Pastoral Team

Peter Brunton Lead Pastor
Peter Brunton

Lead Pastor

Crystal Brunton Pastoral Staff
Crystal Brunton

Lead Pastor

Mark Evans Founding Pastor
Mark Evans

Senior Pastor & Founder

Dr. Crystal Evans Founding Pastor
Dr. Crystal Evans

Senior Pastor & Founder

Sean & Maria Lagasse Winter Garden Founding Pastors
Sean & Maria Lagasse

Winter Garden Founding Pastors

David Bouton

Pastor & Next Steps Director

Aslinn Bouton

Executive Pastor

Jared Evans

Executive & Worship Pastor

Hope Evans

Pastor & Unlimited Program Director

Phil Weekley

Online Pastor & Elder

Dr. Linda Weekley

Online Pastor

Ryan Mckenzie

Winter Garden Campus Pastor

Grace Mckenzie

Winter Garden Campus Pastor

Jim Sellers

Pastor & Elder

Administrative Team

Savannah Bass

Office Administrator

Mike MacKubin

Financial Oversight Director

Justin Westervelt

Property Manager

Sunday Go Team

Phil Chang

Production & Marriage Ministry Director

Rengie Ramirez

Production Manager

Rebecca Faiella

Main Campus Kid's Director

Emily Wafer

Main Campus Kid's Director

Rachel Ilardi

Winter Garden Kid's Director

Janelle Reid

Nursery Director

Engagement Go Team

Casey Stagg
Casey Stagg

Small Group Director

Kim Stagg
Kim Stagg

Small Group Director

Rick Romot
Rick Romot

Creative Director & Elder

Laura Romot
Laura Romot

Generosity Director

Mollie Chang
Brandon Sellers

Youth Director

Mollie Chang
Angela Sellers

Youth Director

Nick Beecher
James Taylor

Young Adults Director

Nick Beecher
Victoria Taylor

Young Adults Director

Mollie Chang
Mollie Chang

Marriage Ministry Director

Eric Stagg
Eric Stagg

Prayer and Healing Team Director

Wes Boyce

Northwest Music School Director

Emilee Westervelt
Emilee Westervelt

Lovely Project Chief Operations Officer

Our History

Northwest Church started in Pastors Mark and Crystal Evans' living room with just a few families. Growth demanded several moves to barns, schools, and warehouses. In 1999 we partnered with John Maxwell’s Stewardship Campaign (ISS) and moved to our current campus. Currently we run multiple Sunday services to accommodate our growing church, as well as a myriad of classes, conferences, events and small groups. 

Since 2004 we have been mentored by Agua Viva Church in Lima, Peru. The church was built on the small groups model by Pastors Peter and Mirta Hornung, who directed the growth of their 3,000-member church to more than 100,000 members in only seven years. During this time, Pastor Mirta became a Congresswoman who pioneered ground-breaking policy for women in Peru; she later became House Speaker.

 

About Northwest Church

We’re a passionate-for-Christ group of all ages and all walks of life. Have fun exploring our website... just know that the best way to experience Northwest is to come check it out for yourself. We love it here and know you will too.

Beliefs: Statement of Faith

 

Beliefs define how you talk, act and love. This is the boring part, in that it reads like a contract.
But if you want to be sure we’re not crazy - go ahead and read them.

What We Believe
In essential beliefs - we have unity

1 Tim. 4:16  Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

In non-essential beliefs - we have liberty

Romans 14:1,4,12,22  Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters...Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls...So then each of us will give an account of himself to God...So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.

In all our beliefs - we show charity

1 Cor. 13:2(Ph) ...If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also the very secrets of God, and if I have the faith that can move mountains - but have no love, I amount to nothing at all.

The Essentials We Believe
About God

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.

Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Cor. 13:14

About Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He rose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Cor. 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Tim. 6:14,15; Titus 2:13.

About the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily.

2 Cor. 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 2:12, 3:16; Eph. 1:13; Gal. 5:25; Eph. 5:18

About the Bible

The Bible is God's Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error.

About Human Beings

People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God's creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin". This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life.

Gen. 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Rom. 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2

About Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Gen 1:26-27.) Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. (Gen 2:18-25.) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb 13:4.) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pedophilia and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. (Matt 15:18-20; 1 Cor 6:9-10.)

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Northwest Church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the Northwest Church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Northwest Church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality. (Matt 5:16; Phil 2:14-16; 1 Thess 5:22.)

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11.)

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31.) Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Northwest Community Church.

About Salvation

Salvation is God's free gift to us and we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin's penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.

Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Gal. 3:26; Rom. 5:1

About Eternity

People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.

John 3:16; 1 John 2:25; 1 John 5:11-13; Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:15

What We Practice
Bible as our sole authority

2 Tim. 3:15  The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us to do what is right.

Since God's Word is the only completely reliable and truthful authority, we accept the Bible as our manual for living.

Autonomy of each local church

Col. 1:18 (GN)  Christ is the head of his Body, the church. He is the source of the Body's life...

Priesthood of every believer

Rev. 1:6 (GN)  Christ loves us, and by his death he has freed us from our sins and made us a kingdom of priests to serve God...

1 Peter 2:9 (GN)  You are... the King's priests ...God’s own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God.

Tithing

Lev. 26:30  A tithe of everything you produce belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.

Immersion

Col. 2:12 (GN) For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ...

Spirit-led living

John 15:5 (Jesus said) I am the Vine, you are the branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; but apart from me you can do nothing.

We believe the only way possible to live the Christian life is by God's power within us. So we seek to practice a daily dependence on God's Spirit to enable us to do what is right. (Phil. 2:13, Eph. 5:18)

Telling others about Christ

1 Peter 3:15  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

Road Map

Grow Young

We will love, equip and empower young people. Winning the young attracts family members of all ages to come too.

Grow Small

We will use the small groups model to grow with spiritual health as a church by meeting in all kinds of groups, all over the city, throughout the week. Small groups are where we become known and get to know others between Sundays. 

Eat The Chicken,
Spit Out The Bones

We will take the good, we leave the rest. Christ is perfect and chooses to reveal himself to us through each other, even through all of our imperfections.

A+

Be Excellent

Christ must be represented as the best, through us giving our best. We must do everything to the best of our ability and seek to show Him more.

Get Creative

In an entertainment-hungry, experience-driven world we will commit to using creativity, music, dance, technology to express the message of Christ in relevant and inspiring ways.

Numbers Do Count

We will be committed to quality and quantity of Christians as the Great Commission directs. God loves the whole world, and we must tell everyone.

We Are One In Vision

We are united under the vision given to our Pastors, and we’re sticking to it.

Be Like God

We will give generously like the Father, love sacrificially like Christ, and act boldly like the Spirit. We will always keep the Cross as our central message and help people to encounter God.