


Brian Bell
Senior Pastor
Brian is the senior pastor here at Calvary Murrieta. He is the main teaching pastor, Chairman of the Church Board and School Board, and shepherd of Calvary Murrieta. Brian’s passion to bring Jesus to the nations has led him to over thirty countries and is now focused on our two specific unreached people groups. Brian and his wife Kelly have worked fervently this past decade to bring justice for women and children who have been exploited in human trafficking. This continues to make a meaningful impact within our valley, California, and across the globe.
Brian fell in love with his high school sweetheart, dated for five years, and has been married now for thirty-seven wonderful years. He has two adult children and four grandchildren. What really warms his heart is playing with his grandchildren. What fuels him physically is surfing and hiking. What moves his soul is getting to think, strategize, pray for, and visit our unreached people groups.
Brian fell in love with his high school sweetheart, dated for five years, and has been married now for thirty-seven wonderful years. He has two adult children and four grandchildren. What really warms his heart is playing with his grandchildren. What fuels him physically is surfing and hiking. What moves his soul is getting to think, 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.

Jennifer Bursch
Executive Director and CMCS Head of Schools
Jen is Calvary Murrieta’s Executive Director and Calvary Murrieta Christian Schools’ Head of School, as well as a Church Board member and a School Board member. As Executive Director and Head of Schools, Jen is responsible to oversee the finances and operations of both the Church and School. Jen is a lawyer, and has spent the majority of her career advocating for churches and Christian schools. She and her husband Jordan have two kids. Her hobbies are reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.

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.

Andrew Lacasse
Pastor - Education
Andrew is pastor over Education and Training as well as a Church Board member. He has been at Calvary Murrieta for 26 years. His wife, Madeline, and he have a young daughter and a foster son. His passion in ministry is to help people love God in His word.

Tony Schaffner
Pastor - Student Ministries
Tony is an Assistant Pastor, as well as a Church Board member. He has been on staff with Calvary Murrieta since 2000. He enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife and the many adventures they share together.

Larry Hansen
Pastor - Missions
Larry is pastor over Missions, as well as a Church and School Board member. He provides training, education, and support to those on the field or desiring to go onto the mission field. He has been on staff since 2001. He is married to his wonderful wife Donna and together they have two children, Landi and Paul. Larry enjoys the beach, surfing, and long-distance running.

Des Starr
Pastor - GriefShare
Des is the pastor over GriefShare ministry, which helps individuals who have had loved ones pass away. Des has been on staff for over 25 years. He and his wife Jan have two married children and seven grandchildren. Des and Jan love to spend time with their children and grandkids.

Andrew Paulsen
Pastor - Community Groups
Andrew is pastor over Calvary Murrieta’s Community Groups. He has been attending Calvary Murrieta for 15 years and serving on staff for 7 years. He is married to his best friend Charlotte and they have two boys. He loves backpacking, reading, and rooting for his Lakers and Dodgers (World Champions!).

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 39 years, has 4 adult children, 3 grandchildren and enjoys spending time with them, hanging with friends and working on his classic MGB.

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.

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.

Jasmine Boucher
Director - Children's Ministry
Jasmine is the Calvary Kids Director. She has been attending Calvary Murrieta for eight years and has been on staff for three years. She is a mom and wife who loves to spend time with her family and friends. She loves to watch cooking shows and download recipes she will never make. Her real passion is teaching children about their Heavenly Father and watching them grow in their relationship with the Lord.

Shane Academia
Leader - Middle School
Shane is the leader over 678 Middle School Ministry. Shane and his wife Mackenzie just got married in December 2021. He enjoys playing basketball, playing video games, watching sports and This Is Us, and more!

Cameron Seely
Leader - High School
Cameron is the leader of the High School Ministry RISE High Youth. He is blessed to be married to his beautiful wife Melissa, and also grateful to be called father to their son August and daughter Ellie. He has always felt called and commissioned to teach and disciple young people in Jesus. Other than being a huge sports fan, he loves doing anything that involves being outside.

Jason Bell
Leader - Young Adults
Jason is the director of our Young Adult’s Ministry here at Calvary Murrieta and he also oversees our benevolence department. Jason lives here in Murrieta with this wife Jessica and his two kids, Jaidyn and Jax. He has a passion for relationships, studying the word of God and making God known in a way that is real and relevant.