WESTGATE STAFF:

Cindy Sims
Early Childhood Education Pastor

cindy@westgatechurch.org

Vitals:
Cindy was born into a Christian home in Santa Monica, California. Her parents had planned, prepared and prayed for a child of their own for five long and emotional years. Soon after, her sister Brenda was born. As she entered kindergarten her father was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He went home to be with the Lord a year later leaving their family life drastically changed. At that time there were many friends who help her young Mom and little sister, but one man was very special. He soon was to become their “new daddy”. God truly blessed her family with their transition and bonded them together with a deep love and trust for one another. He then added to their family a new little sister, Janine.

Cindy accepted Christ as her Savior at the age of eight during a VBS at the Westminster Southern Baptist Church. She was baptized the very next week. As the years past by and her family became busier they eventually stopped going to church. But God continued to have a protective hand on her, sending her great Christian friends during her rebellious high school and college years - gently remind her that God had not abandoned her as she had abandoned Him.

She met Bob as a junior in high school and dated for the next six years. During that time, she entered Nursing School at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, with a specialty in Pediatrics. She and Bob would marry that very same summer.

Shortly after arriving in San Jose Cindy began attending Crossroads Bible Church. She rededicated her life and began praying for her unsaved husband. Bob accepted the Lord and was baptized two years later. They’ve been in San Jose since 1980, where they raised three beautiful sons: Matthew, Bradley, and Jason. During those early years she worked one day a week at Santa Teresa Hospital in the Pediatric and Neonatal units.

As a result of her love for God and her love for children she began serving in Children’s Ministries in a lay capacity in 1982. By 1990 she joined the staff at Crossroads in support role for Children’s Ministries. Finally, in 1998, she accepted the role of Children’s Ministries Director where her professional life verse became Matthew 19:14 “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

In the summer 2007, Cindy & Bob thought that retirement was next on their agenda. As Cindy left the Crossroads staff God had a different plan for the two of them. In stepping back from ministry and praying for their future God led them to WestGate, saying “you’re not finished yet!” She now serves as Early Childhood Ministries Pastor.


A Few of My Favorite Things
Traveling – “We’ve been spoiled with my husband being a ‘traveling’ salesman… frequent flyer miles and hotels points! My kids have been to places I never knew existed when I was a child!”

Scrapbooking – “I’m crazy about scrapbooking. It’s probably because we travel so much and because my kids are so darn cute!!”

Movies – “Somewhere in Time”, oh my goodness, talk about an ultimate chick flick. And any oldie with the likes of Fred Astaire, Ginger Roger, Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney…a few DVD’s of “That’s Entertainment” and scrapbooking make for an incredible evening.”

Music – “My second love, second to children, is music. I began singing in choirs when I was in the 4th grade. Traveled to Europe in High School with the Orange County Ambassadors and began my church ministry serving in the choir…once under the direction of our very own Mark Averill.”

What Ifs?
What If You Weren't In Ministry?

“That’s easy. I’d combine some of my favorites. When I was a little girl I loved watching Shirley Temple movies. I always felt sad watching the mean Orphanage lady mistreat her and all her friends. So I made it a mission to one day own an orphanage so that I could love on all the precious children without a Mommie or Daddy! And I was going to sing to them too…’On the Good Ship Lolly Pop’! Sadly enough, as I grew up I realized that there weren’t any more orphanages so becoming a nurse, and eventually Children’s Ministries, was the next best thing!”

If You Could Spend Time With Any Famous Person, Who Would It Be?

“I have two - but I would have to say Harriett Tubman would be my first choice. My mother grew up in the South Carolina, so I feel like the south is part of the fabric of who I am. I am impassioned by Harriett Tubman’s courage and her vision to create a way out for people suffering so unjustly. I dream of being a wealthy antebellum land owner hiding small children under my hoop skirt as I smuggle them to safety. I’m not joking!! I’m quite the romantic! My second would be Florence Nightingale. After reading some of her journals and hearing her philosophy of nursing as a calling from God, I would love to have been mentored by her soft, sweet spirit.”