Was it TeamWORK or TeamPLAY? Camp Training with Dr. Jim Cain

Dr. Jim Cain, author, clinician, and all-round camp guru, led 35 of our best volunteers in an amazing and energetic training on Saturday, June 8. Loch Leven was buzzing with excitement for camp as our volunteers played new ice-breakers, teambuilding exercises, and helpful activities to get all of us in the mood for community and learning. 

Dr. Cain spent seven hours with 2019 Summer Camp counselors and directors sharing wisdom that inspires. “It is always better to show and tell than just to tell” said Cain, just before teaching a game that got us all laughing and interacting like old friends. We seamlessly moved from one activity to the next and the learning never stopped. There were so many resources shared that our camps are bound for a fantastic season!

“I have been to dozens of camp trainings at Loch Leven, and this was the best!” Leah Dewey (First Christian Church, Orange)

THANK YOU, Camp Ministry Committee, for making this such a successful training for all of us! We worked hard but it was sooo much fun!

For more information, please visit www.disciplespswr.org/camp or contact Camp Ministry Committee Co-Chairs: Janette Jara and Ian Pollard – pswrcampministry@gmail.com.

See learn more about Dr. Jim Cain and the Teamwork and Teamplay program, please visit: http://www.teamworkandteamplay.com/

Board Calls New Regional Minister – Rev. Richie Sanchez

We are pleased to announce that on Saturday, June 15th, 2019, the Regional Board unanimously and enthusiastically called Rev. Richie Sanchez to serve as the next Regional Minister of the Pacific Southwest Region, and he has accepted the call. Praise God! Richie will complete his service as the Interim Regional Minister of the Arizona Region this summer. He will begin serving in the PSWR in the fall when the term of the current Co-Regional Ministers is completed.

Rev. Richie Sanchez and his wife Jasmine

Next steps include final contract negotiations, introductions at General Assembly and other events, moving (Richie from Arizona and his wife from Indianapolis), and the election of Rev. Sanchez as the President and CEO of the PSWR at the Regional Assembly on October 19, 2019. Please pray for Richie and his wife, Jasmine, and our current Regional staff during this time of transition. Rev. Sanchez’ bio and other information can be found here.

His first day in the Regional Office will be September 23. To Contact Richie, call the Regional Office at or email Janelle (jvannoy@docpswr.org) or Susan (sgdewey@docpswr.org). For more information about the Regional Minister search process, click here.

About Richie Sanchez

Richie Sanchez was born to parents who came to the US from Puerto Rico, and he grew up as a native Spanish speaker in the midst of cultural diversity in Brooklyn, NY. His parents were members of the Disciples of Christ Church and spent his formative years as a member of the First Hispanic Christian Church in Brooklyn, NY.

His conversion experience occurred at 18 years of age, and he developed leadership skills by working in youth and young-adult ministries. These experiences awoke the candidate to answer the call to ministry, after which he served in a number of commissioned roles in local and regional ministry leading up to his formal education in seminary, becoming an ordained Minister in 2015. He has a regular practice of journaling, prayer walks, devotions, and personal retreats, stating that "prayer, stillness, biblical reflection, and rest are my constant."

Download his full bio here.

MILE MARKER #114: A FRESH WIND BLOWING

By Rev. Don Dewey and Rev. Susan Gonzales Dewey, Co-Regional Ministers

“This is what I will do in the last days, God says: I will pour out my Spirit on everyone!” ~ Acts 2:17a 

The Pentecost Season is just around the corner, and there is a fresh wind blowing within the PSWR! 

Christian communities around the world will soon celebrate the season of Pentecost as the birth of the Church. This season commemorates the coming of God’s Holy Spirit to all people in a language that all could understand. This was affirmed in the message of Peter, who quoting the prophet Joel said, “This is what I will do in the last days, God says: I will pour out my Spirit on everyone!” 

For those first disciples, God’s Spirit was experienced like a mighty wind blowing, igniting a fire within them like dry kindling that bursts into flames of Gospel passion! From that moment on, the Good News of Jesus Christ spread like wildfire and over 2000 years later we are once again feeling its power. 

It is a time of transition and transformation with our Region as the mighty wind of God’s Holy Spirit blows in and through us! We are already seeing the signs of new life emerging in places where there appeared only the dry bones of Ezekiel’s prophecy. Places like Oceanside Sanctuary (formerly FCC Oceanside) with the leadership of Jason and Jenell Coker; FCC Santa Barbara and the Way Collective with the leadership of Tim Burnette; Mission Hills CC and the leadership of Ryan Prior; Community Worship Center with the leadership of Ruben and Cindy del Pilar; The Haven (formerly DelHaven CC) with the leadership of Clemette Haskins; Casa de Refugio with the leadership of Francisco Ramos and Soriliz Rodriquez; McCarty Memorial CC with the leadership of Eddie Anderson and Lisa Tunstall; UrbanMission with the leadership of Al Lopez, Nora Jacob and Steven Patten; or FCC Riverside and Iglesia Nueva Vida and the leadership of Matt Harris-Gloyer and Rogelio Martinez. 

The Spirit is moving in our newest church plants: Life Ministries in LA with the leadership of Ronnie Taylor; Missiongathering Pasadena with the leadership of Rich McCullen and Yani Davis; and Beloved CC with the leadership of Dale and Shelly Suggs! Beloved CC has also been recognized by the General Church as a church that has been planted as an example of the 2020 Vision. Read the full article here.

Yes, a fresh wind is blowing and it is a thrilling time of transition and transformation. New and exciting leadership is emerging in our Region with the recent ordinations of Rene Martin, Beth McQuitty, Larry Morris, Rip Rippetoe and Debbie Rice, as well as upcoming ordinations of Cisa Payuyo, VeAnn Clark and Joi Robertson! We also celebrate the Installation of Branden Johnson at FCC Burbank. 

Now with a new Regional Minister soon to be named, the PSWR is ready for an exciting future as God’s Spirit enlivens, empowers and explodes among us in ways we can’t even imagine. We pray that each one of us will catch the Spirit’s fire and be bold in our witness as those first disciples, sharing the good news of God’s love and grace for everyone. 

Friends, our world is hungering for our good news. Good news of a love that heals, forgives, seeks peace, demands justice, acts with compassion, and embraces all unconditionally. This was the transforming power unleashed on that first Pentecost, may it be so again for us and for our world!

Together on the journey,

Don and Susan

Join Us for the Alliance Q Fundraiser

Your Alliance Q PSWR  (previously know as GLAD) would like to extend a gracious invitation to those who bring supportive, new ideas for the LGBTQI communities in our region.  Join us to table at the Regional Gatherings & Assemblies.  Celebrate with our recipients as we award scholarships annually to LGBTQI ministerial students.  Plan with us the fundraisers supplying these scholarships. Laugh & cry with us at meetings noting how far this community has come but how much further we have to go! 

Contact Alliance Q PSWR Chair Susan Richardson at kymomcat@aol.com or
510/506-2590 to make your reservation for this event! 
Download flyer here

Spencer Burke: Launching Common Cause Communities

Greetings colleagues and friends!

Please join me in celebrating a new era of leadership for Hatchery LA. It has been my great pleasure to work alongside Maria French who is stepping into the role of Director as I rotate off PSWR Regional staff. As the ministry of Hatchery LA continues, spurring innovation and being an incubator for Spiritual Entrepreneurs, Maria brings leadership skills that will take Hatchery LA to new levels of scalability and sustainability. I commend our Region for not only developing and supporting existing churches, but also having the foresight and desire to explore strategic programs to reach the next generation in their own language. A big thank to you and our Region for its continued support!

For me, this isn’t “goodbye.” I continue as an ordained Disciples of Christ minister. I will be focusing on and pursuing my personal passion in developing Common Cause Communities in the Pacific Southwest Region and beyond. Let’s keep in touch – visit my website at http://SpencerBurke.com. I covet your prayers and continued support for the amazing work that Hatchery LA is doing, and I look forward to seeing what the next few years hold for each of us and the Region.

Rev. Spencer Burke