Staff

Lead Pastor Mark & Angela Phillips

Once a biochemist and stand-up comedian as the winner of the National Steve Martin Comedy Contest, Mark Phillips was a skeptic who wanted to know the truth. He set out to disprove the Bible, but found the love of God was too great to escape and the veracity of the Bible too strong to deny. In fact, many findings from his efforts to disprove the Bible were later used as contributions to his doctoral dissertation.

Dr. Phillips holds a B.S. in Biology/Chemistry from Southwestern University, a Graduate Diploma in Theology from Oxford University, Oxford, England, is an M. Th. cand., holds 50 hours from New Geneva Theological Seminary, and earned a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Louisiana Baptist University.

After moving their family to Colorado Springs from Oxford, England, the call to minister became clear to Mark and Angela. Pastor Mark has an amazing gift for drawing others to the truth through humor, science, useful teaching, practical biblical wisdom, and a genuine love for people. Pastor Mark's teaching helps fulfill our vision to be relevant to our culture. He preaches the ancient text in present context.

Angela is equally gifted, but in the area of worship. A native of Biloxi, Mississippi, Angela has trained for the Lord for most of her life, beginning her musical career when she was eight. She graduated from Belmont University in Nashville with a B.B.A. with a specialty in Music Business. She worked for many years in the Nashville music scene, serving as a demo singer for the Pointer Sisters and singing with such legends as BJ Thomas and Dottie West. Angela has traveled to such international destinations as Korea and Zimbabwe as a missionary in music.  Excellence and Passion for God are the earmarks of worship at Christ Church.

Mark and Angela's passion is for a life-giving church to empower locally and send globally so that many will come to know the Lord and be filled with His freedom and joy. Their vision is that many will be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, liberated by biblical truth, thus impacting our city, our nation, and the rest of the world with the good news of God's love and provision.

They have 3 children, Isom, Isaiah, and Isabella.

Bethany Hanson

Childrens' Ministry

Bethany is the acting Childrens director at Christ Church. Bethany Hanson has been part of the Christ Church family for the past 7 years. After graduating from Wheaton College, Bethany worked at Focus on the Family for 6 years before leaving to pursue motherhood and other volunteer work. Bethany is involved in many community activities for children and families, and is passionate about making her home a happy, nurturing, place which impacts the world around her. Bethany and her husband Derek have three children, Aidan, Caleb and Elsie.

Lisa Backstrom

Womens' Ministry

Lisa directs our Women's Ministry here at Christ Church. Lisa was born and raised in CA where she graduated Court Reporting College and was a practicing Court Reporter for 21 years. She moved to CO in 1992 and sold her deposition agency in 1997 to stay home with her boys. She and her husband, Gary, were one of the founding families of Christ Church in 1999. She worked with youth in CA and also at Christ Church. She has a passion for missions and participated in both states with youth mission trips. Lisa was asked to teach Women's Bible Study in 2001 and has served in that capacity since then. She became the Director of Women's Ministry in 2008, teaches Women's Bible Study, and serves on the Lead Team at Christ Church. Lisa and Gary have three children: Justin, (daughter-in-law Denielle), Nathan and Garrett.

Bruce Eggleston

Care Pastor

Bruce is a Care Pastor at Christ Church and leads small group studies.  He has been a disciple of Jesus for over thirty years, and pays the bills by working as a computer programmer for District 11.  He loves the Word and seeks to teach it at every opportunity.  His heart is to see the world transformed by the Gospel.

Resolution Youth Team

Sara Griffin

Youth Ministry/Communications

Sara heads the communications department here at Christ Church.  She is also part of the Resolution Youth Ministry team for junior high and high school aged youth.  Because she is so involved with and loves people so much, she is a very vital part of the team.  Sara was raised as a military child all over the United States and was very involved in the church from a very young age.  She has a passion for God and a heart for the individual that makes her the perfect person for this important position.  

Shayne Champlin

Youth Ministry/Media Director

Shayne is the media director and the webmaster at Christ Church.  He is also part of the Resolution Youth Ministry team.  Shayne has a creative eye and a passion for God that drives him to create imagery for the church that fits with its DNA, and is relevant to the Christ Church vision.  He was a non-believer the majority of his life until he found God in September of 2008.  Since then he has moved full steam ahead to following and serving Christ and has aspirations of one day becoming a pastor.

David and Ashley Gutierrez  

Youth Ministry

After graduating high school in 2002, David and Ashley met at Master’s Commission USA in Phoenix, AZ. Master’s Commission is an intense one-year discipleship program, designed to cultivate an intimate relationship with God and to create disciples who are passionate to know God and make Him known. Knowing that God had called them to serve at this ministry for some time, they graduated from their first year and entered into leadership, where they would faithfully serve and grow in the Lord as well as in ministry for 4 years. During this time their relationship was born and they dated for a year and half and were happily married November 24, 2007. Shortly after this, God called them to move to Colorado Springs to serve John and Lisa Bevere at Messenger International; where David is currently serving. Ashley serves at Compassion International. At the beginning of 2009, they were introduced to Pastor Mark and Angela. Following the Lord’s leading they began attending Christ Church.

“We are excited about the opportunity to serve at Christ Church. We are passionate to see young people, despite of their current surroundings and pressures, rise above it all in reckless abandonment in their pursuit of the One who is recklessly abandoned toward us.”
 

Bobby and Shaina Moats

Youth Ministry

Bobby and Shaina met while attending Texas A&M University in College Station, TX. Shortly after graduation, they married and moved to Colorado Springs for Bobby’s job. Bobby works as a Relationship Manager at BBVA Compass. He became a Christian when he was very young, and was baptized during college. Shaina works at Compassion International. She became a Christian when she was 14 years old. They love their new state, and are very excited about getting to know everyone at their new church home.