Matthew Cork

Pastor Matthew Cork is the Senior Pastor of Friends Church in Yorba Linda where he has served in his role since 2007 and served the church since 1992. With a BA and MA from Azusa Pacific University, Pastor Cork has led the development of Friends Church into 6 campuses located in Orange County and Riverside.

Matthew also serves as the Superintendent of the Friends Southwest family of 38 churches, bringing vision and growth to the region. As an author, Pastor Cork has published two books: Why Not Today and Broken for Good, both available on Amazon.

In addition to his work in the United States, Pastor Cork champions hope and freedom for the most marginalized people of India through the work of Dignity Freedom Network (DFN). Under his leadership, Friends Church continues to build educational centers and bring holistic transformation to the world.

Matthew and wife Mardi were married 28 years Oct. 22, 2023.  They are the proud parents of three adult children Nolan, Sophie, and Ella.

Dr. Greg & Erin Smalley

Dr. Greg Smalley serves as the vice president of Marriage and Family Formation at Focus on the Family. He is the best-selling author of 17 books and co-creator of the premarital curriculum “Ready to Wed” with his wife, Erin. As the program manager for Focus on the Family’s marriage ministry, Erin Smalley develops content for the marriage department. The Smalleys have four children.

David Gaulton

David Gaulton is a Worship Leader, Songwriter, and Ministry Leader from Southern California. Over the past 20 years David has traveled locally and internationally leading worship, writing and producing 10 worship albums, and worked with local churches to develop thriving worship leaders and ministries.  With a heart to see the Church awakened and mobilized to be the hands and feet of Jesus, David and his wife, Leah, co-founded the Jesus Use Me Movement in 2015, with a vision to inspire young people to live for Jesus in everyday life. David and Leah have two amazing children, Joseph and Sarah.

Tim Lukei

Tim Lukei is the Men’s Pastor of Mariners Church in Irvine California. He has over 20 years of ministry experience and has been on staff at Mariners since 2008. Tim has been married to Korrie since 2006 and has 3 kids (Maverick, Sawyer, Greenlee).

They live by the beach and enjoy all things in and out of the ocean, and love to travel and create family adventures. Tim is a dynamic leader with an entrepreneurial approach to ministry that has proven successful repeatedly at Mariners.

Tim believes when you activate the heart of men and they encounter Jesus everything changes. The marriage is changed, the fathering is changed, the workplace, the neighborhood, and the church all becomes better.

Eric Wakeling

Eric Wakeling is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Church of Santa Ana where he has served for almost 24 years in various roles. Eric has been married to Bea for 28 years and they have two young-adult daughters that they love deeply. He graduated from Biola University and Talbot School of Theology with degrees in Christian Ministry, Leadership and Biblical Studies. He is also the author of God Joy – a book all about finding freedom from guilt and strength in suffering. Eric enjoys surfing, triathlons, laughing a little loud, too many Christmas lights, and enjoying a great meal with family and friends. 

Eric also has a heart for global missions and has the privilege to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Greater Europe Mission International, a missions agency seeking to reach Europe by multiplying disciples for Christ.

Santosh Swamidass

Santosh Swamidass is the founder of Launching Ground and Launch Network and the architect of Project-Based Discipleship. He is deeply passionate about creating discipleship systems that equip the next generation, particularly within the family unit. By integrating his engineering background with his pastoral heart, Santosh develops innovative tools and frameworks that help families and churches intentionally follow Jesus with purpose and passion.

Born and raised in Southern California, as the son of Indian immigrants who lived on mission, Santosh’s upbringing shaped his global vision for sharing the hope of Jesus. A former Olympic hopeful in high jump, he earned full academic and athletic scholarships to UC Irvine, graduating with a degree in Computer Engineering. He balanced a decade-long career in the aerospace industry with missions outreach in Southeast Asia.

With over 25 years of ministry experience, Santosh has focused on planting churches, developing leaders, and fostering vibrant spiritual communities. His work centers on helping families embrace discipleship as a lifestyle through streamlined and compelling systems rooted in biblical truth. Santosh and his wife, Christy, are doing their best to prepare their seven children to be for godly influencers through passionate pursuit of Christ.

Aaron Kellim

Aaron Kellim is a singer/songwriter and worship leader from Los Angeles, CA.  He has been creating music and leading worship since he was sixteen, and has traveled the country playing with bands such as Switchfoot and OneRepublic.  Aaron is currently writing new music and leading worship at churches across the Los Angeles and San Diego areas.  Aaron has been married to his beautiful wife, Kristin, for seven years, and has two rescue pups, Waino and BB.

Eden Fine

First and foremost, Eden Fine is a husband and dad—his favorite roles in life. He and his wife, Brittany, are raising their 6 children in a home filled with faith, adventure, and a touch of chaos. A pastor and church planter, Eden has spent years discipling others and equipping families to grow in their faith.

Growing up as a pastor’s kid, Eden developed a love for ministry early on, later attending a discipleship school in Austria before serving as a youth pastor for a decade. He furthered his education through Re-Train, earning a Certificate in Missional Leadership, and is currently pursuing his Master’s in Biblical Studies.

In 2019, Eden and Brittany joined a church in Scottsdale, where he served in various pastoral roles until stepping out in 2025 to plant Veil Church. Alongside their ministry work, Eden and Brittany wrote a parenting curriculum and developed a five-part video series, which they had the privilege of teaching to over 200 couples over the past few years.

Eden might be the most outgoing introvert you’ll ever meet—deeply invested in people, always up for a theological debate, but just as happy recharging with a good book (preferably Pilgrim’s Progress) and a strong cup of coffee. He loves photography, discovering hidden-gem restaurants with Brittany, and helping families build a strong foundation in Christ.