Our Staff

Dr. Cody Gunderson
Senior Pastor

Cody has served as Senior pastor for Yosemite Lakes Community Church for 28 years.  He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from West Coast Bible College, a Master of Divinity from Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, and Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Pastor Cody’s passion is equipping and mobilizing the church family in developing relationships, strengthening families and spreading the Good News of Jesus.  Cody’s background and life experience is a great asset for ministering in the Mountain area.  The Christian Broadcasting Network , CBN, produced a video of Cody’s life story; showing how God took a life headed in the wrong direction and turned it around to make a difference in the lives of others. 

When Cody isn’t preaching and teaching he enjoys spending time with his family, snow skiing, and horses. Cody and his wife, Cheryl, reside in Coarsegold with their children.

Pastor Tom Dever
Assistant Pastor

Tom, our Assistant Pastor, began ministry with us in October of 2001.  He has a Bachelors Degree in Management and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Redlands in Redlands CA.  He was Ordained through Evangelical Church Alliance at our church in December 2005. 

Tom came to us from Community Baptist Church, now Journey of Faith, Manhattan Beach, CA. where he was Administration Pastor for six years.  He was also the Children’s Director and Assistant Administrator of Calvary Baptist Church of Gardena, CA. for ten years.  Between the two church ministries Tom was the Administrative Manager for Western Federal Credit Union for six years.

Tom and his wife Lynn enjoy living in Yosemite Lakes Park with their two daughters. 

Pastor Brenda Heckman
Children's Ministries

Brenda comes from a family of seven ministers.  At the age of nine she learned ventriloquism.  She started a clown ministry, puppet ministry and was very active in drama and choir. From the time she was ten to eighteen, she taught Vacation Bible School for her relatives during the summer.  At seventeen she traveled with Heart Family of Nashville Tennessee, performing in forty eight states, Walt Disney World and the Caribbean.  In her senior year she was voted Miss Fresno County, which provided her a scholarship for college.  She has an AA degree from Fresno City College, has taken courses at West Coast Bible College and is currently finishing up course requirements with Evangelical Church Alliance.  Brenda began attending YLCC in March of 1996 and came on staff as Children’s Pastor December of 1997.  She is responsible for children from birth through sixth grade.  Her duties include oversight of the Nursery, Sunday School, AWANA, after school Extended Learning and Recreation,(ELAR), week day Preschool and Day Camp.  Brenda and her husband Ernie live with their children in the Coarsegold area.

Pastor Mike Unger
Youth Ministries

Mike & his wife Heather come to us from Vancouver, B.C. Canada where Mike served as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police before moving to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (Canada’s F.B.I.)

 After serving with youth in Hanford/Lemoore for two years, Mike took on the role as Pastor of Student Ministries at Yosemite Lakes Community Church in October 2005. Mike received a Bachelor of Theological Studies from Bethany Divinity College and Seminary, 2005. 

 Mike’s re-launch of Student Ministries for 2006 has created a renewed excitement in the Youth Program.  We are looking forward to see what God has planned for our youth as Mike leads these future leaders on their journey.

Karin Sayre
Christian Preschool Director

Pastor Dale Scott
Pastor of Pastoral Care
 

Dale Scott was born and raised near Childress, Texas.  While hitch-hiking across the Texas Panhandle, in a small motel room, Dale found a Gideon Bible and the meaning of life through its pages.  He served in the Navy for four years and was very active in San Diego 1^st Baptist.  After the service he went to California Baptist University and earned a BA Degree in General Education. He then felt the call into the ministry and continued his education at California Theological Seminary in Covina, CA where he received his Masters of Religious Education Degree.    

Dale was lucky enough to meet his wife to be, Betty, a Biola Graduate, and married her in 1950.  Dale & Betty became teachers in the Baptist Day School movement in the Los Angeles area. Dale continued his education and received his Administrator’s Credential while going to night school at California State University.  He became the active President of all Baptist Day Schools Teachers of California.  For twenty years Dale worked at First Baptist Church in Van Nuys, CA as principle and in the pastoral care ministry.

Jason Von Wagner
Pastor of Programming Arts
 

Jason is a committed Christian, who has a passion for worship and ministry to people. Jason was born in Merced, California October 13^th, 1979.  At the age of eight, Jason and his family moved to Bass Lake, California. He attended Bass Lake Elementary, and learned to play the saxophone in the school band. At fourteen Jason began to play the guitar and attending Yosemite High School. He graduated high school and continued his education at Merced Community College for two years.

          Jason decided to move, with his parents, in 2001 to Yosemite Lakes Park and began attending Yosemite Lakes Community Church with his family.  Jason joined the worship team in September of 2001 and served on that team for five years. At the end of his first year he also joined and led the youth group worship team. Jason worked with the youth worship team with his girl friend, Jennifer, who in July of 2003 became his wife.