Meet the Staff
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Mike Fabarez, Senior Pastor
Pastor Mike is the founding pastor of Compass Bible Church. Mike and his wife Carlynn grew up in Long Beach, California. Carlynn and Mike have three children, Matthew, John and Stephanie. Read More...
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Pete Lasutschinkow, Associate Pastor
Pete grew up in Connecticut and came to California to complete an undergraduate degree in Business management from Pepperdine University. Pastor Pete has also studied preaching and biblical counseling with Jay Adams at the Westminster Theological Seminary, and earned his Master's degree in Biblical Exposition at Talbot School of Theology. Read More...
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Bobby Blakey, High School Pastor
Bobby is a High School Pastor with a passion to help young people follow Christ with a love for God and his word. Pastor Bobby and his wife, Christa, are graduates of the Master's College in Newhall, California. Bobby and Christa have a baby son named Tyler. Read More...
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Lucas Pace, Jr. High Pastor
Lucas was raised in Southern California in a large Christ-centered family. Lucas is committed to helping young people understand the call of God's word to follow Christ. Pastor Lucas is married to his wife Heather. Read More...
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Jon Benzinger, Young Adults Pastor
Jon holds a Bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies from Vanguard University and a Master of Arts degree in Apologetics from Trinity Law & Graduate School. Jon also earned a Master of Divinity degree from The Master's Seminary in Sun Valley, California. Before serving at Compass Jon worked for Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California and as an adjunct professor of Religion at Vanguard University. Read More...
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Bent Christiansen, Director of Missions
Bent is a Southern California native and UCLA alum, where he completed his undergraduate degree in Business Economics. After completing his degree, he worked for several years as a management and business consultant before entering The Master’s Seminary, where he graduated with both his Master of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees, specializing in OT studies. Read More...
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Susan Grover, Director of Kids Ministry
Susan is a graduate of Biola University and is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Christian Education at Talbot School of Theology. Susan is married to her husband, Evan and has one son, Isaiah. Read More...
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Rick Talcott, Business Administrator
In addition to the management of Finance and Accounting Departments at Compass, Rick is active in providing leadership in several ministries throughout the church. Rick is married to Debra and has four grown children and three grandchildren. Read More...
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Jess Williams, Director of Men's Ministry
Jess oversees the many facets of our Men's Ministry at Compass Bible Church. Jess and his wife, Christiane, have three daughters, Brittany, Brooke and Breeana. Read More...
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Stephanie Schwartz, Director of Women's Ministry
Stephanie earned her Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from California State University Long Beach. Stephanie and her husband Richard have three children: Benjamin, Hannah and Abigail. Read More...
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Gus Ferreira, Director of Communications
Gus is native Californian who received his Bachelor's degree in Computer and Video Imaging from Cogswell Polytechnical College in Sunnyvale, California. Gus is married to his wife, Cami, who is also active in the ministry at Compass. Read More...
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Diana Nichol, Office Manager
Diana is a native Californian who received her Bachelor's degree in English from San Diego State University. Diana and her husband Robert have two grown children and two grandchildren. Read More...
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George Igawa, Chaplain
George is a retired Los Angeles City Firefighter, having served the community for twenty-five years. George is married to Diana and has three children: Jason, Kristin and Leighton. Read More...
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Ramiro De La Riva, Pastor CBC Hispanic Church
Ramiro De La Riva, was born and raised in Bolivia. He graduated as a biotechnologist in radiology from the University of Mayor San Adres in La Paz, Bolivia. Ramiro also completed four years of biblical studies at the Hispanic Center for Theological Studies, where he graduated with a degree in family counseling and a Bachelor in Christian Ministry. Read More...
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Ruth Staggs, Assistant to the Senior Pastor
Ruth was born in Munich and spent her early childhood in Germany. Since moving to the United States, she has been a resident of Southern California. Ruth and her husband, Cory, reside in San Clemente. Read More...
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Marci Harnish, Accountant
Marci is married to her husband, Michael, with whom she has raised five sons. Before serving at Compass as an Accountant, Marci was a Deputy Sheriff with the county of Orange for 15 years. Read More...
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Eric Ellingson, Technical Director
Eric is responsible for the technology that supports the ministries at Compass and is the lead technician of the Tech Team. He was born in Texas, raised in seven states across the United States and has spent the last nine years in Southern California. He earned his Bachelors of Arts from Biola University in Biblical and Theological Studies. Read More...
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Talton Tait, Director of Facilities
Tait was born in Birmingham Alabama and served in the United States Marine Corp for six years. He is an experienced facilities director and has worked for a number of churches and schools as a director of facilities. Read More...
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Debbie Schreiner, Assistant to Kids Ministry
Before serving at Compass, Debbie earned her Bachelor's degree from Messiah College in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Debbie and her husband Steve reside in Laguna Niguel. Read More...
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Lindsey Sromalla, Assistant to Jr High and Young Adult Ministries
Lindsey is a native of Orange County who received her Bachelors’ degrees in Criminal Law and Psychology from the University of California, Irvine. Before serving at CBC, she was a nanny and personal assistant for a family in Newport Coast. Lindsey is married to Chris and the couple resides in Mission Viejo. Read More...
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Julie Studebaker, Assistant High School Ministry
Before taking the position of High School Ministry Assistant, Julie has enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom. She has also worked at a law office and as a licensed manicurist for many years. Julie and her husband Jim love to fellowship and serve at Compass Bible Church. Read More...
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Rose White, Early Childhood Weekend Kids Coordinator
Rose is a native of San Diego. She was a Filght Attendant for Northwest Airlines for 22 years. Rose is married to Jeff and they have two girls, Juliana and Felicia. Rose was a monitor at Saddleback Valley Christian Early Childhood Center for one school year before serving as the Early Childhood Coordinator at CBC. The White family lives in Dana Point. Read More...
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Pamela Ricci, Receptionist
Before serving at Compass, Pam was the Orange County Sales Administrator for Lawyers Title in Irvine. Prior to that she worked in the Banking Industry for over 30 years, 25 years of that time in management. Pam has two grown children and 10 grandchildren. Read More...
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Kevin Finney, Facilities manager
Kevin is a conscientious employee who works diligently to make sure the facilities are properly setup and ready for use by the many ministries at Compass Bible Church. Read More...
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Aimee Cowell, Thursday Night Kids Coordinator
Aimee is a native Californian who received her Bachelor's degree in Physical Education from California State University, Fullerton. Aimee and her husband Tim have two young children: Braden and Morgan. The Cowells live in Laguna Hills. Read More...
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Debbie Hackett, Bookstore Manager
Debbie worked for 15 years as an Account Executive for an engineering firm before becoming a stay-at-home mom to raise and homeschool her son. Because of her passion for books she has worked in the book industry for seven years in various capacities. Read More...
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Ben Blakey, Assistant High School Pastor
Ben graduated from The Master’s College with a degree in Political Studies, but involvement in ministry and trips to Israel and Uganda during his college years began to grow his desire to pursue full-time ministry. Read More...
