PASTOR CHUCK WYSONG, SENIOR PASTOR
I grew up in Southern California and accepted Christ into my life as a 7 year old at a Vacation Bible School. When I was in the 11th grade I went to a high school Christian camp and it was there that I knew God was calling me into the ministry. I graduated from high school and got involved with a high school ministry called Youth for Christ. Graduated from Cal State Fullerton and went to Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena California where I graduated with a Master’s of Divinity. I served for over 20 years as a youth pastor in local churches and then as the National Director of Youth Ministry for the Evangelical Covenant Church. It was there that I received my call to be a church planter. In June, 2005 our family was blessed to receive a call to move to Roseville, California and be the lead pastor of Bayside West Community Church. I am married to my best friend, Gale and we have four awesome kids, Stephen, Tyler, Benjamin and Grace.
CHUCK VAN VLEET, CHAIRMAN
I gave my life to Christ in 1977 while a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes during High School. In 1996, I was baptized at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. My family is comprised of my wife Angie, and two boys; Alex 8 and Jordan. We have been attending Bayside West Community Church since the first preview service, although we have missed a few Sundays along the way. Currently Angie serves in Children’s Ministry and participates in a Women’s small group, while I participate in a Men’s small group and serve on the Set-up/Tear-down team, the Financial Integrity Team and the Leadership Team which is a crew called to serve God and assist Pastor Chuck and his staff.
MELANIE KNAPP, VICE-CHAIR
I accepted Christ as my personal Savior at the ripe old age of 6. I was baptized on July 23, 1976 when our family was at a church family camp. I enjoyed our church youth group and later moved to San Diego to go to college. I was involved with several outreach ministries and bible studies at Horizon Church in San Diego. Along this path I have been on, I have taken several wrong turns, but God has proven his love and grace to me through each step. I am blessed to be married to my husband Greg for ten years. We have a blended family. God is working to weave our family together in a very unique way. We have three amazing kids Brandon, Madison, and Andrew. We attended Bayside West Community Church on the first preview service and have been here ever since. Greg has served on the Rolling Thunder Team and Men’s Golf. I have had the pleasure of serving on Special Events, Women’s Ministry and Youth. I am excited to be apart of this church family and cannot wait to see what God has in store for our church as we seek His will.
JEFF OTT, FINANCIAL OFFICER
I’ve been blessed to have grown up surrounded by Godly people. My grandparents were a huge part of my childhood Christianity. I accepted Christ when I was 13. However, I was in and out of churches during my teenage years. While I had good roots, I was not prepared for what the world would throw at me during my late teens and 20’s. However, God has been with me all along and has always brought me back to himself. I was baptized on Easter of 2000 at Crossroads Community Churchin San Jose. I married my high school sweetheart and we have been blessed with 3 wonderful boys: Nicholas, Cameron and Dominic. We have been attending Bayside West since 2006. I am a CPA and small business owner and I use these gifts in the service of our Lord. I have served on the setup/tear down team, financial integrity team (FIT), lighting team, led the PowerPoint team and I have served as the BRIX treasurer. You will also see my wife Cristi serving on the greeting team. We have been so blessed to be a part of the Bayside West family.
BRITTNEY THOMAS, SECRETARY
I was greatly privileged to accept Jesus Christ as my Savior at the age of 8, although it wasn’t until I was in junior high when I started regularly attending Community Covenant Churchin Rocklin. It was through incredible mentors and pastors that I came to know Jesus as more than just Savior, but Lord and friend. I was baptized in this ministry and through many high school mission trips and service projects, our wonderful God started changing and developing my heart toward serving in ministry/missions.
The Lord continued to define and shape my calling through my college years at Westmont and blessed me with the opportunity to work in church ministry (youth / college, missions), teach public high school and complete my DiscipleshipTraining Schoolwith Mercy Ships before leading me back to grad school. I choose medicine as my career tool to serve God’s kingdom, and I am so thankful God allowed me that training!
After obtaining my degree in medicine as a PA, the Lord has called and enabled me to serve in several health settings, including with Mercy Ships in several countries. While with that ministry, I lived in Hondurasfor four years and co-directed the Global Missions Health Institute. This opportunity to live in and serve in another country was a great joy, but I also experienced many trials and it was incredible journey of faith, stretching and learning to truly depend on God in all things.
I returned to Rocklin in May of 2008 and have been attending Bayside West since that time. I currently work in a local family practice, serve at BWCC as the Global Outreach director (which I will be transitioning from for this new position) and have been taking a few classes at Western Seminary.
FERNANDO CARO, LEADERSHIP TEAM
I actually grew up in East LA, in a small suburb known as Huntington Park. I knew who God was, but I didn’t have a relationship with Him and just went through the motions. I accepted Jesus into my life when I was a freshman in high school; I was attending a Royal Ranger camp out at Mount Madonna. What an amazing night. From that point on throughout my life I have lived knowing my savior loves me no matter what occurs. I am married to my high school sweetheart, Yvonne, and we will be married for 28 years come January 2011. We were blessed with two beautiful miracles, Nick and Jenny. How amazing God is with our family! Our family has been attending Bayside West Community Church since the summer of 2005. We, as a family, believe in the “getting in the game” mentality. Nick and Jenny serve in Children’s Ministry, Yvonne is the volunteer Youth Admin and I just enjoy playing; so I help with both middle school and high school. It is truly amazing to work with the youth and see God’s love working in their lives…
