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 two children and one grandson.
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.
Seth Jacobs
Youth Pastor
Seth began his role as a youth pastor at Sovereign Grace, Fall 2022. He has been working in the Kern High School District as a Special Education Teacher since 2021. He is currently in the process of obtaining an M.A. at the Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies. Seth’s desire is to proclaim and rejoice in the Gospel continually, pointing others to the God, “who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Cor. 1:4).” He has been married to his wife Breana since 2019, and they have one son.
John Bryant
Elder
The Bryant family has been attending Sovereign Grace since 2012. In 2013, John became an elder at the church. 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!”
Marlo Bryant
Administrative Assistant
The Bryant family has been attending Sovereign Grace since 2012. Marlo has served in various roles at the church and is now directing the children’s ministry and helping with administration. John and Marlo have been married since 1990 and have three children.
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)
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.