LifePointe Christian Church

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Our Staff

Chris Delfs
Senior Pastor
chris@lifepointe.org

Family:
Married to beautiful wife Heather for 17 years. We have three children. Cobie (11), Cameron (9) and Cali Ann (4).

Ministry Experience:
10 years serving as Youth Pastor in 3 churches.
-First Christian Church in Napa, CA;
-Sylvan Oaks Christian Church in Citrus Heights, CA;
-Christ Church of the Valley (CCV) in San Dimas, CA.

Planted LifePointe Christian Church February 23, 2003 and have served as Senior Pastor since that time.

Book/Author Recommendations:
All time favorite book: Devotional Classics edited by Richard Foster and JB Smith.

I recommend and love to read any book by Richard Foster, Andy Stanley, Bill Hybels and Patrick Lencioni. My favorite two authors are Gene Edwards and Randy Alcorn. I highly recommend reading EVERY book these two authors have written. My favorite series is The First Century Diaries by Gene Edwards. One of the most impactful books I’ve read is "Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ" by Jeanne Guyon.

Fun Facts:
I’m a somewhat bizarre “ambidextrous” person with regard to sports. When I play tennis, I serve right but play left. If I play right, I hit the ball over the fence. I have a left-handed backhand slice, but if I use my right hand as a backhand, I can’t slice so I would use two hands and hit it pretty hard. I can’t use a two-handed backhand when I play left.

In golf, I prefer to play left-handed but putt right handed. If I only have access to right handed clubs, I can use those and actually hit the ball a lot farther. However, when I get closer to the green, I don’t have good control of my swing and tend to always sail the green (if I’m playing right handed). So – if I could create my own set, I would use right-handed woods, left-handed irons and a right-handed putter.

Highlights:
I love spending time with my wife and kids. We enjoy board games (current fad is playing backgammon), water sports, backpacking, camping, bike rides and just about anything else outdoors. I coach my kids in various sports. I love to read and also watch movies or mini-series based on true stories. My favorite personal activity is waterskiing.

Favorite Scripture:
John 10:10 and Philippians 1:6

Favorite Type of Music:
If I had to choose, I suppose I would pick “alternative” as my favorite type. I prefer good quality music that demonstrates the skill of the musicians. The less “singing” the better!

Trey Hinkle
Associate Pastor
trey@lifepointe.org

Family:
Married to Peggy Hinkle, April 13, 1996; two girls – Jayana, born June 15, 1997, and Donovanne, born November 2, 2000

Ministry Experience:
-Associate Pastor, Clovis Christian Church, 1991-1996
-Early Teen Pastor, First Christian Church of Napa, 1996-2000
-Celebration Arts Pastor, First Christian Church of Napa, 2000-2001
-Community Pastor, First Christian Church of Napa, 2001-2003

Book/Author Recommendations:
"Velvet Elvis" by Rob Bell; "The Shack" by William P. Young

Fun Facts:
Can fit a whole Big Mac (or Double/Double) in my mouth (one bite); Great Aunt was Gale Storm, of early radio and television fame; very much into drama and can be seen in productions in Sacramento from time-to-time. I have traveled to England, Canada, and Mexico

Highlights:
I am passionately in love with teaching Junior High students; playing the piano for worship; acting; spending time with my family

Favorite Scripture:
Romans 12:18 “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, leave at peace with everyone.” Favorite book of the Bible: 2 Corinthians

Favorite Type of Music:
MOST types of music I love, probably in this order: Classic Rock (Floyd, Zep, The Who, late Beatles, etc.), Broadway Musical, The 80’s, Classical (Beethoven, John Williams, Mozart, Danny Elfman), Country Rock… not that much into Hip Hop or Rap, sorry.

Darla Blanton
Children’s Director
darla@lifepointe.org

Family:
Married to Mike Blanton. I have six kids and eight grandsons and one granddaughter

Ministry Experience:
Director of Christian school for 19 years

Book/Author Recommendations:
I don’t have a favorite author. I love reading and so many different things.

Fun Facts:
It took me 8 years to finish my degree because I had 3 young children at home and worked full time. I took classes at night while teaching Sunday school and Mission Friends. My beautiful Christian mother was such an example. She served, read her Bible every day and lived for the Lord. A Christian mother is such a gift from God.

Highlights:
Went to college in San Diego and I am a Child Development major.

Favorite Scripture:
Matthew 19:14- But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.”

Favorite Type of Music:
I really love Christian Music, especially praise songs.

Andrew Crane
Director of Music and Media
andrew@lifepointe.org

Family:
Married for two years to Michelle. We have one child, our precious daughter Grace (7 months old)

Ministry Experience:
I have served at LifePointe Church of Elk Grove since 2003. Prior to that, I served as youth/music intern at Grace Community Church in Roswell, NM

Book/Author Recommendations:
Anything by Louie Giglio or Andy Stanley. I love CS Lewis books. “The Heart of the Artist” by Rory Noland and “The Match” by Mark Frost, a golf book that is fabulous.

Fun Facts:
My wife and I are die-hard San Francisco Giants fans. We go to multiple games a year and prefer the rowdy, authentic fans of the bleacher seats to fancy seats in a stuffy luxury suite.

Highlights:
I enjoy playing golf and basketball. We love playing family games, specifically dominoes and Sequence. Scrabble is high on the list, although I have only defeated my wife once in all the time we’ve been married. It was a sweet win though. We enjoy going to movies, specifically "roll on the floor" comedies. We love to laugh.

Favorite Scripture:
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2

Favorite Type of Music:
My favorite band of all time is The Dave Matthews Band. I guess you would describe that style to Rock fused with Pop, Jazz and some Classical elements. I also like U2, John Mayer, Michael W. Smith, Neil Diamond just to name a few.

Mary Jane Morrison
Admin Assistant/Communications Lead
mj@lifepointe.org

Family:
Married to Eric for 12years. We have two children, Kylie (10) and Ian (7 ½)

Ministry Experience:
I have recently come on board here at LifePointe. Taught Sunday School for 6 years. Past work experience included being a Human Resource Manager. I graduated with a B.A. from the University of Oregon and an M.S. in Human Resources from Golden Gate University.

Book/Author Recommendations:
"The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz, "The Shack" by William P. Young.

Fun Facts:
I love the University of Oregon Ducks and PAC-10 football in general. I enjoy gardening, cooking and scrapbooking. I am addicted to drinking water and I can wiggle my ears..

Highlights:
Our family is very busy with our kid's activities from soccer, baseball and swim team to boy and girl scouts. When we are not running around from their sporting events, we enjoy spending time together in the outdoors.

Favorite Scripture:
Philippians 4:8 "Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

Favorite Type of Music:
My absolute favorite band is U2 and I have seen them in concert 4 times. I love 80's music (alternative and rock), John Mayer, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Sarah McLachlan, Neil Diamond and Tom Petty. My husband and I really enjoy attending all types of concerts together. Our family also enjoys listening to contemporary christian music together, in fact all four of us just recently attended the Casting Crowns concert.