meet our team
Pastors & Ministry Leaders
Ed Noble
Lead Pastor
After 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.
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.
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.
Chris Rader
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.
