Nate Levering
Lead Pastor
About me. Raised in Sonora and educated at Sonora High, The Master’s University, and Tozer Seminary. Sonora High because I had to go to school so that I could play basketball. Master’s to earn a BS in Biology so that I could help God save the earth (minus all the land use requirements). Tozer Seminary while working and raising a family because I finally realized that I could love people better with a little more help. Kathy and I served with YoungLife in Moscow, RU, for a couple of years after marriage prior to filling the role of Youth Pastor for 14 amazing years at Sierra Bible Church. I then had the privilege to serve as the Pastor of Connections and Compassion for 9 years before transitioning into the Lead Pastor role summer of 2022. I’m a husband of 25 years. Dad to four crazy rad kids (two bio daughters and 2 adopted sons). I’m a cancer survivor, mountain biker, water skier, dirt bike rider, builder, teammate, missionary, leader, and lover of God’s Church — in whom I have great hope!
Jason Rivera
Youth Pastor | High School & Junior High
Who am I? Well, we might need more than a blurb on a website to figure that out but I will try. My name is Jason Rivera I have lived in Sonora Ca most of my life besides a few stents in Colorado Springs Co once to snowboard and later in life to get a certificate in worship ministry. We have been attending SBC for almost 8 years and have served in many different areas including worship Pastor for a season. I have been married to the beautiful Apryle for 16 years and we have three kids Ryden, Violet, and Maverick. Taking on this new role as youth Pastor is an exciting adventure of following after what God is leading. My family and I are so excited to begin to watch students at SBC take steps in owning their faith and walking with them through this life that many of us now see as normal. We are excited to partner with the parents of Sonora to see a generation change. So let's do it, let's find and follow Jesus together.
Bryan Stanton
Worship Pastor
I grew up in a Christian home and always had a concept of who Jesus was, although it wasn’t until my early teenage years when I started to build a personal relationship with Him. My encounter with the Lord was life-altering, and thus began my pursuit of service to His kingdom. Worship was the bridge in the midst of my encounter and from then on I decided to dedicate my life to it. I have been a musician for a decade now, and have been leading worship for close to the same. My beautiful wife, Comfort, and I were married in the summer of 2021, and we have 2 amazing children. We are both beyond excited to be here at SBC, and even more excited to be in ministry together chasing people with the Gospel of Jesus.
Rachel Tidwell
Children's Ministry Director
I was adopted from India when I was 4 months old and raised in Sonora ever since. I grew up in the ministries at Sierra Bible Church, giving my life to Christ at a young age. In high school, my relationship with Christ truly became my own and I was baptized and began to seek serving Him in Children’s Ministry. I went to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and got my degree in Child Development and Psychology. After college, I married my high school sweetheart, Kevin, who also grew up at Sierra Bible Church. I joined the Children's Ministry staff in 2008 and remained on staff until Kevin and I started our family. We have two incredible boys, Carson and Blake. We are a family that loves to camp, boat, vacation, play and watch lots of sports, and enjoy hosting friends and family in our home. As a family, we are excited that after eight years God has called us back to ministry as I step into the Children’s Ministry Director role. I am excited to partner with families and the community as we continue to serve children.
Randy Richter
Director of Operations | Church Administrator
I am the Director of Operations for Sierra Bible Church. I oversee the facilities and finances for the church as well as “other duties as assigned,” which keep me quite busy. I grew up as a pastor’s kid in three states and two Canadian provinces starting in North Dakota. My education included Bible College in Edmonton, Alberta, and a Bachelor’s degree from Azusa Pacific University. Christian camp ministry was my chosen vocation for the fourteen years prior to accepting a position here at SBC in 2004. Cathy, my wife of 37+ years, and I, have three children (two married) and three grandchildren, all living in the Phoenix, AZ area. I enjoy outdoor activities, community involvement, and spending time with family and friends.
Emily Turner
Director of Connection and Communications
It is such a privilege to be in this position at Sierra Bible Church. My educational background is in Communication and Organizational Leadership. I’ve been able to serve with various ministries here at Sierra Bible Church, from youth to women’s and kid's ministry. Having grown up in the Bay Area and finishing college in San Diego, there is nothing quite like small-town living and I absolutely love it! My husband and I have three daughters, love to camp, hike, and play board games like it’s the very air we breathe.
Ralph Milnik
Shepherding Pastor
I have served here at Sierra Bible Church for over 37 years and have been involved in many areas of ministry. After serving as an Elder for many of those years, I have stepped into the role of Shepherding Pastor on our Pastoral Staff Team. This new volunteer role has been an absolute joy for me, and I consider it an honor and privilege to be able to serve, support, encourage, and pray for the church, the staff, and for the sick. I’ve been married to my high school sweetheart, Ginny, for 47+ years. We have been blessed with four adult children (two boys and two girls) and have ten grandchildren. Apart from my church activities you’ll find me involved in my favorite past-times which include skiing, biking, kayaking, radio-controlled planes, backpacking, fishing, tennis, and guitar.
Sarah Sommarstrom
Friendship Ministries Coordinator
sarahs@sierrabible.com
sarahs@sierrabible.com
Comfort Stanton
Graphics/Media
comfort@sierrabibele.com
comfort@sierrabibele.com
Dawn Romani
Pre-School Coordinator
kidsmin@sierrabible.com
kidsmin@sierrabible.com
Amber Sanfeliz
Nursery Coordinator
kidsmin@sierrabible.com
kidsmin@sierrabible.com
Jean St. John
Accounting Assistant
Lynn Stauffer
Groundskeeper
JT Stanton
Groundskeeper
Paul Moody
Sound Engineer
To Contact the Elders, email elders@sierrabible.com
Don Broesamle
I met my wife, Linda, “the girl next door,” at San Jose State University. We’ve been married over 52 years, with two daughters and 2 grandsons.
My first encounter with Christ was in third grade at Mount Hermon’s Redwood Camp in the Santa Cruz mountains. During my sophomore year, my college pastor led me to fully commit my life to Christ as my Lord. I’ve been a Banker, a Management Consultant, a Prison Reform Ministry Director, in Manufacturing, in International Sourcing, and the Marketing and Church Relations Director at Mount Hermon. I was also a lay Pastor for 10 years in Santa Cruz, and have served as a church Elder for over 40 years. I’m a bird hunter, and I enjoy water and snow skiing ( and now wake surfing – barely! ). I love leading Bible studies, and have a passion for teaching and passing on to others the truth of the transforming power of our indwelling Christ, and of the glory of His Word.
My first encounter with Christ was in third grade at Mount Hermon’s Redwood Camp in the Santa Cruz mountains. During my sophomore year, my college pastor led me to fully commit my life to Christ as my Lord. I’ve been a Banker, a Management Consultant, a Prison Reform Ministry Director, in Manufacturing, in International Sourcing, and the Marketing and Church Relations Director at Mount Hermon. I was also a lay Pastor for 10 years in Santa Cruz, and have served as a church Elder for over 40 years. I’m a bird hunter, and I enjoy water and snow skiing ( and now wake surfing – barely! ). I love leading Bible studies, and have a passion for teaching and passing on to others the truth of the transforming power of our indwelling Christ, and of the glory of His Word.
Ralph Milnik
I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Ginny, for 47 years. We have been blessed with four adult children (two boys and two girls), and have ten grandchildren. I grew up in Southern California (Orange County) and moved to Sonora in 1987, where we have attended Sierra Bible Church and have been involved in many of the various ministries. Serving as an Elder has been a highlight for me and I consider it an honor and privilege, especially during the times of prayer for the church, the staff, and for the sick. Recently, I have stepped into the role of Shepherding Pastor/Elder on our Pastoral Staff Team. This new volunteer role has been an absolute joy for me. Ginny is retired from teaching but is busy with several volunteer activities, Moms in Prayer, and helping with the grandkids. You’ll also find me involved in my favorite
past-times which include skiing, biking, kayaking, radio-controlled planes, backpacking, fishing, tennis, and playing guitar.
past-times which include skiing, biking, kayaking, radio-controlled planes, backpacking, fishing, tennis, and playing guitar.
Nate Levering
Kathy and I have been married for long enough to have four amazing children and story after story of God's faithfulness. I am, with all humility, on this list because of His faithfulness…and a few decisions I have made along the way. I can clearly remember the night I was on my bike trainer in Moscow, RU, looking out the window as Leninski Blvd was blanketed with snow once again and I asked God what I should devote my life to. Big picture stuff like ‘why am I here?’ God speaking in some kind of ‘I know that was God's voice doesn’t happen very often but looking back, this was one of those times. “Serve the local Church and help the poor.” By God’s grace Kathy and I have been able to do that, with some amazing people, for over 25 years. I feel like we are just getting started. Not actually, but I feel as passionate and energetic and filled with wonder about God’s power and my part in the local church as ever. I believe that the local Church is the hope of the world (Matthew 16) and that we are here to serve (John 13).
Steve Orth
I met my wife Connie in our dorm at Cal Poly SLO in 1975. We have been married for 42 years. We share a daughter and a son, both of whom have their own families, blessing us with three grandsons and three granddaughters. Growing up in Sonora I was fortunate enough to get involved in youth activities at the Church of the 49ers in Columbia, where the couple that led the youth group took an interest in me and played a key role in helping me give my life to Christ. I became fully committed to walking with him after meeting my wife. I worked at Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore as an engineer working first as an electron microscopist, then weapons development ,and finally numerous Dept. of Homeland projects. After 35 years I retired simultaneously with my wife who was a school teacher and moved to Sonora. I love being a part of our Sierra Bible family and am passionate about helping high school students learn to do life differently than the world, by fully relying on Jesus! My wife and I lead a Life Group and enjoy many other serving opportunities at SBC. In my free time, I enjoy maintaining our property, and all sports including hiking and mountain biking
Randy Richter
I have been married to Cathy since 1985 and have 3 adult children (two married), along with three grandchildren, all of whom currently live in Arizona. I was blessed to be raised in a Christian family, with my dad serving as pastor at the Baptist Church we attended. I committed my life to Christ at the age of 10 and was baptized at age 11. I have worked in a number of careers including a masonry construction supply company for 7 years, as a Christian camp manager for 15 years, and have served as Director of Operations for SBC since 2004. I have also served 11 years as a trustee at Summerville High School. I enjoy spending time reading and teaching the Bible, hiking, fixing and building just about anything, and, most importantly, visiting grandkids.