OUR PASTORS AND STAFF
Mike Kim, Senior Pastor for Vision and Teaching. Mike grew up in South Korea until he was 11, when he and his family immigrated to Atlanta, Georgia. His original given name is Myoungshik. Someone thought Mike would be easier for people say. He went to Southern Adventist University where he received his B.A. in Religion and B.A. in Music. He got his Masters of Divinity from Andrews University. He has been a pastor in Georgia, North Carolina, and California. He has been at Vallejo Drive since August 2009. He married Jeanne Kim who chose to keep her maiden name in 1993 and together with God’s help created Gwenyth in 2001 and Joey in 2005. Currently, the four of them live in what is best described as a giant igloo in Sunland. Mike enjoys building things, plays hacky sac, and wants to go hang gliding
Mark Papendick, Pastor for Member Care and Administration. Born and raised in Michigan Pastor Mark graduated from Cedar Lake Academy in Michigan, received his B. A. in Theology from La Sierra, and finished his Masters of Divinity degree at Andrews University. Pastor Mark handles administration and senior adult ministries, pastoral care that includes hospital visitation, visiting the sick and shut-ins, officiating funerals, and serving those who are grieving. He oversees the Adult Sabbath School, Social Ministries, Fellowship Ministries, and Hospitality Ministries. He serves as our pastoral representative to the LA Metro Region Committee, and serves on the conference’s "Prayer, Spirituality, and Renewal Team." He creates and sends personal birthday cards to all members. He and his wife Lois Earlene have two adult children, Michael and Christy, and two grandchildren, Hudson and Sage. Mark enjoys sports, classic old movies, a wide variety of music, and doing Suduko puzzles
Tony Parrish, Children and Family Pastor. Tony works with kids of all ages and their families and is especially interested in helping out our Tweens and Teens. He is our representative at Glendale Adventist Academy. Born and raised in New Zealand and Papua New Guinea from English and Dutch parents, Tony has travel in his DNA, which brought him to Glendale in 2004 with his wife Jodi. Jodi works at Glendale Adventist Medical Center in Human Resources. Tony began his theological studies at Avondale College in Australia and finished his B.A. at La Sierra University. He completed his M.A. in 2012 from Andrews University. Jodi is a graduate of Union College in Lincoln, NE. Their family grew in 2010 with the birth of Logan and is about to grow even bigger with twins on the way. Tony is passionate about cross-generational ministry and hopes to engage the whole family in meaningful spirituality and service. He loves cricket and rugby, but doesn’t mind football (the American version).
Lemar Sandiford, Pastor for High School Students. Lemar was born and raised in Loma Linda, California and graduated from Loma Linda Academy in 2000 and La Sierra University in Riverside in 2005. He’s served as Youth Pastor at the Azure Hills Church in Grand Terrace, CA, Bible Teacher at Hawaiian Mission Academy and Glendale Adventist Academy, and is currently the Bible Teacher and Chaplain at Redlands Adventist Academy. He joined Vallejo Drive’s staff in 2011. Lemar is married to Chaltu and has a beautiful daughter, Zoë. Lemar loves playing, coaching and watching sports and enjoys ping pong, bowling and camping
Mindy Bielas, Assistant Pastor for Youth and Young Adults. Mindy was born and raised in Redlands, California and graduated from Redlands Adventist Academy in 2008. She received her BA in Religious Studies, Pre-Seminary and a minor in Biblical Languages from La Sierra University in 2012. She is currently working on her Masters of Theological Studies at La Sierra, and when she is not studying she enjoys painting or playing her harp. Mindy is excited to be a part of the Vallejo Drive community where she has the opportunity to apply what she has been studying and learn from an actively thinking religious community. She has a passion for the many youth and young adults that are discovering their Christian identity, and feels blessed to be a part of the communal journey of those at Vallejo Drive
Berenice de Castro, Administrative Assistant. Berenice is the friendly and enthusiastic voice you hear when you call the church office. She has been part of our office staff since 2009. She moved to Glendale from Mount Vernon, Ohio with her husband Aggie and two adult daughters, Samantha and Eleni. She is an alumna of Glendale Adventist Academy Class of 1983. Berenice received her BS in Journalism from Southwestern Adventist University, Keene, Texas. She is very happy to be living in Southern California.
Rick Bell, Treasurer. Rick joined Vallejo Drive’s staff in 2011. Rick was born and raised in Iowa and grew up in a family with five sisters and one brother and a father who ran a grain elevator business. Rick received his BS in Chemistry from Iowa State University and his MS in Chemistry from Cleveland State University. He has lived in California since 1978 and worked 40 years in the steel and aerospace industries until he retired in 2006. He lives with his wife, Beverley, in Santa Clarita. They have four sons—Steven Wirsz, Robert Wirsz, Ryan Bell, and Robert Bell—and six grandchildren—ranging from 4 to 15 years of age
Elisabeth Remboldt, Organist. Although a successful dentist for over 30 years, Elisabeth’s passion has always been music. She has been involved in professional performance as an organist, pianist and choral director for over fifty years and has served Vallejo Drive as organist since 1989. She holds a Masters in Music Performance, Piano from USC. She has performed all over Southern California, including with Sir David Willcocks at Choral Evensong Services in Wisconsin and Santa Barbara. With Willcocks in 2002, she performed Durufle Requiem with full orchestra. She and her husband, Darwin, love their Basset Hound, Annabelle, and cat, Merlan , horseback riding in the Sierra Nevada mountains and performing with area choirs. Elisabeth’s sister and mother live in Hanford, California and her brother is in Portland, Oregon
Diana Elias, Share Ourselves (S.O.S.) Thrift Store Director. Diana finds the thrift store to be a most rewarding ministry. She says, “It’s pretty amazing that I am in a position to help so many people in need, in crisis, in need of prayer, or sometimes just lonely for someone to listen.” Her education is in law, in which she earned her BS and JD degrees. She is happily married to her loving husband, Mike Elias, Senior Pastor of Long Beach Adventist Church; has a wonderful son, Michael, a vice-president at HBO in New York; and loves her sweet sister and best friend Linda, who works with the Verizon corporation. She loves her three adopted cats and collects vintage buttons from her family’s past and when she travels abroad.
Jenelle Anderson, Children’s Church and Children’s Choir Director. In addition to her ministry at Vallejo Drive, Jenelle is also the Director of Music at Claremont Presbyterian Church. Dr. Anderson received her Bachelor of Music, and her certification in Music Education from Atlantic Union College. She completed her Master of Choral Music at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign with an emphasis in Conducting and Vocal Performance. Her Doctor of Music Arts in Choral Conducting was received from USC. Her background includes private voice and violin instruction, and performance expertise in voice, violin, viola, and piano. Dr. Anderson has directed music programs at several churches, including Sligo Adventist Church in Takoma Park, MD. She has also taught at the USC Thornton School of Music and Whittier College. When she isn't involved with music or children's worship activities, she can be found trying to keep up with her children Nils and Elle, and digging in her garden
