Steve Whinery

SENIOR PASTOR

“I was born in 1959 in Central California. When I was a baby, my parents moved to Riverside, in Southern California, and spent much of the rest of my childhood in the Riverside area. Coming from a broken home, I had much of the baggage that can come along with a “dysfunctional family” and by the time I was in high school had become pretty cynical about life in general and people in particular. It  was at this point I was invited by a friend to attend Calvary Chapel in Riverside. After some convincing I decided to show up and it was that night in the summer of 1975 that I first surrendered my life to Jesus. I had no idea what I was getting in to. After a few years of struggling in my walk with Christ, culminating in a 9 month backslide, I gave my heart back to the Lord at the age of 19 and have been serving Him ever since. 

Although I was involved in athletics and did well scholastically, I had been known for partying and a violent streak. When I rededicated my life to the Lord, all of that was left behind and I began looking for ways I could please and serve the Lord who saved me. I sat under the teaching of Greg Laurie, pastor of Calvary Riverside. I also began getting involved in ministry at Calvary Chapel, first as an usher, then, as the Lord opened up opportunities, as a new convert counselor. During this time I was working construction, which provided ample opportunity for telling coworkers about Jesus. I also began teaching a Bible study at the home of my future brother and sister in law. That is where I met my wife, Bobi.

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Mitch Dunfee

ASSOCIATE PASTOR

"Hi. I am Mitch Dunfee and I became a Christian at 28 years old, proof that Jesus will take anyone.

I grew up with an alcoholic dad who, when sober, was a great dad. Unfortunately the sober times were overwhelmed by the periods of drinking. It is amazing how God used this in my life.

You see, as I became an adult, I began to try and make sure I was doing better than my dad. I had a steady respectable job, I only got drunk once or twice a month (after I turned 23), and I did not beat my kids because I was drunk and out of control.

You see, I had a mark to measure how good of a guy I was. I was better than a drunk. 

When I was 23, I met and ultimately married Marci. After two years of marriage, she somehow was not impressed with my incredibly high standard of being better than a drunk and left me for about a month. We reconciled for our kids' sake but things were building up again between us because I could not be a man that truly put other's needs before himself.

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Matt Kessie

ASSOCIATE PASTOR ~ SR. HIGH / YOUNG ADULTS

“Greetings! I was born in Kadlec Medical in Richland in the year of our Lord 1977. Debbie Boone’s “you light up my life” was the number one hit song 10 weeks in a row. Fitting, since that’s when this little light entered the world. Ah yes, the sweet sounds of star wars laser gun and a crying sister filled our house with warmth & affection. I grew up in a loving Christian home (I got in trouble usually when my sister cried, which was often) with a younger sister, a brother and both parents. We had a rat dog named Jamie. I loved her. I am ashamed.

Growing up in our school district during the 80’s was a real pleasant time. I can’t think of a single acquaintance in school that came from a divorced home. It was reared in us to wait for marriage and to keep ourselves pure. Teenage pregnancy was scarce. I went to a baptist church that was full of people who loved Christ with me being one of them. I gave my life to the Lord when i was 8 (my dad introduced me to Him) and it was real.

Yet the world was changing and I didn’t know how to be a Christian and be popular at the same time (actually I didn’t even really know how to be popular). I didn’t know how to live righteously and fit in with my friends, but praise God for conviction! Something in me kept me from going overboard. With all of my failures and weaknesses, how great the grace of God protected me and transformed me! When one gives his life to Christ at a young age it’s a wonderful thing because of the sure foundation he starts off on.

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Matt Lewis

ASSOCIATE PASTOR ~ MEN'S MINISTRY

Hello, this is Matt Lewis.  The Lord has blessed me exceedingly with an amazing life, wife and family and gave me an opportunity to serve Him in full time ministry, beginning January of 2020.  It didn’t start out that way, however.  I’m a local boy, born and raised in the Tri-Cities. My father was a full-time traveling musician playing rock and roll for 20 years until I arrived in 1982.  He left everything behind except the alcohol and became a fireman and my mom started a daycare.  I have a sister two years younger.  Growing up we attended church on holidays because they wanted something better for their kids but didn’t understand that only Jesus can change your life, not religion.  I attended Awanas “Cubbies” and church camp as a youth, which was the first time I remember hearing the gospel presented.

I graduated from Southridge High in 2000, then went to Arizona for 2 years to attend MMI (motorcycle mechanics institute) and ride dirt bikes.  My dream in life at the time was to ride pro-motocross.  I came back and worked at a local shop, where the Lord started to turn up the heat to get my attention.  Many things took place over the next 5 years as the Holy Spirit was drawing me, but a couple events stand out in front.  My dad disappeared, apparently drowned, and I had a friend who I partied with get saved.

God used those events specifically, to show me what following Jesus really meant, and where to find a purpose in life in my quest for meaning and truth.  Long story short, my dad was living in a trailer out in Benton City separated from his wife and family, struggling with depression and alcohol to the very end of his time.  I didn’t want that life.  More than anything.  By God’s grace he did accept Christ a few years before he passed, which continues to assure me of the doctrine of regeneration to this day.

Secondly, my dear friend left the world to follow Jesus and it revealed how fake I was, playing church and not understanding the difference between religion and relationship.  

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Aaron Vasquez

ASSOCIATE PASTOR ~ JR HIGH 

Thanks for taking the time to read this but I’d love to share with you personally on how God has changed my life. 

Hi I’m Aaron, if you were to tell me at any point in my life I would be a Jr. High pastor I would’ve called you crazy, it’s not about me but am I willing to serve God in whatever he asks. God has blessed me with my amazing wife Michaela and our kids. 

I’ve been in Tri-cities most of my life and I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs with parents who I’ve never really known, being taken in by my great Aunt and Uncle and the passing of the only mom I’ve known around the age of six. The death of my mother (great Aunt) was hard but I know she's with the lord and at peace but that tragedy caused a rift between our whole family that has yet to recover from. I was dragged to church by my sister and brother-in-law for a while and by the time I was in junior high it grew to be my safe place not because I believed in God, but because it was better than being at home. For a long time, I faked being a Christian, I lied about how I was doing and led me to be shallow/depressed for years all while serving in the church, praying, reading and doing all the churchy things. 

Once I hit my lowest point I had a choice to make, take my life and end this or actually let the lord take this pain and suffering away that I kept hidden for so long. God didn’t just save me, he transformed me. Calling me home, to a place of rest like I’ve never experienced. As I’ve done many times before I asked the lord into my heart but this time I truly meant it and there was nothing holding me back like pride, fear and shame. The smile on my face was real and the joy was unbelievable. I wasted almost ten years pretending and faking it, so as I started to read, pray and do all the churchy things again it was all different. It was no longer about what I thought and how I could make this fit but God showing and leading me to where I needed to be. The pressure to fit in or be like everyone else was gone, my Father called me to be me and that’s who I am. No longer imitating or copying my friends or leaders but taking what God shows me and applying it to our relationship as a father and son. I still mess up and make mistakes but the grace of God is endless. 

“What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.” 

Ecclesiastes 3:9-13

Ryan Orozco

ASSOCIATE PASTOR

Hi there — I’m so glad you’re here!

I grew up knowing about Jesus, but it wasn’t until college that I realized I hadn’t truly trusted Him. My self-reliance led me down a path of brokenness, and in 2007, I cried out for help. Jesus met me in that moment with grace and mercy, and my life has never been the same.

Today, I’m blessed to walk this journey with my amazing wife, Esther, and our two incredible kids.

I have a deep love for home fellowships and marriage ministry — safe places where we can be real and walk through life together. If you’re curious about either, I’d love to connect and help welcome you to our church family.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope we get to meet soon!

Tim Krantz

ASSOCIATE PASTOR ~ WORSHIP PASTOR

His promise above our circumstance.

Jesus saved my life. Today, I’m incredibly grateful for my beautiful wife, Sherri, my three boys, Dylan, Aden, and Brady, Dylan’s wife, Faith, and my soon-to-be daughter, Bella. The Lord has richly blessed our family, but the road here has not always been easy. My story is one of brokenness, wandering, redemption, and a faithful God who never stopped pursuing me.

I was born in Long Beach, California, grew up in Moreno Valley, and was introduced to Jesus at a young age. Later, I moved to Yakima, Washington, with my dad and mom  to help start a Calvary Chapel, which is what first brought me to Washington. Soon after, divorce and brokenness in our family and church left me feeling abandoned. Although I knew Scripture and was always drawn to God, I spent much of my life halfway in and halfway out—trying to follow Jesus while searching for happiness in the world. I looked for fulfillment in alcohol, sexual sin and addiction, smoking, money, career, possessions, success, and status. God had given me an amazing wife, beautiful children, and a successful life, but none of it could fill what only Jesus could.

Eventually, my choices nearly cost me everything. I deeply hurt my marriage, my children, and the people I loved most. But God never stopped pursuing me. Like the Good Shepherd going after His wandering sheep, He came after me, broke me of my independence, and carried me out of darkness and into a real relationship with Him. When I finally surrendered, He began restoring what I had broken. God redeemed my marriage and gave my family back to me when I had almost lost them. He changed my relationships, my priorities, and my heart. The joy I had searched for my entire life had been in Jesus all along.

Looking back, I can see His hand through it all. When I was young, hurting, and alone, God gave me the gift of music and taught me to play the drums. I had no idea He would use that gift decades later for His glory. For nearly 30 years, I built a career and God blessed our family tremendously. Then He asked me to surrender that too. He called me away from the career, position, and status that had defined so much of my life and into full-time ministry to serve Him and lead worship. God called me when I was young—I simply took a lot of detours getting here. As 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen.”

Today, I rest in Him and trust His plan for my life. My testimony isn’t about finally getting everything right. It’s about a Savior who remained faithful when I wasn’t, a Shepherd who came looking for me when I wandered, and a Father who redeemed what I had nearly lost. I’ve learned that real joy isn’t found in money, success, status, or anything this world can offer. Real joy is found in surrendering your life to Jesus. I don’t know everywhere He will lead me from here, but I know the One who is leading me. My desire now is simple: to love Him, serve Him, lead others into His presence, and live the rest of my life not by my own strength, but by His hand. Hallelujah to the One who came and made a way. Glory, honor, and power belong to Him forever!

Greg Deroos

ASSOCIATE PASTOR ~ CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Hello, I grew up in the Tri-cities not realizing that my ways were not the right way to be living life. Mistakes and hardships were always around and were causing me to spiral into a bad area. I met my wife in 1995, and through God's mercy, we both realized that we needed to change what we were doing. In 2001, we started to attend Calvary Chapel and asked the Lord Jesus to come into our lives. Through Jesus, we are still together with three grown kids.

I became involved in Children's Ministry in 2002 and have been able to pour into children, as well as volunteers, for over 20 years. It is my mission to do what God has called me to do: to make Him known and to show those around me the love that Jesus has for them.

BIlly Kyllonen

ASSOCIATE PASTOR ~ CALVARY TRAINING CENTER NW

Growing up in the small town of Hancock in northern Michigan, my parents took me to church. Unfortunately, they went to separate churches, both of which thought the other was completely false! This led to a lot of confusion on my part about which church to choose and eventually I decided that upon my confirmation at 15, I would be done with God. If I was going to end up in hell anyway, I might as well go boldly. 

About 4 years into my rebellion, I met some friends who asked me the question, “Are you a Christian?” I responded, “I wish I was,” and I really meant that. I just didn’t think God would ever want me after everything I had done. They explained the simplicity of the gospel and led me in a prayer to receive Christ. I was so surprised by how much God loved me. Jesus instantly and dramatically turned my life around. 

Immediately after experiencing the peace and forgiveness of God, I was telling everyone I knew about Jesus. My old partying friends now had a new drug problem. I drug them to church, I drug them to Bible study, etc. 

From that day to this, I have only grown more and more passionate to tell the world about the love of God in Christ and the amazing grace that I also received. 

I met my wonderful wife, Beth, in Vancouver, Washington.  We were married in December 1998. We moved to the Tri Cites in 1999, where we began to raise our family. While working in the home-building industry we began serving at Calvary Chapel and were zealously involved in missions and evangelism in the region and throughout world. 

In 30 years of missions and evangelism, God has taken our family on many adventures. From 2015-2026, we served full time as missionaries with Youth With A Mission. Our role has been to run training schools that focus on evangelism and long-term missions. We have trained and sent hundreds of people all over the world to bring the gospel to those who have never heard. 

Currently we are the directors of Calvary Training Center Northwest, a ministry of Calvary Chapel Tri Cities. Our School of Missions and School of Ministry are designed to train and release the next generation of soul winners and ministry workers.