Church Leadership

Pastor - Dan Schaeffer

Hello! I’m Dan, and I’m one of the pastors here at Shoreline. I have been blissfully married to my wife, Annette, for these last 37 years and counting. We have three adult children and two grandchildren, and a large and rather hefty big brown dog. Of course, that’s not why I’m a pastor.

When I was a young man, I visited a small church whose members loved me into their community and demonstrated the love of Jesus Christ to me. Later, I met that same Jesus myself, and learned He had been seeking me. Since then, as a pastor, I’ve had the privilege of sharing the wonderful Bible truths that led me to Jesus. I really hope you can join us some Sunday where I can share the amazing grace of God that I’ve experienced with you.

Pastor - Jon Harris

Some friends call me J-Har and our students call me Papa Jon. My family and I have been at Shoreline for over 10 years now. It has been a joy to live, love and serve at Shoreline.

I love God, I love my family and I love people. I love to play/watch sports and go to the beach. My passion in life is to help people find their way to God and to be there for people when they are going through the winding roads of life. It is a blessing to be a part of God’s plan in furthering His Kingdom here in Santa Barbara and at Shoreline Community Church. One characteristic that drew my wife and I here to Shoreline was the warmth and friendliness of everyone at Shoreline. They are so caring. I hope you can come and visit us soon.

Pastor - Edwin Tello

My name is Edwin Rolando Tello Calderon; I was born in Guatemala City on August 15, 1956.

My parents took me to church when I was 8 years old, when I turned 9 years old I received Jesus in my heart at Sunday school. When I was 13 years old I was baptized and began to take piano lessons that the church provided. At the age of 14 ½ I started playing the piano for the major choir and did it for a long time. In the year 1974 I started my own Christian music group named Sublime Inspiration. In 1976 Guatemala suffered the largest earthquake in its history, more than 25,000 people died, especially in the poor rural area. Due to this earthquake communities started building little houses made of nylon and cardboard in the soccer field. God put in my heart work in one of those areas named 4 de Febrero (February 4th the date of the earthquake). After several years of social work we started having bible studies and worship and that’s how we funded the church Casa Sobre la Roca, in which God called me to shepherd. I found myself in need of studying theology to have a better training in the Christian ministry. With the help and support of the Evangelical Free Church of Newbury Park California (now with the name The Bridge), in the year 1990 I entered the seminary SETECA (CAM), and since then I was recognized as a missionary from this church, performing several evangelistic projects along with youth groups sent every year to Guatemala. I kept supporting my church part time because the studies monopolized most of my time. In 2000 after finishing my baccalaureate and bachelor’s degree I started a Bible Training Center for Pastors in the rural area (BTCP). This program has been running for 19 years in Guatemala and 12 years in Cuba. I trained young pastors to become teachers and now they do the teaching work and praise God the program continues.

In 2017 we saw the need to leave Guatemala our country, and I came to work with The Bridge Church as an associate pastor in the Spanish area. In January 2021 I came to Shoreline Community Church to be the Spanish Pastor.

Immigrant Hope Santa Barbara Director - Diane Martinez

Love the Lord with all your heart, all your mind, all your strength and love your neighbor as yourself is the calling the Lord has put on my heart and reminds me that I can only do that when I rely upon Him and His strength. My favorite verse which I repeat often is "The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it." 1 Thessalonians 5:24. My neighbors are the children, families and immigrants that are in the surrounding community of Shoreline church and my home. In addition to this calling, the Lord has given me my husband Craig, two sons, two great daughter-in-laws and three grandchildren. I am an avid reader and love to cook as well as take long walks with my husband and dog. Beach walks are the best!

Administrator - Vickie Ascolese

There is such joy in service! I believe the role of administrator is to lift administrative burdens from those working directly in the field - pastors, elders, and outreach teams the church supports - so they can focus more completely on tending to the their flocks and the Lord's harvest. To be able to serve others after retirement and to work daily and openly with a fantastic team of believers…honestly, it's getting to live Psalm 100 every day!

When I'm not serving in the church office, as point person for missions, or at the tech board on Sunday mornings, I enjoy living in Santa Barbara with long walks and hikes, good stories, good music, good coffee, dreaming up places to visit, and most importantly, doing it all with my best friend, my husband, Rick.

Elder - Gary Ponto

My wife Vicki and I were both born in the same hospital in Pomona just five weeks apart. We were in the same kindergarten class and she was my date to Senior Prom. We reconnected at our 25 high school reunion. Unfortunately each of these events separated by many years, even decades of separation. We have now been married now for over 23 years. No more interruptions! We share five children, several grandchildren and two small white dogs: litter mates Max and Abby.

I received an M.D. degree from USC and have practiced diagnostic pathology in Santa Barbara since 1981.

I grew up in a loving Christian family. I have no memory of not being in a church family, of not believing in God or of not knowing Christ as my Savior - even in the darkest hours. I believe that while there are many useful sources of information available to us in this “modern” world, the Bible is the standard by which everything we believe must be measured. The Bible is not a source of our faith, it is the source.

Shoreline Church is a wonderful and welcoming home for many Christian believers. Perhaps this should be your home also.

Elder - Larry Tibbetts

I was blessed to grow up in Santa Barbara and drove by this lovely church for years thinking it was some stuffy estate. After coming to the Lord and a few years of knocking around I have come to know and be blessed by the loving church family of Shoreline. Stuffy? Absolutely NOT! Full of love? YES! As one of the elders, I am privileged to serve the congregation and desire that each of us use our gifts in service to our Lord. I invite you to seek your gifts and find how rewarding it can be! I earnestly seek the Lord’s guidance and welcome all inputs from each of us to help the congregation meet Shoreline’s goal of developing fully devoted followers of Christ. Please join us for the investment in your life - The close relationship with our Lord Jesus!

Elder - Gregg Wilson

My wife, Carol, and I have attended Shoreline Community Church for 25 years and we are fortunate to have our three children and our grandkids live in town. We love our congregation and the many ministries that our church has to offer. I was a college coach for over 40 years and love to share my faith and journey with others as they seek the Lord. I can truly say that our staff, elders and Shoreline family members welcome everyone that visits, and you will see that we are joyfully furthering the Lord's work in Santa Barbara.

Please join us any Sunday at 10:30am for fellowship, meaningful worship and an uplifting sermon, all of which are evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work at Shoreline Community Church.