Meet Our Staff and Council
Lead Pastor
Jeff Kempton
Jeff was born in San Diego, and spent most of his childhood in Ventura CA, but also lived in Maryland and Germany. Jeff met his wife Michelle while he was in college in Santa Barbara, and he later graduated from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena. After serving in youth ministry for over a decade, Jeff was the Assistant Pastor at a church outside Memphis TN, before coming to Crossroads during the height of COVID in August 2020.
Jeff and Michelle are the parents of two teenagers, and they share their home with a dog and a cat. Jeff enjoys trail running and watching Dodgers baseball; you can often find him working on sermons at a local coffee shop.
IT Consultant
Rick De Baan
Rick helps support staff with IT needs, as well as runs video and sound on Sunday mornings.
Youth Director
Shelly Katje
Shelly has been a part of Crossroads for many years and is currently the Youth Director for our Jr. High and High School students.
Worship Director
Maggie Fiske
Maggie lives in Escondido with her husband and daughter and their 4 (yes, FOUR) cats. Maggie has been involved in music and worship for the vast majority of her life and would have it no other way. When she's not working, she can be found watching sci-fi with her husband, crafting with her daughter, or spying on the cats as they watch the birds that visit her balcony garden.
Bookkeeper
Heather Poder
Heather is happy to be settled here in SoCal after spending time in Philadelphia, Phoenix, and San Francisco previously. She and her husband have two teenage children. She spends most of her spare time at dance competitions with her daughter and catching glimpses of her son at UC Berkeley. She can also be found reading, studying His word, crocheting, or playing with her dog.
Office Administrator & Custodian
Sherry Schwab
Sherry has lived her entire life in Southern California. She and her husband have 2 adult children, one moving to Minnesota for work and one attending Northern Arizona University. Sherry has been part of the Crossroads community since 2004.
Business Manager
Mark Steenstra
Mark Steenstra has been a member of Crossroads Church since its inception in 1997. During that time Mark has served as both Elder and Deacon on multiple occasions. Mark and his wife Nettie live in Escondido and have four adult children. He currently works as a real estate investor. He taught at Calvin Christian School for 17 years, and worked as an electrical engineer and business manager for technology companies for 13 years. Mark loves spending time with his family and friends, and likes to hike, mountain bike, sail and play pickleball.
Prayernet Ministries Coordinator
Jackie Vanden Bos
As prayer coordinator, Jackie sends out requests for prayer support regularly and as needed. Her passion is that we will show love and care for one another by holding each other up before our heavenly Father.
Jackie is retired after many years as an administrative assistant at Westminster Seminary in Escondido and CrossPoint Church in Chino, CA. She has a daughter and a son, daughter-in-law, and three of the world's best grandchildren.
Reading is one of her favorite leisure activities.
Church Council
Elders
Gary B
Jeff H
Paul L
Bill S
Frank Z
Deacons
Ozzie F
Jayne K
Mike S
Ryan U
Linda V
Sarah V