Men’s Ministries’ Report

Dr. Samuel Huddleston, Director

What an incredible year ministering to our men. I am grateful for the men GOD has placed around me that allows us to do this ministry TOGETHER. Allow me to name them at the beginning of this report. It is a great group of spirit-filled men.  I want you to know who these men are who are serving in the NCN Men’s Ministry. 

Joe Cordeiro: He is doing a great job bringing the men together in Northern Nevada for gatherings and a yearly event where they spend the day in their own mini conference that is growing. He retired in November 2025 from O’Reilly Auto Parts.  He is the Men’s Ministry Pastor as a volunteer. He also assists Pastor Jordan McDermid as needed.

Greg (Papa Greg) Crabtree: He is a board member and treasurer at our church in Novato under Pastors Caleb and Rachael Klinge. He is the President of Business Men’s Fellowship. He is also in the jewelry business. He enjoys helping start Men’s Ministries at our churches in the Bay Area. He has been on the Men’s Ministry Team since before I came. His wealth of wisdom and love for men being disciples make him a great asset to the team.

Isaiah Vi: He helps me personally with our Intercultural Fellowships. He has traveled with me to other countries, doing ministry with me as well. His church home is our Tongan First Assembly of God in San Carlos, CA. He has worked for 39 years for the County of San Mateo in the area of Human Services Agency as an Information Technology Analyst. He is the National Youth Director of the USA Tongan AOG fellowship since 2011. He helps me a lot when I need his assistance with cultural understanding.

Jeff Green: He is a utilities man with so much experience, gifted in many areas. He has an incredible business mind after more than 25 years in the real estate business, being an agent, merger acquisition marketing manager, and more. He brings that expertise to Men’s Ministry. And 40-plus years in ministry with a deep sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. He is a true asset to our men.

Michael Stoutmire: He is a staff Pastor on the team of Pastor Tim Gavigan at Glad Tidings in San Francisco. He assists Pastors Tim and Katie in reaching the people in that city under the title of Administrative and Men’s Ministry Pastor.

Nelson Vega Jr: What a gifted young man. He is the Campus Worship Pastor for Destiny Sacramento, with Pastors Michael & Kristine Baker, who all serve under the leadership of Pastor Greg and Kathy Farrington. He knows how to direct men/people into the presence of Jesus. I think it is because he spends a lot of time with Him and has a praying wife,  just a thought.

Stephen Wilks: He leads the prayer mandate for the Men’s Ministry team. Whenever there is a need, we communicate with him, and he sends out a group text to the men. Together we call out to the One who said, “Cast all your burdens upon me because I care for you.” 1 Peter 5:7. I’ve been in prayer meetings with his parents; I know where he gets the gift from. He is a good communicator.  He serves as Staff Pastor/Men’s Ministry Director under Pastor Andrew Huson at River City Church in Sacramento, CA. His day job is working for the State of California Franchise Tax Board.

Jordan Foster: He has served for 7 years under our Presbyter/ Pastor Paul Krob as an usher, associate pastor, and Men’s Ministry leader. Throughout those years, he was learning the art of Pastoring. He has recently planted a Parent Affiliated Church under Pastor Paul Krob: Brickyard Christian Fellowship. It is located in the South San Joaquin Section in Madera County. He, too, is a man of prayer. Such a tender spirit.

Jim Uhey: Although Jim is no longer an active part of the team, having recently moved to Waco, Texas, to be closer to family, he served alongside me for 20 years. He also served under two previous Men’s Ministry Directors, Steve Brown and Randy Greer. He took minutes in our meetings. When the meeting ended, we would have the minutes in our email. Jim fulfilled that role and others with excellence. Char Blair, my former exec admin, was concerned with taking minutes in a room filled with me when brother Braddy appointed me Men’s Ministry Director.  My comment, “That would be so demeaning to any woman. Surely we can find one of those men to do that.” …Jim was that man. May God bless him for all he did for the team.

Davin Johnson: He is now a lead Pastor at Glad Tidings AG in East Peoria, IL. For years, he served on our Men’s Ministry Team with excellence. We all miss him and wish him God’s best at his new assignment with his wife, Jennifer, and their children.

Men’s Conferences in Eureka & the Bay Area

We have men’s gatherings in San Jose under Pastors Richard Hernandez and Derik Scott. In Eureka, we have a gathering under Executive Presbyter/Pastor Willy Bowles. Both of these are growing yearly. Then we attend the one held in Hollister by Pastor Kevin Townsend. He has had one with 300 men coming together to seek the face of God. God is on the move in our men in Northern California & Nevada.

Men’s Gathering - Reno, Nevada

Men’s Conference - Sacramento, California

Thank you again, Pastor Greg Farrington and Campus Pastors Michael and Christine Baker, for allowing us to have another successful Men’s gathering at Destiny Sacramento. What a wonderful place to have a gathering of men learning to love Jesus and do life together. Thank you to our communicators:  Jamie Winship, Dave Dravecky, Pastor Dan Vera Jr of Christian Worship Center of San Jose, and Jacob Dominguez Jr. 

It was a very special God-breathed gathering as men gathered at the altar praying together. I love seeing that every year. Tears flowing, repentance expressed as men come to grips with the fact that who they are is not who they want to be. 

Our upcoming 2026 Men’s Conference is at Destiny at their Sacramento campus this year. We are very excited to be back in Sacramento. Our speakers will be Pastor Bret Allen, Dr. Greg Campbell, Pastor Vic Caruso, and myself. Dr. Greg Campbell will have three sessions on Friday. 

Special Thank You from Dr. Sam

However, none of what I have just said becomes reality WITHOUT the support of the Pastors of Northern California & Nevada. I wish to thank all of you for your continual support. As busy as I know you are, many of you come to these events. Those who do not attend because of life seem to always be a delegation of men. You have no idea how encouraging it is for our District Affiliated pastors to be in that gathering yearly with hundreds of men worshipping Jesus; the largest crowd many of them are in all year. Bless you, Pastor, bless you.

I want to thank Superintendent Allen and the Presbytery for the privilege and trust to serve our district in such a vital capacity. To help our men build lasting relationships as they are encouraged to serve their Pastors, the local church, their communities, and families. Together, we are making a difference. Bless you, my friend, and may His grace continue to rest upon you. Again, thanks for the privilege to serve Northern California & Nevada Men. As it says in Psalms 133:1, ”Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in UNITY.”

Last, I want to thank my executive admin, Natalie Aspenlind. She is a gift to this office. May God bless her for all she does in serving the Lord as she serves me and our Men’s Ministry.