Church Leadership
Rev. John Shaver

Pastor John came to Valencia from Christ UMC, Bethel Park, PA, where he was the Minister to the Seeker Initiative and Emerging Ministries. He has served or interned at a variety of church settings from the inner city to rural and suburban. John’s responsibilities at Christ UMC included the teaching pastor at the contemporary services, planning with the emerging worship team and singles ministry. His passion is to work in a team-driven ministry to make the Gospel of Jesus Christ relevant to the communities he serves. He also has a passion for children, youth, and missions and serves on various non-profit agencies and conference committees. He was elected by the Western Pennsylvania Conference as a reserve delegate to the General and Jurisdictional Conference 2008. He enjoys spending time with his family, running (marathons), going to the gym, reading, watching various sports (of course the Steelers), and watching movies.
John married Michele McGinnis in June of 2002 at Samuelson Chapel (California Lutheran University). Michele is a native Californian and enjoys being a mom, going to the gym, attending a moms' group, and shopping for bargains. John and Michele are blessed with daughters Madison and Kendal.
Favorite Food: Pasta, Seafood and Chips and (Good) Salsa (that's the real reason I run marathons)
Favorite Movie: Too many comedies to pick from but especially anything with John Candy
Favorite Song: "Friend of God" and anything U2
Favorite Place to Visit: The beach (Newport in CA and Oak Island in NC)
Favorite Bible Verse: Matthew 22:37-39: He said unto him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Rev. Joseph Yoo 
Pastor of Youth & Spiritual Formation
We welcome Pastor Joseph Yoo and his wife Rahel to the VUMC Church Family and look forward to their joining us on April 15th.
Joseph attended the University of Hawaii and graduated in 2003 with a major in Psychology when he felt a call from God to go into ministry. He then continued his education at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. Currently he is Associate Pastor of Youth Ministries at Mesa Verde UMC and in the final stages of the ordination process.
While in seminary Joseph was a youth pastor at the UMC of Greater Washington in McLean, VA and upon his return to the West Coast he began his ministry in Hawaii.
Joseph has great passion for youth ministry, small groups and being involved in a missionally-focused church. In his spare time he enjoys sports (a Redskins fan), reading, comic books and Starbucks.
Pastor Joe is married to Rahel, who is currently an ordination candidate herself. She works at a shelter for the homeless in Orange County.
Joseph shares, "All I hope and pray for is that I will be a good and faithful servant and a representation of Christ, speaking the words that God has placed in my heart in truth and love, trying my best to live out my faith, and encouraging others to do the same."
Paul Anderson
Director Praise Band
Paul Anderson has spent the majority of his life in The Arts - music, theater and graphic design. His lifelong contributions to the Lord spans decades of vocal, instrumental, artistic and performing offerings. A member of VUMC since 1992, Paul has sung with several church choirs, and performed with the contemporary service Praise Band since 2002. By trade he is a professional in the printing and graphic arts industry, currently employed as Graphics Production Supervisor for Southern California Edison.
Paul has used his talents to create for stage, film/video, studio recordings and commercial jingles, and has penned songs in pop, rock, spiritual, theatrical and children's music genres.
Favorite Food: Almost any combination of peanut butter and chocolate.
Favorite Movie: Bladerunner, 1982 with Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer
Favorite Song: Music by John Miles
Favorite Place to Visit: Anywhere with my son, Ryan.
Favorite Bible Verse: John 3:16 The proof of God's love, the simplest rule to live by, and the promise of eternal life.
Michelle Andrews
Director Children Ministries
Michelle has lived in numerous places in the United States as the oldest child of an Air Force officer, but settled with her family in southern California where she attended San Diego State University. She comes from a long line of Methodists, but it was in a Presbyterian church that her family attended for a brief time that she met her future husband, Mike. They have two daughters, Megan and Katie.
Michelle enjoys reading, scrap booking and spending time with friends and family. A member of the VUMC staff since 1999, she has a heart for the Lord, the church, and her family. She carries with her a passion for children and for those who are in ministry with children.
Favorite Food: anything Mexican
Favorite Movie: Top Gun
Favorite Song: O Come, All Ye Faithful
Favorite Place to Visit: The Big Island of Hawaii
Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 46.10 - "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”.
Steven Applegate
Director of Music Ministries
Steven has been Director of Music Ministries at VUMC since May 2005. He is a self-taught musician who began his music career at age 17 in the Midwest. He has been involved in church music since then and his church work has taken him all over the world… Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria, Kuwait and Italy. He has shared his gifts in the Crystal Cathedral, the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. and many local churches and concert halls.
Steven is an award-winning Musical Director in the Los Angeles theatre scene and has worked in the Dorothy Chandler, Disney Concert Hall, Shrine Auditorium and the Mark Taper Forum. His music clients have included such notables as Shirley Jones, Lorna Luft, John Raitt, Melissa Manchester, Cybill Shepherd, and Maureen McGovern. He has extensive experience in the recording studio as a pianist, a conductor, a producer and arranger with several album credits.
Favorite Food: Italian
Favorite Movie: The Wizard of Oz (Ok, so I live in a fantasy world)
Favorite Song: The Beatles library (sorry, way too hard to give you one song)
Favorite Place to Visit: Paris, France
Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 8 - "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Thy name in all the earth!..."
Sherry Klahs
Director Adult Ministries
Sherry has been a member of the staff of Valencia for over ten years. She has served in various capacities and currently is responsible for Adult Ministries which includes our Small Group Ministry and Equipping Ministry. A life long Methodist, Sherry has served in the church since singing in Children’s Choirs at age 6. Over the years she has volunteered for numerous leadership positions, from Worship planning to organizing Women’s Retreats.
Sherry is also the Chairman of the Santa Clarita Master Chorale, active in the National Association of Church Musicians, and serves on the Arts Advisory Committee for the City of Santa Clarita. She has a BS degree in Business Management – Human Resources from California State University at Northridge. Sherry has been married to Don for 35 years and they have two daughters, Dana and Erica, and three grandchildren, Ava, Tristan and Isabella.
Favorite Food: Anything chocolate!
Favorite Movie: ET
Favorite Song: Candle in the Wind/ I Guess that's why they Call it the Blues - both Elton John - it's a tie!
Favorite Place to Visit: Kapalua Bay, Maui
Favorite Bible Verse: Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Ann Moore
Pianist and Treasurer
Ann has served as the pianist/organist for VUMC since 1998 and also served as the Youth Choir accompanist from 1995 until 1998. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara, graduating with the highest honor in Music – Outstanding Senior.
Ann was the accompanist for the Santa Clarita Master Chorale from 1998 to 2007. She lives in Valencia with her husband, Greg, and they have two sons, Geoff and Kevin.
Favorite Food: Seafood - especially when sauteed in lots of butter (mmm!)
Favorite Movie: What else? The Sound of Music
Favorite Song: anything by Brahms. (sorry...it's that classical training!)
Favorite Place to Visit: Santa Barbara
Favorite Bible Verse: John 3:16, I Corinthians 13:4-13, and John 14:6 – “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Deb Baur
Office Administrator
Deb Baur has been Office Administrator since 2003. She lived the majority of her youth in India but at the age of 17 moved back to the United States and in 1980 graduated from the New England Conservatory in Boston, and has an MBA from California State University Northridge.
Deb has worked in the President’s Office at Boston University and for World Cup USA 1994. She has been a member of the church since 1996 and is a member of the Chancel Choir. In 1998 she co-founded the Santa Clarita Master Chorale and served as CEO of the board until June 2009. She is married to Shunil Borpujari and has two stepchildren, Shayla and Sean, and three grandchildren, Rufio, Bailey and Dexter.
Favorite Food: Gujarati
Favorite Movie: Young Frankenstein
Favorite Song: Don Henley's rendition of The Heart of the Matter
Favorite Place to Visit: Himalayas
Favorite Bible Verse: Numbers 6:24-26 – “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
Catherine Stebbins
Communications Coordinator
Catherine Stebbins moved to Valencia with husband, Steve, in 2006 and transferred membership from Westlake Village United Methodist Church. She has a BA in Communications and spent most of her working career in radio station sales and management and then more recently in newspaper with The Signal. Steve and Catherine were married in 1990 and together have three grown children and five grandchildren. She enjoys photography, jewelry making, cooking, reading, music, prayer shawl crocheting, traveling,and hiking, and most of all her, UMCV family.
Favorite Food: Greek
Favorite Movie: Gosford Park (any old-style, good mystery movie!)
Favorite Song: How Great Thou Art
Favorite Place to Visit: Ireland
Favorite Bible Verse: Philippians 4:6-7 - "Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Joann Fetterolf
Office Assistant
Joann has served as Office Assistant since April 2005. She joined VUMC in 1973. She has two children and eight grandchildren. Joann enjoys camping, reading, scrapbooking, gardening , travel and bicycling. She started bicycle touring in 1990 in the United States and several foreign countries.
Favorite Food: Dodger Dogs and Italian
Favorite Movie: Hello, Dolly!
Favorite Song: Rhapsody In Blue
Favorite Place to Visit: Carpenteria and National Parks
Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 23 – “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want…”
Erica Camara
Media Coordinator
Erica stepped into the new staff role of Media Coordinator in December 2008. She grew up at Valencia UMC. Along with husband Mat, Erica has been serving in volunteer ministry for some time. She works full-time as a 4th/5th grade teacher at Emblem School in Saugus.
Favorite Food: Sushi
Favorite Movie: National Treasure
Favorite Song: Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson
Favorite Place to Visit: Maui
Favorite Bible Verse: Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
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