s soccer team, his mama’s food, and sushi.

Shane Academia

Leader - Middle School

Shane is the 678 Middle School Director. He has attended Calvary Murrieta for 14 years and has been on staff for 6 years. He has a passion to point middle schoolers to Jesus and build relationships with them while learning from the Word of God. He also leads our Created Ministry and leads worship occasionally. Shane and his wife Mackenzie have been married for two years. On his free time, he enjoys going to Padres games as a diehard Padres fan, playing basketball with friends, playing Super Smash Bros on his Switch, and eating a few carne asada street tacos.

Cameron Seely

Leader - High School

Cameron is the director of our High School Ministry RISE. He is a husband to his beautiful wife Melissa and father to his three children, August, Eleanor, and Margot. Cam has a passionate desire to disciple and raise up young people in Christ. And other than being a huge sports fan, he loves surfing and being outdoors.

Miguel Abundis

Pastor - Spanish

Miguel is the pastor over the Spanish Ministry at Calvary Murrieta. He has served in the Spanish Ministry for 10 years along with his wife Elva and their five kids. He was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and has been married for 30 years. His passion is the study and teaching of Scriptures.

Andrew Paulsen

Pastor - Community Groups

Andrew is pastor over Community Groups and has been a part-time staffmember since 2013. His passion is to see people learn and grow in their love of God and to use their gifts to serve Him by impacting the people around them. He is also a high school social studies teacher and spends lots of his time with his wife Charlotte as they drive their teenage sons to all kinds of sporting events and adventures.

Greg Fischer

Leader - Men

Greg is the leader of Murrieta Men the Calvary Men’s Fellowship. He enjoys creating opportunities for men to gather in fellowship and strengthen each other in the daily lives. He is married to Lori his wife of over 40 years, has 4 adult children, 3 grandchildren and enjoys spending time with them, hanging with friends and working on his classic British Car!