VCC Staff
Jake Swader
Lead Pastor
Jake is a native of Northern Illinois and is passionate about the Word of God and making disciples for Jesus Christ. In 1997, while pursuing a degree in Journalism, he felt the distinct call of the Lord on his life for ministry. Jake studied Ministerial Studies at the Hampton Master’s Commission and Bethel Bible College in Hampton, Va. It was there that he met his wife, Laura. They were Married in August of 2000 and now have 4 children: Jeremiah, Mackenzie, Kaleb, and Nathan. As a family they enjoy the outdoors and love to hike and camp.
Jake began his full-time ministry as the Youth and Children’s Pastor at the Ohio Valley Christian Center in Wheeling WV, and in 2001 the Lord shifted his focus to Discipleship Training. In October of 2001, Jake founded the High Desert Master’s Commission in Victorville CA. He directed the Discipleship training center there until 2006 when his ministry focus shifted again, this time into church planting.
In 2006, Jake joined the Launch Team for, what was to become The Grove Fellowship in Poplar Grove IL. Jake served as the Executive Director of Ministries, and the Director of the Talmid Discipleship Training Center at The Grove until April of 2010, at which time he returned to the High Desert as the Associate Pastor at Jubilee Community Church in Victorville Ca. In 2011. Jake entered a season of bi-vocational ministry, serving at the Grove Fellowship as a Teaching Pastor while also maintaining a career as a Manufacturing Leader at General Mills. In 2021, after much prayer Jake stepped away from his manufacturing career to shift his full focus back to ministry. In October of 2022, Jake joined the pastoral team at Valley Community Chapel as the Associate Pastor and In April of 2023 was ordained as the Lead Pastor.
Jeff Huntington
Executive Pastor & Music Ministry Director
Jeff grew up in Yucca Valley, California and made his decision to follow Jesus at age 17. He was born again, through a simple tract with a sinner’s prayer on it, left by a friend at his house. While growing up in the family plumbing business he always had a passion for music and Christian ministry. He volunteered as a worship musician and then leader from 1991 until 1997 and then transitioned to a full-time worship pastor, schoolteacher, church tech, and graphics guy from 1997 until 2006 at Joshua Springs Calvary Chapel in Yucca Valley. Jeff joined the ministry of VCC in 2007 as the associate pastor and music minister. Jeff’s title changed to executive pastor of the ministry when the administrative tasks of the ministry were added to his duties.
Jeff has a variety of church backgrounds that were formative, beginning with a Church of Christ in San Luis Obispo, to Church On The Way in Van Nuys, The Vineyard in Venice Beach, and Calvary Chapels. Jeff studied at Joshua Springs Bible College while on staff and enjoys deep expository study of the Bible and apologetics. He is blessed to minister alongside his family at VCC including his wife Denice, his sons Daniel and Joshua, and his daughter-in-law’s Crystal, and Samantha.
Jeff enjoys all types of music but has a specific passion for worshipping God through music with his wife Denice. He has enjoyed living through the development of Christian Music from the late 80’s through today. He has a joy in still loving and singing old-school worship while embracing new expressions and styles of modern praise and worship. Jeff’s favorite hobby is playing with both his grandkids born in 2022.
Denice Huntington
Women’s Ministry Director & Ministry Coordinator
Denice is the wife of Executive Pastor and worship leader Jeff Huntington. They have been married since 1992, have two grown, married sons who serve alongside them here at Valley Community Chapel and they have two grandchildren.
Denice has been serving at VCC since 2007 on the worship team, as Director of Women’s ministry and ministry coordinator. Raised bicoastal between NYC and the Los Angeles area Denice spent most of her educational time studying music between the two cities. It was only after she came to the Lord in 1989 that she understood why God had given her the gift of music and musical education. From that moment on, Denice chose to serve the Lord full-time in the music ministry as a worship leader, choir director, and music programs director while simultaneously serving as consultant to over 25 ministries providing counsel and direction with their planned giving and estate planning.
Denice is an avid “prophecy buff.” She studies the Bible daily and listens to a variety of pastor’s and Christian educators to expand her understanding of God’s Word. She also loves to listen to podcasts on chemistry, biology, physics and philosophy as they all demonstrate the glory of God and prove the truth of the Biblical world view.
Daniel Huntington
Youth Pastor
Daniel is the youngest son of Jeff and Denice Huntington. He was raised in a Christian home and made the decision in High School to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord after his own investigation of the Bible. Daniel has been married to Samantha since June 2018. They had their first child, a daughter in January 2022. Music is a big part of Daniel’s life as he began his music education at the young age of 5. He plays, guitar, drums, bass, piano and sings. Now Daniel, his wife, his brother, and his sister-in-law operate a music lesson studio together. Daniel was homeschooled for most of his school years but chose to go to the local high school to participate in all the music bands and competitions. It was a good choice as that’s where he met his wife Samantha who serves in the youth ministry alongside her husband. Daniel has an AA in math and science and studied at both The Master’s University and Seminary and locally at Copper Mountain College. Daniel attended Grand Canyon University for just over a year to major in Biblical Studies but didn’t get the opportunity to complete his education. Daniel loves to go to the gym, play music, cook, and is a diligent student of the Word of God.
Lisa Baldwin
Preschool & Daycare Administrator
Lisa has been the director of Valley Community Chapel Preschool and Daycare since we started our program in 2003. She has been working in the preschool and daycare field since 1981, when enrolling her oldest son in a Christian Preschool and she fell in love with teaching! God made it clear that He called her to the ministry of His children. Lisa loves teaching all ages, but especially enjoys teaching the school age children God’s Word. She leads a weekly “Chapel Time” with them before they head off to school. Her favorite activity with the preschool age children is dramatic play, because “I can be a kid”! Lisa’s other ministry passion is missions. She has been on several mission trips and especially loves the ones that are focused on teaching children. Her hobbies are gardening, travel and volunteering at a couple of the local equine rescues when she can. Lisa has two grown sons, Ryan and Blake who help her with their two rescue dogs Daisy a German Shepherd mix and Octavia a Siberian Husky mix. As a family they enjoy camping, hikes, taking the dogs for walks or to the dog park and traveling.
Shelly Sheckler
Preschool & Daycare Assistant Director
Shelly’s daughter, Emily, attended Valley Community Chapel Preschool during our first year in 2003 and subsequently her son, Jesse, a couple of years later. Her children moved on however, Shelly has not. Shelly began at VCC as a substitute teacher in 2006 and 3 years later as our Kindergarten teacher before moving into her current role as the Administrative Assistant in 2019.
In 1999, Shelly and her husband Frank moved to Yucca Valley from South Orange County where she functioned as site coordinator of a preschool and after school program for a local school district. Shelly’s love of working with children has been one of the driving forces in her life. She enjoys observing the day-to-day growth of the children in our care and she’s been known to get a little silly and have too much fun with the kids. Shelly’s love of theater and performing locally is especially helpful when reading to the children; one of her favorite activities here at VCC.
Shelly, originally from Tulsa Oklahoma, is now a tried-and-true “Desert Dweller.” She loves the desert and all that comes with it: Hiking, rock climbing and taking in the beauty around her. Shelly’s interest in health and fitness has led her to a certification as a dance fitness instructor. Her other interests are cooking, baking, traveling, mission work and cuddling with her 16-year-old cat, Ella.
Tom Mauer
Bookkeeper
Tom is a Southern California native, born in Van Nuys and raised in downtown Los Angeles’ Echo Park district within walking distance of Dodger Stadium (a lifelong love of baseball followed). Tom confessed faith in Jesus at the age of nine during a summer camp ministry of Golden West Christian Church. Baptized a couple of years later at Berean Baptist Church, he has been part of a church family ever since.
Tom pursued his bachelor’s degree at Pepperdine University before completing college studies at Los Angeles Baptist College that included studies in Bible, theology, and church history. He completed additional graduate work in Denver before a working career managing call centers and customer service teams for T. Rowe Price, Founders Funds, Insight for Living and Evangelical Christian Credit Union in Orange County.
Following early retirement in 2015, Tom joined the family at Valley Community Chapel. Since joining VCC, Tom has taught a couple of home group bible studies and facilitated a short class on evangelism. In 2021, he was asked to take on the bookkeeper responsibilities for the church. Since 2016 Tom continues to serve as a board member and bookkeeper for The High Desert Pregnancy Clinic.
Tom loves reading American and church history, science fiction, and political/legal thrillers, visiting friends and family in the Northwest and Midwest. He often combines these trips with visits to stage plays, museums, concerts, aquariums, and national parks.