Dr. Rick Mandl, Senior Pastor

Pastor Rick is a native Southern Californian who grew up about 15 minutes from ERBC.  Before becoming a pastor, his career goal was to work in radio. He completed an associates degree in Broadcasting and then took a job as a deejay in Santa Maria.  He soon discovered that dreams aren’t all they are cracked up to be and decided to return to college to get training in something more mainstream, in case he ever needed to get a real job.

It was in 1977, while he was completing his degree at California State University Los Angeles that Rick was introduced to Jesus Christ through some people from Eagle Rock Baptist Church.  Shortly after beginning a personal relationship with Jesus, Rick wanted to learn more about God's Word and so entered seminary.  It was there that he felt that God was calling him to serve as a pastor.  He received his Masters Of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Talbot School of Theology. 

Since 1990 Rick has had the privilege of pastoring the church where he came to know the Lord, was baptized, married, and has watched his children grow up.  Rick and his wife Judy are the proud parents of three daughters, Kari (26) who is also known as Mrs. James Bean, Kelcie (23) and Kimberly (20). 

One little-known fact about Pastor Rick: Although he hasn’t been behind a radio mike since 1975, he has been in front of a TV camera as a contestant on Wheel of Fortune, Scrabble, Hot Potato, Match Game, Pyramid, Bowling for Dollars, and Lingo. 

Becky Bibelheimer, Women's & Children's Ministries

Becky hasn't always been a Bibelheimer.  She started out as a Higgins and lived with her family in Simi Valley after a brief stay in Northern California and three years in Madrid, Spain.  She attended public schools in Simi Valley and has fond memories of growing up there with her parents and two brothers. She left Simi Valley to attend Biola University where she got her BA in Liberal Studies in preparation for becoming a teacher.  In May of 1980 she married her husband Bruce.

Becky and Bruce came to Eagle Rock Baptist Church in 1980.  They were a part of the exciting Young Married's Class in which they made lifelong friendships.  They served together in the nursery and in the Young Married's Class.  Their daughter Erin was born in 1985.  Bruce died in 1986 after a short fight with brain cancer.  Becky credits the prayers and support of members at ERBC as the reason she was able to get through those difficult days.  Sarah was born in December of 1986, just five months after her daddy's death. 

Becky taught from 1980 until 1984 at Village Christian School in Sun Valley. She started working at Eagle Rock Baptist Church about eighteen months after Bruce's death and worked here in various capacities of Children's Ministries until she returned to teach at Village in 1994.  She stayed at Village until June of this year at which time she returned to full time work at ERBC.

In 2004 Becky's desire to have as son came true when Christopher joined Becky's family.  Becky's greatest joy is when all of her kids are home together and the family spends time enjoying one another's company.  Erin now lives in St. Louis, MO where she is completing work on her MA in Social Work.  Sarah lives in La Habra, CA where she is completing her senior year at Biola University.  Christopher lives at home with his mom and grandmother and will be starting fourth grade in September.  He brings tons of smiles to his mom's face.

Becky is excited about the privilege of serving the children and women at ERBC and is thankful for this opportunity to work full time at the church.

Jordan Schumacher, Pastor of Ministries

Jordan calls many places home. He is originally from Denver but moved shortly after his birth to the great State of Alaska. Although the pristine beauty of Alaska was breath-taking, after ten years of the harsh winters his family was so ready for a change that they decided to move to the opposite extreme in temperature—Houston, TX. Jordan remained in the scorching Texan sun for high school and college. Upon graduating from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Industrial Distribution, the Lord revealed two things: 1) his true passion lay outside the business world, and 2) he desired a more manageable climate. As such, he moved to Pasadena to pursue a Masters of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in preparation for vocational ministry. Although he finished his degree in December 2008, he has no plans of leaving the splendid Southern California weather. Rather, he’s enjoying soaking in the sun and doing his passions—recreating (hiking, climbing, skiing, surfing, weightlifting, going to the beach with friends, and playing any sport with a racket or a ball), watching movies (especially action and dramas), and serving our great God by ministering inside and outside the local church.

What is a “Pastor of Ministries,” you might be wondering? Great question! Jordan oversees our small group, connection, and community outreach ministries, as well as helps to coordinate domestic and overseas mission trips. If you are looking to get plugged-in at ERBC, he’s the guy to see.

Prior to being hired as ERBC's Pastor of Ministries, Jordan served as Junior and Senior High School Intern at Kingsland Baptist Church in Katy, TX and as College and Young Adult Intern at First Baptist Church in Pasadena, CA. In addition to leading mission trips to Mexico, Jamaica, and Trinidad, he also spent the summer of 2007 as Young Adult Intern at Alongside Ministries in Albania. After graduating from Fuller, he was hired at ERBC as Director of Community Outreach and was ordained at Kingsland Baptist Church in May 2009.  Along with pastoring, Jordan enjoys working part-time as a spiritual and academic mentor for at-risk college students in Downtown LA with Ascending Lights Leadership Network.

Kee Hyon Higgins Worship, Youth & Media Intern

Kee Hyon…Higgins? No, he is not a relative of Miss Becky Bibelheimer. Kee Hyon is a hybrid of a Caucasian father and Korean mother. He was born in Seoul, South Korea on an American army base. After two years, his father wase stationed in Monterey, California, where Kee Hyon attended private schools all around the Monterey Peninsula.

For Kee Hyon, music was always around the house. The piano, tuba, and cello were practiced at home on a regular basis. During his teenage years, his mother was the music director at his church, and there he found a connection between God and music. He attended three universities (Simpson, Biola, and Azusa Pacific) in order to receive his Bachelor’s in Music Education.

During college, Kee Hyon discovered the attractive aura of U2 and made it his calling to play the electric guitar just like The Edge. After playing in bands and churches, he decided that maybe teaching would be an ideal job and briefly taught to elementary students before joining the ERBC staff team as the Worship, Youth & Media Ministries Intern. Along with serving at ERBC, Kee Hyon is also pursuing a Master’s Degree in “Worship, Theology, and the Arts” at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Peter Tvrznik, Worship, Media & Art Ministries Intern

For Peter, it always seems to come back to the music. Growing up in the small town of Monterey, California, Peter never had aspirations to be a musician or to be in front of people at all. However, this never stopped his parents from finding every opportunity to stand him up in front of friends and family and urge him to sing. This eventually developed into regular performances for holiday gatherings, church events, school talent nights, and knitting parties.

As he grew, Peter began to pursue other vocational interests, but always seemed to find himself leading worship for one group or another. Even as he geared his life goals towards become an English teacher, a friend asked for his help leading worship for a church youth group. Peter soon found himself singing in front of others once again. A year later, Peter had picked up his first serious instrument, the guitar, and had taken full leadership of the worship.

Peter recently graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a degree in English and now, once again, finds himself looking at others across the brim of a microphone as ERBC’s Worship, Media & Art Ministries Intern. He has grown very fond of the opportunity to lead others in worship and continues to thank the Lord for his goodness. As part of his position at ERBC, Peter also helps with graphic and art design.

Before his involvement at ERBC, Peter served at several churches in California including Sacred Heart Church in Salinas, Peninsula Christian Center in Pacific Grove, and Mosaic Church in Marina. He was also instrumental in organizing various cross-denominational worship nights that included several churches in Monterey, Salinas and Pacific Grove.