Our Team

Committed to Helping You on Your Journey

Sarah Heath, Site Pastor

Rev. Sarah Heath serves as the teaching and preaching site pastor for SMUMC. She received a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Biology from the University of Southern Mississippi. She received her Master of Divinity from Duke University in 2005. From 2005 to 2011 Sarah served at University UMC in Irvine, California as Youth Pastor/Campus Minister to UCI and Associate Pastor. Sarah provides leadership for the Santa Margarita worship services as well as preaching on rotation at Mission Viejo. In addition, she leads the Mission and Outreach, Discipleship, and Human Diversity teams. Sarah loves music, traveling, creating art, playing and watching sports and, of course, laughing!

Craig Brown, Lead Pastor

Pastor Craig Brown has been serving as the Lead Pastor at Shepherd of the Hills since 2005. He has served several churches in his ministry in both Orange and Ventura Counties. He received his B.A. degree in Biblical Studies and Theology from Biola University in La Mirada, CA and his Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. Craig provides leadership to the church's worship services as well as teaching during the week.

Additionally, Craig has responsibility for being the chief visionary and leader of the Cooperative Parish which includes Santa Margarita UMC and Shepherd of the Hills UMC. He enjoys time spent at the beach and a good game of raquetball. He has been married to his wife, Bettina, since 1994 and they have two children together, David and Rachel.

Russ Jacobson, Associate Pastor

Pastor Russ Jacobson came to Shepherd of the Hills for a part time internship in September 2006 and liked it so much that he decided to stay! Russ graduated from U.C.L.A. with a B.A. in Political Science and earned an M.B.A. from the University of Montana in Missoula, MT. An accountant by trade, Russ worked in the family accounting practice before God called him to seminary and the ministry. Russ graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary with a M.Div. in 2008 and was installed as the Pastor for Discipleship in April 2009. He has primary responsibility for family ministries, evangelism and welcoming ministries.

Russ's passion is forging authentic Christian community among God's people. Russ enjoys spending time with his wife Deanna and their three children. His hobbies include collecting railroad memorabilia, rooting for the Angels and going to Disneyland.

Kim Nason, Director of Music

Kim Nason has been Director of Music at SMUMC since 1990. Kim directs the Chancel Choir which sings at the 9:30 service on Sundays. She also directs the annual children's summer Music Camp. Kim graduated from USC with a degree in Music Education. She has taught elementary music for the Capistrano Unified School District since 1988.

Kim and her husband Doug have been active in many groups and events at SMUMC since they became members in 1990. They live in Mission Viejo with their two children, Samantha and Joshua. Kim loves working with singers of all ages and especially enjoys the fellowship that happens when people are focused on a common goal.

Dave Roberts, Modern Worship Leader

“Worship is not a spectator sport! It is an act of community – a continual process and way of life that is occasionally accompanied by music.” This statement defines Dave’s perspective on worship, and the atmosphere that he creates with a contemporary style that engages the congregation, drawing them into a Spirit-led worship experience.

Dave has worked with several churches and denominations over his career as a vocalist, guitarist, bassist and drummer, and has been the worship leader at Santa Margarita UMC since 2007. He has also served at the Santa Ana District Elementary, Jr High and Sr High camps over the past 9 years. A lifelong musician, Dave learned guitar, bass, drums, and piano in his earlier years and applies those skills to develop and teach others to lead. He is currently working on an independent album to be released in late 2010.

When he is not making music, Dave enjoys building guitars, volunteering with youth, working on computers and spending time with his wife, Ashleigh and his 2 children, Sadie and Chandler.

Doug Nason, Director of Visual Arts

Doug Nason heads up our worship multi-media teams. Doug is a graduate of Cal Poly, Pomona, and teaches science in elementary schools. He is married to Kim and is a "stay-at-home" dad for much of the week.

At church, Doug ensures that the different parts of media - music, lyrics, slide shows, movie clips, and videos - come together on Sunday mornings. When he's not editing video on the computer or creating new ideas for worship, Doug helps lead music at a few local churches and summer camps.

Bill Lichty, Director of Congregational Care

Bill Lichty is an ordained minister with 40+ years in various roles (lead pastor, youth, music, education, Christian school), an M.A. in Pastoral Psychology and Counseling from Ashland Seminary (Ohio), counselor (indivdual, marriage, family), past college professor, and seminar/workshop leader. Bill has been married 46 years, has two children, and three grandchildren. He is a third generation minister and a lifelong follower of Jesus.

Richard Annett, Youth Ministry Coordinator

Richard Annett volunteered with the Youth Group at the Mission Viejo campus for three years prior to coming to the Santa Margarita campus in September, 2011. During that time he also attended two winter retreats with the students. For the past two summers, he has attended Lazy W Ranch as a Senior High camp leader. His greatest experience with youth is the moment they realize that Jesus is here among us, watching over us, protecting us, and guiding us in our lives.

Richard is currently going to Fuller Seminary where he is in the process of earning his Master of Divinity. He has lived in Southern California his entire life and in June, 2011 he graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a B.A. in History. He enjoys being outside, surfing, and talking theology with his friends. Richard prays that the Youth Group at Santa Margarita will continue to be a place where students can come and experience the love of God.

Ali Lotito, Children's Ministry Coordinator

Ali Lotito currently attends Cal State Fullerton as a Child and Adolescent Development major with a minor in Spanish and teaches preschool during the week. She has volunteered with children's ministry programs including teaching Sunday school at Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church for four years. Ali was also a camp counselor at the Elementary Church Camp at Lazy W Ranch and is currently a co-leader of the Santa Margarita and Mission Viejo sites' Explorers Club for third through fifth graders.

Ali feels that working with children is her talent and calling from God and plans to continue to do so after graduation. When she is not with children (which is rare) she enjoys playing tennis and soccer, art, rollerblading, going to the beach, and like most girls, shopping.

Liz Boulter, Office Administrator

Liz was born in the south, but being the daughter of a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marines meant she wouldn’t stay there for long. Liz grew up in North Carolina, Mississippi, New York, Maryland, Bangkok and finally Southern California. She graduated from UCI with a B.A. in Social Ecology. Although marriage and children quickly followed her University graduation, Liz still was able to make use of her education through extensive volunteer work.

Liz spent 10 years as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), helping children who were dependents of the court effectively cope with their time in the “system”. Dealing with the needs of children in group homes, living in foster care, and on paths to reunification with their parents, Liz’s efforts changed lives. She definitely had first-hand experience seeing what service could mean to a community and more importantly, to an individual. When Liz wasn’t volunteering for CASA she was busy parenting her own two children, volunteering in the school system, and helping to guide the company started by her husband.

God has blessed Liz with a combination of social service experience, business and administrative knowledge, and an intuitive desire to help others. She brings all this and more to her role as Office Administrator at SMUMC.


Sunday Info

This Week at SMUMC

This Wednesday we will have an Ash Wednesday service at 7 pm. Ashes are a sign of repentance and mourning. The Ashes traditionally are from Palm Sunday the year before and serve as a reminder that the joy of Palm Sunday can quickly turn to the betrayal and grief of the cross. The Ashes also remind us of the brevity of life. Let us begin the season of Lent with a clear focus on the gift of life and the correct use of that gift.

Featured

  • Cooperative Parish with Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church - Learn more about our Covenant for Cooperative Ministry here...
  • Dave Roberts, lead musician in our worship band, released his first CD several months ago. Recently, his music was picked up by UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, and used in a video they created and posted on their website! View the video here....

    Multi-Media