Leadership and Staff
Pastors, Elders, and Ministry Leaders at Sovereign Grace Church
Chad Vegas
Senior Pastor
Chad is the founding pastor of Sovereign Grace Church. After completing his M.A. in Theology at Talbot, and being the high school pastor at RiverLakes Community Church, Chad was called to plant a church in Bakersfield. He is also the founding board chairman of Radius International, an organization that trains people to plant churches among unreached language groups. His passion is to know Christ and to make him known. He has been married to Teresa since 1994, and they have 2 children and one daughter-in-law.
Jason Faber
Pastor
Jason is one of the original four men whom God called to co-plant Sovereign Grace Church of Bakersfield. The son of a pastor and church planter, Jason grew up serving the church. He attended BIOLA University for two years while studying philosophy, biblical studies, and the great books of the western canon. He went on to graduate from Fresno Pacific University in 2006. In 2019 he received his M.A. from Westminster Theological Seminary. His desire is to be used by God to “bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of His name among all the nations.” (Romans 1:5). Jason has been married to Christin since 2011 and they have two children.
Russell Horner
Pastor
Russell is one of our pastors at Sovereign Grace and previously served as the church’s Youth Pastor. Russell received his degree in Biblical Studies from Biola University and is presently pursuing his M.A. in Biblical Studies at Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary. Russell’s passion is to “proclaim Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me” (Colossians 1:28-29). He has been married to Ashly since 2005, and they have three children.
Mikey Warren
Youth Pastor
Mikey was born and raised in Bakerfield and has been working in youth ministry since 2010. He has served as the Youth Pastor at Sovereign Grace since the spring of 2017. As youth pastor, his desire is to see the youth of Sovereign Grace come to know, delight, and grow in Christ through the preaching and teaching of God’s word. Mikey also serves as the leader of the young adults group and is a part of the teaching team of Sovereign Grace. He is a seminary graduate from Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to his wife Krissy and they have one child.
John and Marlo Bryant
Elder and Administrative Assistant
The Bryant family has been attending Sovereign Grace since 2012. In 2013, John became an elder at the church. Marlo has also served in various roles at the church and is now directing the children’s ministry and helping with administration. John and his wife Marlo have been married since 1990 and have three children. John has served in full time ministry for approximately 22 years in the role of youth pastor, associate pastor, and church planter. John’s greatest joy is in seeing the Gospel bring about the delight of God, to be made known to the people of God, in every tribe, tongue and nation for His glory alone… “Soli Deo Gloria!”
Jordan Fitch
Elder
Jordan and his wife Shantelle have been members of Sovereign Grace since the winter of 2014. They have been married since 2013 and have two children. Jordan is a Divinity student at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and has served in a variety of different ministry roles over the past 10 years. Seeing people come to and grow in their understanding of the glorious gospel of Christ is among his greatest joys in life. “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Phil 1:9-11)
Curtis Skaggs
Elder
Curtis and his family have been attending Sovereign Grace since 2015. Curtis and his wife, Becky, have been married since 2000 and have four children. Curtis became an elder at the church in 2021. Curtis has served within the church as a Sunday school teacher, usher, Grace Group leader, and a member of the Missions Team desiring to serve the church, the body of Christ, to see the gospel proclaimed [to all peoples], and to make known “the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” (Eph 3:8b-10)
Adam Tyson
Deacon
Adam grew up in the Kent countryside of England. Since being saved as a student, he has desired to share the gospel with those who have little access to it and loves to see people trusting Jesus in all circumstances. He’s been married to Amy since 2006 and they and their two sons have been part of Sovereign Grace since they moved to Bakersfield in 2013. Adam works as a web developer and enjoys serving the church as a deacon and grace group leader. He seeks to walk alongside people in various seasons of life as we point one another to Christ, in line with one of his favorite verses: “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand” (Ps. 37:23-24).
Eric Westerfeld
Deacon
Eric has been attending Sovereign Grace since 2008. While attending he met his wife, Tara. Tara and Eric have been married since 2011. They have three children. Eric has a degree in Ministry Leadership from Moody Bible Institute. Eric works in the construction industry as a project manager. As a deacon, Eric leads the setup & teardown team, ushers, and greeters. He is also a grace group leader. Eric’s passion in life is to support those who are making the Gospel known to the unreached people of the world.