Pastors & Staff

Brian Bell

Senior Pastor

Brian is the senior pastor here at Calvary Murrieta. He is the main teaching pastor, Chairman of the Church Board and School Board, and shepherd of Calvary Murrieta. Brian’s passion to bring Jesus to the nations has led him to over thirty countries and is now focused on our two specific unreached people groups. Brian and his wife Kelly have worked fervently this past decade to bring justice for women and children who have been exploited in human trafficking. This continues to make a meaningful impact within our valley, California, and across the globe.
Brian fell in love with his high school sweetheart, dated for five years, and has been married now for forty wonderful years. He has two adult children and five grandchildren. What really warms his heart is playing with his grandchildren. What fuels him physically is surfing and hiking. What moves his soul is getting to think, strategize, pray for, and visit our unreached people groups.

Kelly Bell

Leader - Women

Kelly is the leaders of Women’s Ministry and Justice Ministries. She loves being a wife, mom, and grandma, but most of all, she loves the opportunity to serve Jesus full time. She is passionate about reading, writing, teaching, running, cycling, talking about Jesus, and fighting for justice.

Jennifer Bursch

Executive Director and CMCS Head of Schools

Jen is Calvary Murrieta’s Executive Director and Calvary Murrieta Christian Schools’ Head of School, as well as a Church Board member and a School Board member. As Executive Director and Head of Schools, Jen is responsible to oversee the finances and operations of both the Church and School. Jen is a lawyer, and has spent the majority of her career advocating for churches and Christian schools. She and her husband Jordan have two kids. Her hobbies are reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Dan Effinger

Pastor - Biblical Counseling

Dan is pastor over Biblical Counseling and Hope Ministries, as well as a Church Board member. He has been on staff since 1999. Dan has a daughter who is married, a son living on the road climbing tall peaks in a single bound, and a wife who continuously adds jewels to her heavenly crown by being married to Dan. His hobbies include just about anything, but he is particularly addicted to surfing and photography.

Andrew Lacasse

Pastor - Education

Andrew is pastor over Education and Training as well as a Church Board member. He has been at Calvary Murrieta for 26 years. His wife, Madeline, and he have a young daughter and a foster son. His passion in ministry is to help people love God in His word.

Tony Schaffner

Assistant Pastor

Tony is an Assistant Pastor, as well as a Church Board member. He has been on staff with Calvary Murrieta since 2000. He enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife and the many adventures they share together.

Larry Hansen

Pastor - Missions

Larry is pastor over Missions, as well as a Church and School Board member. He provides training, education, and support to those on the field or desiring to go onto the mission field. He has been on staff since 2001. He is married to his wonderful wife Donna and together they have two children, Landi and Paul. Larry enjoys the beach, surfing, and long-distance running.

Andrew Paulsen

Pastor - Community Groups

Andrew is pastor over Calvary Murrieta’s Community Groups. He has been attending Calvary Murrieta for 15 years and serving on staff for 7 years. He is married to his best friend Charlotte and they have two boys. He loves backpacking, reading, and rooting for his Lakers and Dodgers (World Champions!).

Greg Fischer

Leader - Men

Greg is the leader of Murrieta Men the Calvary Men’s Fellowship. He enjoys creating opportunities for men to gather in fellowship and strengthen each other in the daily lives. He is married to Lori his wife of 39 years, has 4 adult children, 3 grandchildren and enjoys spending time with them, hanging with friends and working on his classic MGB.

Romulo Costa

Leader - Worship

Romulo is the Worship Music Ministry leader at Calvary Murrieta. He has been at Calvary Murrieta for 18 years. He was born and raised in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. He came to America when he was 16, met his beautiful wife when he was 18, have been married for 17 years, and have two amazing kids. He loves using the gift of music to lead God’s people to His throne. He also enjoys God’s Word, a good book, meaningful conversations with his friends, laughing and making people laugh, Brazil’s soccer team, his mama’s food, and sushi.

Miguel Abundis

Pastor - Spanish

Miguel is the pastor over the Spanish Ministry at Calvary Murrieta. He has served in the Spanish Ministry for 10 years along with his wife Elva and their five kids. He was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and has been married for 30 years. His passion is the study and teaching of Scriptures.

Jasmine Boucher

Director - Children's Ministry

Jasmine is the Calvary Kids Director. She has been attending Calvary Murrieta for eight years and has been on staff for three years. She is a mom and wife who loves to spend time with her family and friends. She loves to watch cooking shows and download recipes she will never make. Her real passion is teaching children about their Heavenly Father and watching them grow in their relationship with the Lord.

Shane Academia

Leader - Middle School

Shane is the leader over 678 Middle School Ministry. Shane and his wife Mackenzie just got married in December 2021. He enjoys playing basketball, playing video games, watching sports and This Is Us, and more!

Cameron Seely

Leader - High School

Cameron is the director of our High School Ministry RISE. He is a husband to his beautiful wife Melissa and father to his three children, August, Eleanor, and Margot. Cam has a passionate desire to disciple and raise up young people in Christ. And other than being a huge sports fan, he loves surfing and being outdoors.

Jason Bell

Leader - Young Adults

Jason is the director of our Young Adult’s Ministry here at Calvary Murrieta and he also oversees our benevolence department. Jason lives here in Murrieta with this wife Jessica and his two kids, Jaidyn and Jax. He has a passion for relationships, studying the word of God and making God known in a way that is real and relevant.