Staff
Lead Servant
Sam Sarkissian
|
Samuel Sarkissian (sar-kiss-yen) is the Pastor and one of the founders of this church. Sam was raised in Fresno and moved to Los Angeles for several years after graduating from Bullard High School. Since High School, he has been involved in various kinds of ministries. Along the way he picked up some more diplomas, which you can ask him about if you want to know more. He lives in the Sunnyside area with his wife Annette, their tri-lingual daughter Nairi, sons Elijah, Arax and Ezekiel. Sam and Annette met in seminary while they were taking a New Testament Greek class. |
|
Education: Undergraduate, English Literature. Graduate, Christian Apologetics, Divinity. Favorite movies: The Mission, The Thin Red Line, The Last of the Mohican’s, Cinderella Man and Sea Biscuit.
Favorite mortal authors: Don Richardson, Ralph Ellison, Calvin Miller, and John Steinbeck.
Basketball teams: Fresno State and Los Angeles Lakers
Baseball team: San Francisco Giants
Football team: Minnesota Vikings
|
Children’s Pastor & Administrative Assistant to the Pastor
Melissa Bergen
| Melissa’s been on staff at The Grove since April 2009. Since graduating with an Intercultural Studies degree, she has served with Mennonite Central Committee, Youth for Christ and Mennonite Church USA before being offered a full time position at The Grove. She has a heart for the 50+ Grove kids and enjoys directing their handbell choir, watching them light up as they learn about God in Sunday School and getting knocked down by them when they race up to her whenever and where ever they see her!
|
Associate Pastor
Rick Moser
Rick and his wife Kathy came with Sam and Annette to help plant The Grove four years ago. Rick felt called to full time ministry in 2007 and began his internship in October of 2008. In the Spring of 2010, Rick became the first Associate Pastor of The Grove.
