DAN PERKINS
executive pastor
408.252.3700 x213
dan.perkins@westgatechurch.org

Someone once asked Dan, “How do I get to know you?” His reply, “Get a bike and let’s go for a ride.” So, consider this a quick spin.

Dan grew up in (northern) Northern California, went to LIFE Pacific College in (just) Southern California, spent 3 years touring as a musical-comedy performer with Jeremiah People, was a booking agent, real estate agent, construction superintendent and fine dining waiter. When he met his wife Joy, he thought she was pretty cute… she thought, “I’m gonna marry this guy!” A few years later they had two girls, Sara and Aubrey, helped plant a church and became a model family for the television show thirtysomething.

Throughout a twenty-year journey in worship ministry Dan resided mostly as the Worship Arts Pastor at Southwest Community Church in Indian Wells, CA where he produced multiple award winning shows working with such folks as David Foster, John Tesh and Josh Groban. While at Southwest he helped develop a progressive system of programming that is being used by churches around the world today.

Something of a “renaissance man,” Dan is passionate about gourmet food and triathlon. Having competed in multiple Ironman races, including the World Championship in Hawaii, Dan now races for Compassion International to help raise money and awareness for impoverished children and their extraordinary medical needs and is actively involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes traveling around the country speaking on behalf of both organizations.

What creeps you out??
Mimes! If you want to give me the heebie jeebies just paint your face white and use exaggerated movements to communicate nothing very important.

What was your first car??

A 1965 Mustang Convertible! Bought it for $600 and sold it for $1250 and still kicking myself!

What was your most embarrassing hairstyle??

I got a “fro.” Not that I wanted to, I was looking for loose curls like Rod Stewart and ended up looking like Lionel Richie!

What do you do when you can’t sleep??

I go to bed. Oh, you mean whe… zzzzzzz!

CRIS ONTONARI
six40 life ministry assistant
408-252-3700 x231
cris.otonari@westgatechurch.org

Cris was born at El Camino Hospital and was raised in Sunnyvale, where she currently lives with her two teenage boys. A graduate of San Diego State with a marketing degree, her jobs out of college were in sales and marketing with high tech companies. That was a life Cris happily left behind in 1999 to become a full time mom.

Through an inquisitive five-year old son, the family checked out Christianity, and in October 2003 she accepted Jesus. As God has continued to transform her life, the desire for vocational ministry grew stronger. Having recently been a seeker herself, Cris has a heart for the lost, those new to the faith, and those new to WestGate. She sees her job with Six40 life as a great fit and an answered prayer.

Cris loves the outdoors, camping, fishing, hiking, movies, art, reading, and most of all running. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2004 and has suffered various health issues including back and nose problems. Not one to be told “that’s impossible”, Cris took the health issues as a challenge and opportunity for God’s power to shine, and she gratefully completed her second half marathon in May 2012.

What’s your guilty pleasure?
Chocolate, chocolate and chocolate

What grown-up job did you want to have when you were a child?
Marine biologist

What did you do growing up that got you into trouble?
A lot…but the one I remember most is when my brother convinced my sister to call the school and tell them we were attending a funeral so we could cut school and go to the beach. The school called my mom and asked her who died – busted!

What song reminds you of High School?
Babe by Styx

What’s your favorite Christian book / author?
A Love Worth Giving by Max Lucado

As a child, what was your favorite family tradition?
Going to Swenson’s ice cream parlor in our convertible Pontiac Bonneville, indulging in ice cream, then cruising around Stevens Creek Dam with the top down.

KATE ST. AMOUR
adult ministries assistant
408-252-3700 x240
kate.st.amour@westgatechurch.org

Kate is a true California native born in San Francisco, graduating from UC Berkeley, but burning at just the thought of sunlight touching her snow white skin. Some say she is un-American because she detests peanut butter, but likes Reese’s Pieces.

Her early childhood lacks many fond memories, but at the age of 8, God intervened and changed the course of her life in a dramatic way. Not having heard of God, she knew even then, that there was someone more powerful than anyone or anything she knew, and she wanted to know who/what. At 11 years old, she prayed all alone in her bedroom to know the God who had intervened and changed life in every way possible. One year later, she prayed another prayer – one of forgiveness toward the one who had caused her and others she loved to endure years of emotional and physical pain.

She went on to serve Jesus whole-heartedly there forward being active in Youth Group, Christian Club at Wilcox High, and Missions trips around the world. After dating a guy for four years and getting ready to graduate from college, she thought two people who loved Jesus meant that they could get along and get married if they did everything God’s way. She didn’t quite understand that not everyone loves Jesus the same way. After 6 years of marriage and 5 years of marriage counseling, she divorced and was on her own with a 6 month old baby, no job, and even more deep heartbreak. The one thing different this time was that she had her joy and love for God now stronger than ever which seemed to increase with each trial.

Within a short period of divorcing, she was reintroduced to an old high school acquaintance through MySpace…yep! Four months later she met Steve in person with neither having any interest in the other, but that changed that very first day. They are now ridiculously happily married and have two more children together for a super fun household of 5 (2 boys and 1 girl). Oh, they also have two dogs and a cat. If they had more money, they would adopt a foster child, but that may take some time in order to secure the mini-van of her dreams (she actually hates them, but would drive one happily if it meant another child).

What did you do growing up that got you into trouble??

Too much talking.

What is your silliest prized possession??
The bed I got when I was 8years old…I still have it.

Where would you like to go that is “off the beaten path”??
Some little town on the coast in Greece.

What spurs you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally??
Almost anything that helps people…that charges me.