Meet Our Executive Director

Dr. David Whitaker

Executive Director

Dave@nextgenchurches.com

 

Bio: 

Dave grew up in a pastor's home and has served in ministry since 1981. After under-grad and seminary (Bob Jones University), he returned to pastor in his home church, First Baptist Church of San Ramon, CA, where his Dad, Dr. Bill Whitaker, was the first pastor. In 1991, he moved to Phoenix, AZ  as Sr Pastor of Heart to Heart Bible Church. During thirteen years of ministry in North Phoenix, he also received a D.Min. (Northland International University) and merged the church with a sister church, becoming Moon Valley Bible Church.

 

Dave's burden to return to the Bay Area lead him in 2004 to become the lead pastor of Morgan Hill Bible Church. Dave serves as a police chaplain in Morgan Hill and on the board of Vision 360 South Bay/Peninsula (a church planting organization). He has served on the board of Next Gen for five years, most recently as board president.

 

Lanette is Dave's wife of 30 years and partner in ministry. Lanette (who grew up in a bi-lingual ministry and pastor-missionary home in Phoenix), is a gifted speaker and a ministry leader at MHBC.  Dave and Lanette have two great kids: Jon (26--married to Carrie), who is studying interior architecture design and serves on staff at City Church in San Francisco) and Kaylan (20--a college junior) studying graphic design. Dave loves hanging out with his wife and kids, golf, reading, hanging out with friends and playing with his Apple gadgets. Dave and Lanette have a special heart for those who serve and lead in ministry and their families.

 

 

 

Rick Watson, Director of Administration
Contact E-mail:  Rick@nextgenchurches.com

As a retired Pastor of Administration, Rick has and still serves full time with NextGen Churches in many capacities;  Board Member, Secretary, Treasurer, and currently as a Transitional Team Leader with Brad Franklin.  In his new role as Director of Administration, Rick is responsible for the preparation and presentation of the annual budget to the Director and Board; managing NextGen's finances, making financial recommendations to the Board and implementing their decisions. 
As you have already seen from previous NextGen Newsletters, Rick is also charged with managing our Stockton property and other church properties recently acquired by our association(i.e., San Mateo and Oakland.)  While much of Rick's work will be hands-on, one of his priorities will be delegating assignments to others, especially to pastoral members of our association.  Rick will continue to provide estate planning or other financial training for churches, church boards and pastors. 

Jim Culp

Jim Culp, Director of Programming

Contact Email:  Jim@nextgenchurches.com


Jim is Sr. Pastor of Orchard Church in Chico, a NextGen church planted in August 2001.  One month later, following September 11th, Jim was recalled to military service.  Orchard Church has been committed to accepting people right where they are at, loving the broken, and helping the lost feel comfortable enough to hear how Jesus can change their lives, today and for eternity.   If you are not familiar with Jim's story about The Orchard Church in Chico, you may want to visit our archived newsletters at www.nextgenchurches.com  and read how God has used Jim and his church to accomplish His vision.    

 

Jim has been charged with working with each of the clusters of NextGen Churches that will accomplish and support the Mission, Vision and Values of our association.