our servants

serving jesus by serving others

staff

pastors & servants

Pastor Gary Malkus

Senior Pastor

pastor andrew ferguson

Administrative Pastor

Pastor hector garcia

Children's Ministry Pastor

PASTOR GARY ARCE

School of Ministry

Christian Bergman

Youth Pastor

Pastor Jacob Lane

Worship Pastor

hunter Mckoy

Administrative Assistant

Kevin DeLucia

Ministry Coordinator

sarah arredondo

Receptionist

PASTOR GARY MALKUS, SR. // SENIOR PASTOR

I received Jesus as my personal Savior in April of 1980 while serving in the US Army. My wife, Danielle, and I began attending church regularly from the moment we were saved. The Lord called us back to California when my tour in the military ended in the fall of 1980.


In 1981, I began teaching a weekly Home Fellowship and was part of the counseling ministry for Colonial Bible Church in Tustin, CA. In 1986, we moved our family to Phelan and began attending what is now Calvary Chapel of Phelan. I began teaching a Home Fellowship after a few months of attending this church. I was ordained as the Youth Pastor in July of 1989. I truly enjoyed working with the teenagers and teaching them the Word of God. I worked as a Youth Pastor until January 1993 when I was brought on staff full-time as the Assistant Pastor/Administrator.


In 1991, I became a Chaplain for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. I began this ministry as a Citizen Volunteer Chaplain. I completed the Reserve Peace Officer Academy in October 1994 and was sworn in as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff. I served as a Chaplain on a peer level with the Deputies in our department for 28 years before retiring in December 2019. The Lord has opened many doors through Chaplaincy for ministry to those in the Law Enforcement community. I am currently serving as a Chaplain for the United States Secret Service with great expectations of the Lord doing powerful work among the Agents and office staff.


In October 2007 I became the Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Apple Valley. Danielle and I came to this church with excitement to see all that God has in store for us. It truly has been a blessing to watch the Lord build His church in our community. 

 

We have three grown children: Terra who is married to Jim, Gary Jr. who is married to Jessica, and Jacquie who is married to Andrew. We are also proud of our fourteen grandchildren: Savannah, Jimmie, Ean, Raelyn, Karis, Titus, Sofia, Lola, Malachi, Freedom, Judah, Daisy, Cruz and Uriah. As well as our three great grandchildren Oden, Carsen, and Alisen.

 

On March 22, 2023, my wife, Danielle, went to heaven.  She died of a rare bone marrow cancer while undergoing a stem cell transplant. After 45 years of marriage and serving the Lord together side by side, this has become the most difficult season of my life.  However, the Lord has continued to be my strength and comfort through the grieving process.  He is still pouring out His blessing on the work of the ministry here in the Town of Apple Valley.  For that, I am grateful and look forward to all He has in store for our church family.

PASTOR ANDREW FERGUSON // ADMNISTRATIVE PASTOR

In the Summer of 2003 I was addicted to methamphetamine.  Because of my addiction I violated my probation.  When I went to court they ordered me to find a program that would help me find freedom from my life controlling problems. My Dad found a Faith based program called Teen Challenge that was highly recommended by His Pastor. I met with the Pastor on a Sunday and he encouraged me to go to get the help I desperately needed. I entered the doors of Teen Challenge broken, ashamed, empty, and hurting from the lawless life I had chosen to live. I had a real encounter with Jesus Christ just two weeks after entering the doors of Teen Challenge.  This encounter radically set me free from the bondage of sin. I had finally found purpose, Identity, and calling that directed my life into full time ministry. I graduated the program after one year.  Then I entered the Internship program for four months, which lead me to the Teen Challenge Ministry Institute for one year of Bible college.


In 2006 I accepted a position as a Teacher/Advisor at the Riverside Teen Challenge Training Center. Five years later I was given the privilege to serve as the Dean of Students, Evangelism Coordinator and Apprenticeship program supervisor of Southern California. In 2008 I married my beautiful wife Jacquie and later added to our family four precious gifts: Karis, Titus, Malachi, and Judah. During that time, I served approximately 129 men and staff who were part of the Christian Life School. I found great joy in seeing men’s lives be transformed by the power of the Gospel and witnessing personal growth in their journey of discipleship. I ministered with Southern California Teen Challenge for over 10 years until just recently the Lord came to us with a word that would change the direction of our lives.


The Word we received was Acts 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. This word came while we were at Church on a Sunday morning. It came about four hours before I was asked to pray about coming on staff as the Administrative Pastor. I was completely taken off guard and I was torn apart by having to decide to leave Southern California Teen Challenge a ministry that introduced me to Jesus and had invested into my discipleship for 10 years. I thought I would never leave Teen Challenge, but God had a different plan for me and my family. After spending time seeking the Lord my wife and I received several words from the Lord confirming my transition to this new assignment in the Kingdom.  


I currently serve as the Administrative Pastor and Young Adult Pastor. I look forward to serving in the community of Apple Valley and around the world fulfilling the Great Commission. I have a deep passion for evangelism and discipleship and reaching millennials with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe in the life changing Power of the Holy Spirit that has the ability to transform a culture that is blinded and bound by the enemy. I believe we have an opportunity to equip and reach a lost and dying world with the hope of Jesus Christ.

PASTOR HECTOR GARCIA // CHILDREN'S MINISTRY PASTOR

I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior in 1996, but backslid very quickly for 3 years. I was fooled into thinking that trusting in a religion instead of having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ was what I needed in my life. The gospel was preached to me in a way that I understood it and I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, but that is where is stopped. The church I was attending did not teach God’s word in its entirety. The importance of reading God’s Word, praying, fellowship with other believers, and most importantly having a personal relationship with Jesus, was not the priority. The “Just trust what the church is saying and you will be ok” lead me to continue my life as I knew it, but God had another plan for my life - His plan.

 

Slowly, the Lord began to convict me of my lifestyle. The things I thought were acceptable began to feel wrong. The Lord showed me the plans I had would only lead to destruction and that His plans would lead to life everlasting. I thought that money, women, alcohol was ok to desire as long as I confessed my sin on Saturday and went to church on Sunday. I remember the night I had enough of my life and called out to our God to save me from myself. You see I was caught up in a gambling company making thousands of dollars a week, manipulating women, and using alcohol as a drug to try and drown out my convicted heart. It was this conviction that led me to make a choice to truly follow Him or lose my life to this dark world. I needed Jesus to pick up my broken life and fill me with his love. When I made the choice to follow him instead of the world my real life began. The Lord drastically changed my life showing me that He is the priority and nothing can come before Him. Within 30 days of my repentance I lost the money and all the relationships I had. He took it all away and gave me the simple life I needed. The Lord granted my prayer for a new life in Him and for more than 20 years now, I have grown stronger in my personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

It is a great honor to have served my country in the United States Air Force from 1999 to 2012, as well as a teaching career from 2000 to 2012 as a high school teacher.

 

In 2007 I became a Jr High Youth Leader at Calvary Chapel of Apple Valley. I have been so blessed through teaching God’s Word to the youth in both the church and high school settings.

 

In 2011 I became the director of the children’s ministry at Calvary Chapel of Apple Valley. It was in the Jr. High and children’s ministry setting that the Lord reveled his calling on my life, to serve Him in full-time ministry as the Children’s Ministry Pastor at Calvary Chapel Apple Valley.

 

On August 5th, 2012 I became the Children’s Ministry Pastor at Calvary Chapel of Apple Valley. In January of 2015 God called me to Pastor the High School Ministry for a short period of time and I reprised my role as Children's Ministry Pastor in 2016.  My wife Laurie and I have been married since 2000 and have been blessed with three children who are now adults: Samuel, Chloe, and Elijah. We have been blessed with training up our kids in the ways of the Lord. My entire family is so happy to be part of the Lord’s church in full time ministry at Calvary Chapel of Apple Valley and look forward to serving and watching the Lord build His church until His return.

PASTOR GARY ARCE // SCHOOL OF MINISTRY

I received Jesus Christ as my personal Savior in 1995. In the aftermath of the failure of my first marriage, and working through the guilt and brokenness that resulted, the Lord graciously revealed Himself to me and began to heal my heart. Then He brought an amazing, godly woman into my life, and Brenda and I were married in 1995. We began leading a Home Fellowship group, and I also began serving on the Worship Team at Faith Community Church in Victorville.  At this time, the Lord also allowed me to participate in short-term Mission trips to India, Thailand, Cambodia, and Nepal.


Since 1990, I have been living in the High Desert and teaching Science courses at Apple Valley High School.  This was a wonderful opportunity to work with young people and to stand up for Biblical truth. I retired from teaching public school in 2021.


In 2005, the Lord called my family and I to Calvary Chapel Apple Valley.  We have been incredibly blessed to be a part of this family of believers.  Brenda and I have also been blessed to minister in the Home Fellowship ministry and Young Adult ministry, and I also serve with the Worship Team.


We are extremely thankful to also have two children. Our son Christopher graduated from UC Irvine and is currently an Engineer/Firefighter with San Bernardino County Fire. He and his wife Nicole had our first grandson, Camden, in April, 2023. Our daughter Michelle graduated from Vanguard University and is currently a 7th Grade Math Teacher in the Sacramento area.

In 2011, Calvary Chapel Apple Valley started a School of Ministry for “the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12).  As a graduate of Calvary Chapel Bible College, I know firsthand the tremendous blessing that comes from studying the Word of God in depth. So it has been my privilege to serve in the School of Ministry as we “study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).


God is moving powerfully in these last days,  and it is my prayer that our soon-returning Savior will find us busy about our Father’s business – knowing Him intimately (John 17:3), serving Him faithfully (John 4:34), glorifying Him continually (Matthew 5:16), and sharing the Gospel zealously (Matthew 28:18-20).

PASTOR christian bergman // youth PASTOR

When I was around the age of 5 I remember hearing the Gospel for the first time. We were  sitting on the floor of my parents living room listening to my dad present the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I responded that very night. 

 

Fast forward and in the 7th grade I had looked at porn for the first time and felt deeply ashamed. Yet I went back to it again and again. This turned into an addiction and once I got into high school I began to look for it out in the world. I started to pursue superficial relationships that would only continue to feed my flesh. 

 

In 2014, I found myself in a place feeling hopeless and completely alone. It wasn't until I was completely broken and empty that God plucked me out of my lifestyle of sin and debauchery and reminded me of the price that was paid for my sins. 

 

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 

Romans 5:8

 

I rededicated my life to God and decided to leave the world behind and submit to God's will. I suffered depression for a year after submitting my will to Christ's, until one day God completely lifted my heaviness. Soon after, I jumped into volunteering as a teacher in the children ministry at Calvary Chapel Apple Valley.  I also met my wife Shania at Calvary Chapel Apple Valley where we were both serving and in 2018 we got married. I was able to serve alongside my wife at the same church we both grew up in. As we were actively serving as leaders  in the Jr. High and High School ministry, God had made it clear of the calling to serve full-time. We just didn't know how or when. 

 

In 2020, God opened a door for me to become a correctional officer at a Juvenile Hall. He used this opportunity to test and train me until God gave me a word that He was transitioning me out of the detention center, "Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character. Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door." Psalms 105:19-20 NLT


A week after receiving that word from the Lord I was asked to come on staff. I came on staff at Calvary Chapel Apple Valley in 2021 as the Youth Pastor. 

 

I used to live my life to serve my flesh but I now live to serve the living God. It is only by God's grace and power through His son Jesus Christ that I am able to live out my calling and glorify Him with my life.

 

"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;"

I Corinthians 1:27

PASTOR JACOB LANE // WORSHIP PASTOR

"Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:29-30


I was blessed to be raised by a Christian family who taught me what it means to live a life of faith in Jesus Christ. I accepted Jesus into my life at a young age. However, it wasn’t until I was about 12 years old that I truly understood what it meant to be saved by grace.


With the curious mind of a 12 year old boy, I began exploring pornography. The guilt and shame that came with this sin felt unbearable. But when I came to the realization that Christ died for all my sin, I was able to live in freedom from that sin and the guilt that it carried.


At this point in my life, the Bible stories from Sunday School were no longer just stories. They had real application to my life. The story of King David and his heart after God inspired me to seek after Him in the same way. The story of the Israelites and God’s provision for them allowed me to trust in God’s faithfulness to provide for my family when my dad was out of work. The story of Jesus asking His disciples to pick up their crosses to follow Him led me to give up my own desires to follow His leading into the ministry.


After completing my second year at Vanguard University, God redirected my path to be the worship leader and a pastor here at Calvary Chapel Apple Valley. This required me to drop out of school, give up my life in Costa Mesa, and place myself and my girlfriend in long distance relationship. This calling didn’t make sense to me since I was still two years away from completing my degree. However, God gave me clear instruction through His word that this opportunity was an open door from Him. Venturing into the unknown of what this means for my education, I am following God. I am trusting that if I truly seek Him first, He will provide for me in every area necessary, while rewarding me in this life and in the age to come.


In 2014, I came on staff at Calvary Chapel Apple Valley as the Worship Pastor. On June 3rd, 2016 I married my wife, Liana who currently leads our Embrace Grace ministry for single mothers, and in 2020, Liana gave birth to our only daughter, Eden.

HUNTER MCKOY // Administrative Assistant

At six years old, I came to understand that this “amazing guy” Jesus gave up his life, and if I believed in him, then I’d be saved from all of my sins. And Hell. I didn’t like the idea of Hell. So of course, I believed. But I didn’t get what it meant to count up the cost (Luke 14:28), or have a personal relationship with Him. Because of this, I remained a spiritual infant. When I was 12, I began to explore an un-Godly desire towards women, which quickly grew into an addiction to pornography.


God gave me a way out at every turn, but I was too weak to take it. I didn’t understand the power Christ had was the same power that lived in me. I thought I would be stuck in this sin forever—and I didn’t mind. The sin did leave me guilty, so I tried to act like a “good Christian” to clear my conscience. I didn’t know this wasn’t possible without truly repenting, until April 2015.


I was 16 then, living as a worldly young man. Thanks to homeschooling, I would graduate in June of that year, and soon after, finish up my two-year education at Victor Valley College. I had a beautiful girlfriend, and a satisfying part-time job. I’d pretty much placed God in the corner. But He had greater plans than this for me, and I learned it the hard way. He gave one last way out from my iniquity, and I ignored it. It cost me my girlfriend, almost lost my part-time job, and I got the worst grades in a college semester I’d ever had—forcing me to retake classes and be there longer than I planned.


In Romans 1, Paul talks about how man can be given over to their shameful lusts. I realized I must have been on the verge of this too many times to count. And too many times, God showed me his grace by not giving me over. Now that my life had been broken down, I could see this clearly. On April 26th, 2015, I repented and re-dedicated my life back to the Lord, who had now become my personal Savior.


I became on fire with learning more about Him. More specifically, what I was supposed to do with my life now that I’d given it up to Him. I was obsessed with the plans He had for me: “…Plans for prosperity and not calamity,” He says, in Jeremiah 29:11. And since the calamity I faced, God has definitely moved me in one prosperous direction after another: In March 2016, I was given a job as a Recreational/After-School Activity Leader where I got the chance to live out the joy God placed in me with groups of amazing children. God also paved the way for me to become a self-published author. (I published my first novel in December of 2017, with a second on the way.)


And in May 2018, God made it evident I was to leave my other job and join the staff of Calvary Chapel Apple Valley. I was met with some resistance, but it solidified the word I believed I was hearing from Him (John 15:19-20). I’m excited to be right where the Lord wants me, and I will always be grateful for the everlasting forgiveness He showed me. 

Kevin DeLucia // ministry coordinator

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:11-13

 

As a child I remember going to church every now and then with my family, but it wasn’t something I took to heart or desired. In 2014, I met my wife Monica in high school. We were both young and trying to figure out what we wanted to do with our lives. Shortly after graduation, Monica and I began living together in sin and we were not married and at that time. We weren’t believers, but we knew there was more to life than what the world had to offer and we decided we were going to begin going to church together.

 

We would attempt to go to church, but still had one foot in the world. We couldn’t take it upon ourselves to give up the sin that we had and make it right to what God had for us. In October 2017, I received Jesus as my savior at a weekend men’s retreat. God knew what He was doing that weekend, but I had no idea that my life would change from that moment I raised my hands and invited Him into my life. Although I accepted Jesus as my savior, I didn’t take my walk with Him seriously.

 

Calvary Chapel Apple Valley was having a men’s bible study and I was invited to attend with my grandpa. I was finding any way not to go but one Saturday I went. God was using people that day and having me feel welcomed. I started to attend Young Adults to get involved more with other believers my age. Being involved in this ministry helped me realize the importance of a relationship with God rather than “just attending church”. I wasn’t convicted of my sin and I wasn’t living a transformed life for Jesus.

 

In January 2020, I decided I would recommit my life to Jesus and pursue a relationship with Him. I became on fire wanting to learn more and about him. I wanted to become involved in serving others at CCAV through the sound and worship team. In August 2022, I felt God had bigger plans for my life and my career choice. I quit my full-time job and began the Fire Fighter Academy. I completed the academy in November 2022 and was told I’d be guaranteed a job. Month after month I would pray for God to open a door for a job opportunity, but I was unsuccessful in finding a job. God has shown me through His Word the importance of staying faithful as He knows the plans for our life. After doors continually staying shut regarding the fire department, I prayed for God’s will and direction for my life. I began serving in all ways possible at the church as He continually put serving people on my heart.

 

In December 2023, God opened a door and provided me a job. I was asked to become staff at Calvary Chapel Apple Valley as the ministry coordinator. Being faithful and obedient to God’s calling has blessed my family and I in so many ways. I want to do God’s work to build up His Kingdom in Heaven because He has saved and restored my life. I am thankful to be where the Lord wants me as His plans are greater than my own.

sarah arredondo // receptionist

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

 

I was blessed to be raised by Christian parents who always taught and showed me what it truly means to follow Jesus. Witnessing this, helped me come to the realization of God’s astounding love. The thought of being able to spend eternity with the God of the universe amazed me. So, I prayed and gave my heart to  Jesus very early in life. However, during my middle school and high school years I never dug deep in my relationship with Jesus. There was a part of me that didn’t fully understand the concept of His grace and sacrificial love for me.

 

High school was when I truly began to struggle with my faith and lost sight of Him. I started to feed into my flesh and found myself only caring about fitting in with the world. I never looked to Jesus to find pure joy and peace, instead I tried finding everything I needed in my boyfriend at the time. Nonetheless, all I found was emptiness in my life and deep guilt of living the life of a lukewarm Christian. At the time, I was also dealing with a lot of insecurity. I felt like I had no self-worth because I wasn’t finding my identity in Jesus. Instead I was finding  my identity in a toxic relationship, trying to fill the emptiness in my heart with fleshly desires.


On top of that, I was also physically ill with my stomach. I was dealing with chronic stomach pain daily with frequent trips to the hospital. Instead of looking to God, I blamed him for my situation. I was constantly listening to lies from the enemy and thought my life was always going to be weary. I simply had no faith in Jesus. There was a point in my life where I always stayed home wallowing in sadness. Every day was filled with anxious thoughts, which made myself more physically ill.

 

Enough was enough. I was tired of ignoring His spirit and wanted better for my life. So, I left my unhealthy relationship and prayed to God that He would save me from my condition. It was my senior year of high school that I started to truly pursue my relationship with  Him. I finally decided to stop putting God off to the side, believing He had a greater plan for my life.

 

Right after graduating high school, God opened up the door for my family and I to leave Texas in 2020, during the pandemic, to move here in the High Desert. I was lost and confused as to why God wanted my family here. Trusting in His ways, the Holy Spirit led my family and I to Calvary Chapel Apple Valley. We instantly fell in love with the church and knew God had a purpose for my family and I being here.

 

Not long after, the Lord put on my heart to be baptized. Months later, I was baptized here at CCAV to profess my love for Christ and make it known to those around me. Since then, God really transformed my life for the better. I couldn’t be more blessed knowing that man doesn’t have ahold of my heart but God does. Placing my identity in Him and wanting His perfect will for my life was the best decision I ever made.

 

Shortly after, I started to get involved here at CCAV and started to attend Young Adults to grow more in Him and to fellowship with other believers. Being involved really encouraged me and helped me to grow in my relationship with Christ. God knew I needed this in my life. Now I couldn’t imagine my life without the friends I have made through Young Adults. Through this journey, God was so gracious to heal my broken heart and has been healing my stomach each day.

 

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

 

While attending CCAV, I was working at Chick-fil-A but knew God had something greater for my life. I was praying daily for God’s direction and knew the next step was for me to serve at the church. Obeying Him, I started serving in children's ministry since I had a special love for God’s children. After serving in children’s ministry for a while, I knew this is exactly where the Lord wanted me. As I was still praying for direction, He specifically put ministry on my heart. Jesus continued to speak to me through his word, so I prayed for Him to open a door.

 

In December of 2020, God graciously opened the door and I was asked to come on staff as the children’s ministry receptionist.

 

Before, I used to live my life in fear and in doubt of Him. I thought I could love the things of this world and still follow His ways. Now I live to please and serve my perfect Savior who restored my life. It’s by His grace that I’m here, able to serve others in the work of  the ministry, at Calvary Chapel Apple Valley.

CURRENT CHURCH EVENTS

We would love for you to get plugged in and join us at one of our upcoming events. Check out our E- Bulletin for a full list of what we're up to and feel free to contact us with any questions you might have.