Thomas Benge
Teaching and Leadership
Thomas serves as Senior Pastor of Teaching and Leadership at Redmond Community Church and considers it to be one of the most amazing and challenging experiences of his life. Although he was born and raised in Ohio, he spent most of his adult life in Pennsylvania where he went to college graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and then went on to work 17 years in law enforcement, retiring as a police Sergeant in 2007. After this retirement, he moved to Redmond, Oregon with Nicole, his wife of over 24 years, and two adult daughters, Lauryn and Aaliah.
Mike Darby
Executive Pastor
In addition to providing counseling and administration, Mike oversees the food pantry and the various small groups in our church. An Oregon native, he has a Technical Degree, over 40 years of Business Administration experience, and a wealth of construction and mechanical knowledge.
Patty Davis
Worship Leader
After Patty moved to Redmond in 2013, she married her long-time childhood crush, Pete Davis and they began attending RCC shortly thereafter. Together they are blending their families (6 adult children, 5 bonus grandkids, 3 cats and 1 dog) and learning how to navigate life, and all of its wonders. When they're not up on the stage singing or behind the sound booth, you'll find them fishing, camping, visiting kids, gardening, or decorating.
Tara Davis
Director of Communications and Media
Moving to Central Oregon in 2006, Tara has been serving in ministry at RCC since 2007. The first part of her ministry career was dedicated to Children's Ministries. In 2018, she added some of the communication tasks to her role at the church. In Aug. of 2023, she handed over the reigns of Children's Ministry to Lauren, and now focuses all her energy on Communication and Media.
Erin Briggs
Ministry Assistant
Erin was raised, with her two sisters, by her Grandfather in the Willamette Valley where the love of Jesus was taught and instilled in her from a young age. She grew up knowing that her grandparents were both very involved in their church and that her Grandmother had been a church secretary. Erin wanted to follow in their footsteps, and dreamed of one day working at her church.
Kari Castino
Youth Leader
Kari, a Central Oregon native, loves Jesus, son Rylen, dogs (Charlie and Piper) and the great outdoors. Mostly in that order. And books, lots of books. She’s an enneagram geek, loves deep dives into scripture and hiking. She has been a part of the family of RCC since 2008. She quickly got connected with the women in the Tuesday bible study group and began helping out with the youth group. Through the years she has alternated between volunteering with the youth group and the food pantry, both being close to her heart. Serving in these ministries she has been blessed in making many friends at RCC.
Lauren Shields
Children's Ministry Coordinator
Lauren has called Central Oregon home since 2000, and feels blessed to be a homeschool mama raising her kids here with her husband Jeremy. As a family they love spending time traveling, hiking, biking, snowboarding, and generally just making memories together! Growing up, Lauren always dreamed of being a teacher but was counseled to get a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, which she completed at OSU in 2009.
Nathan Saito
Elder
My Life in Christ (John 1:4).
The following describes how I learned about the life and teachings of Jesus, received Him as Lord and Savior and continue to pursue and enjoy life in Christ. I learned my family is deeply rooted in the Good News dating a hundred years back into the woods of Japan. Relatives immigrated to America and became elders and pastors shepherding the Japanese-American communities.
The following describes how I learned about the life and teachings of Jesus, received Him as Lord and Savior and continue to pursue and enjoy life in Christ. I learned my family is deeply rooted in the Good News dating a hundred years back into the woods of Japan. Relatives immigrated to America and became elders and pastors shepherding the Japanese-American communities.
Gary McPherson
Elder
Reared and baptized as a Christian in my youth, I rebelled in my later adult years and went through a period that really disappointed me and shook my faith in “religion”, “church” and all that I had been brought up to believe. In the spring of 1988, after years of struggle, which had included abandonment of religion and divorce, I moved with one of my sons to California to be nearer to my sisters and their children. While there, after going through a divorce recovery counseling group, I happened to meet Joyce who later became my wife and moved to Paradise CA.
Steve Parnell
Elder
Steve is a third generation Oregonian, and one of 5 children. He was born in Eugene in 1954. Steve is a graduate of McNary High School in Salem, holds a BA in Business Administration, from Point Loma Nazarene University, in San Diego, CA and a MA in Teaching, from George Fox University, in Newberg, OR. Steve has lived in Central Oregon for the last 29 years. When he retired from teaching at La Pine High School in 2019, he moved to Redmond from Bend that year.
Moises Viramontes
Elder and Pastor of Iglesia Hispana (our Hispanic Church)
My name is Moises Viramontes. I’m from Mexico. I’ve been happily married since 2000 with my “Tica” (Costa Rican) Debbie. We have two beautiful children, Elizabeth and Ian, who have been a great blessing for our marriage.