Pastors & Ministry Leaders
Ed Noble
Lead PastorAfter growing up in Orange County, Ed lived all over the country before landing in San Diego and at Journey — as a self-professed surf addict, he thanks God every day for ending up here. As the Lead Pastor, Ed provides directional leadership and serves as the primary keeper of the vision. He’s also the main teacher at the weekend services. Ed’s three kids are grown up… so when he’s not working or with his wife Linda, he surfs. A lot.
Erik Dees
Executive Pastor
Erik was born in Ojai, California but was raised in Northern Colorado. Erik spent many years working in the corporate life in Arkansas. Eventually God chose to override all of Erik’s glorious plans to build his own business and called Erik into ministry. Erik is a self- proclaimed “golfaholic” who’s learning to surf, likes fitness, and has a strange fascination with Algebra! Yes, he’s a closet nerd. And although he’s been told he has a serious personality, he considers himself a very funny guy.
Bob Nelson
Operations Pastor
Bob leads the team of people that handles all of our financial, administrative and HR stuff. If it has to do with “business” at JCC, Bob has a hand in it. He helps keep all of our organizational operations in order and running correctly. Bob loves fishing, hiking and pretty much anything to do with the outdoors. He is also an active part of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team — so if you ever get lost, it’ll probably be Bob who finds you.
Chris Rader
Administration Pastor / Care Ministries Pastor
It takes a big heart to serve as the leader of our Pastoral Care Ministries, and Chris has just that — a big heart. Chris leads and oversees our various care ministries, recovery and support groups and helps provide counseling to hurting people. If you hike, you’ve probably run into Chris at some time — he loves the outdoors. The day he moved from Philadelphia to San Diego was one of the happiest days of his life.
David Merk
Community Impact Pastor
Dave did a crazy thing and retired early from a lucrative career with the Port of San Diego and signed on as our Community Impact Pastor…a job that didn’t exist before he took it. He serves as the primary coordinator for our missions and community impact programs. Dave’s heart to see the local church connect with its surrounding community is the driving force behind his work at JCC. Dave loves bike riding and looks down on those who choose to run instead.
John Sorrell
Generation Ministries Pastor
John moved from Singapore, where he was the youth pastor at an international church for the last five years. Before that, he was a youth pastor in Beijing, China, for nine years. John was born and raised in Ohio (Go Bengals!) and is currently working on a Ph.D. His wife, Katie, and their 2 daughters are getting used to being back in the United States. He loves spending time with his family and wants to learn how to surf.
Kristy Dees
Global Missions & Prayer Ministries Pastor
Kristy was born in Pine City, MinneSoooooota. She is the classic Midwestern turned California girl. Indeed she was a small town girl, living in a lonely world whose trains took her all around the world. She has a huge heart for people who are hurting and has worked in some pretty interesting places, including Angola, Africa for several years! Kristy loves the ocean, dystopian novels, and twirling.
Trevor Davis
Worship Leader
San Diego native Trevor Davis not only knows this city like the back of his hand, but loves San Diego city with all his heart. As a high schooler, Trevor learned to play worship songs, then shortly after began writing his own original music which led to him becoming a full time touring musician. Playing hundreds of churches over the years, Trevor has always been a little infatuated with Journey. After years of Trevor stalking us, we finally let him in as one of our own.
