Staff

Pastoral Staff

Dr. Robert B. Somerville
Pastor / Teacher

Joe Gruchacz
Pastor for Family Ministries

Chuck Andrews
Pastor for Counseling/
Administration

Dale Payne
Pastor for Youth

David Jump
Pastor for Worship/
Missions

Support Staff

Peggy Marlor
Executive Secretary

Lynette Huber
Receptionist

Greg Hubor
Janitor

Dr. Robert B. Somerville

email: BobS@vefc.net

Dr. Robert B. Somerville received his Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1970 and has served as a Pastor-Teacher in the Evangelical Free Church America since October of 1970 America. In 1977 he received his Doctor of Ministry degree in Biblical Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. While pastoring in the greater New York area, he handled the crisis telephone calls for the Family Radio station for two years, after which he wrote the book, Help for Hotliners: A Manual to Train Telephone Crisis Counselors.

Dr. Somerville serves as a member of the Board of The National Association of Nouthetic Counselors and in 1988 he was appointed as a Fellow. He has spoken widely on the subject of Biblical Counseling, teaching seminars in the U. 946 S. as well as speaking to missionaries in Europe, Central & South Africa, and Japan. He brings 31 years of experience as a senior pastor and over 7,000 hours of marriage and family counseling practice into the classroom.

Dr. Somerville has served as the Pastor-Teacher of the Visalia Evangelical Free Church since February of 1980. He is involved in an active counseling ministry as well as mentoring other pastors in the area of counseling and is the Chairman of the Board of the Biblical Counseling & Educational Center which is a ministry of the Visalia Evangelical Free Church.

Bob's wife Mary is a tremendous asset to his pastoral and counseling ministry. Mary holds a Master's degree in Pastoral Counseling from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. She has served faithfully as a Pastor's wife setting the example of a godly wife and mother. As their two children reached their later teen years, the role of Homemaker became somewhat less demanding, and God opened a new avenue of ministry for Mary. Young Life approached Mary to begin a ministry called 'Mentor Moms' where she matches up unwed teen moms with mature Christian women for the sake of friendship, mentoring, evangelism and discipleship. She is now the National Director of this program with Young Life and has authored the book, "Mentor Moms: A Handbook for Mentoring Teen Moms." Mary has also written two chapters in the book "Women Helping Women," which is edited by Elyse Fitzpatrick and published by Harvest House. Bob & Mary have two grown children, Michelle and Dan who are both married. Michelle's husband Tim teaches in a Seminary in South Africa with Grace Missions International and Dan & his wife Tiffany are both schoolteachers in Valencia, CA. Tim and Michelle have two sons.