Jerry Lites, Special Services Pastor
Jerry and his wife Arden came to Bodega Bay Church in March 1979 shortly after they moved to the area. Jerry had felt God’s calling to the church. He and Arden have been active in the church since that time, except for two years when they served in the Occidental Church in the early 1990s. Arden attended Bodega Bay Church when she was a girl when her uncle and aunt would take her to church.
Jerry worked for 29 years in law enforcement , and also served as a consultant with international missions for 15+ years. Near the end of his police career, Jerry, along with Pat Parks, was asked by the church membership to consider positions as a pastors in Bodega Bay Church. After much prayer, Jerry felt God’s calling to accept this position a few months later, and has served as Pastor (with Pat Parks) since that time. Jerry retired from police work in 2002.
Jerry and Arden now live near Freestone where they built a home on the dairy where Arden grew up. They have three children and nine grandchildren. Jerry trusted Jesus as his Savior at the age of 13 when his aunt shared the Lord with him.
Jerry’s vision for the church: “For years, our church has been called a Lighthouse on the Hill. A lighthouse has always been a guide for leading boats to a place of safety, and away from danger. When people come to our church, I want them, whether visitors or regular attendees, to know that they are coming to a place of spiritual safety, a place where the truth of the Word of God is taught, and where they can find salvation in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.”
Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
Jerry and his wife Arden came to Bodega Bay Church in March 1979 shortly after they moved to the area. Jerry had felt God’s calling to the church. He and Arden have been active in the church since that time, except for two years when they served in the Occidental Church in the early 1990s. Arden attended Bodega Bay Church when she was a girl when her uncle and aunt would take her to church.
Jerry worked for 29 years in law enforcement , and also served as a consultant with international missions for 15+ years. Near the end of his police career, Jerry, along with Pat Parks, was asked by the church membership to consider positions as a pastors in Bodega Bay Church. After much prayer, Jerry felt God’s calling to accept this position a few months later, and has served as Pastor (with Pat Parks) since that time. Jerry retired from police work in 2002.
Jerry and Arden now live near Freestone where they built a home on the dairy where Arden grew up. They have three children and nine grandchildren. Jerry trusted Jesus as his Savior at the age of 13 when his aunt shared the Lord with him.
Jerry’s vision for the church: “For years, our church has been called a Lighthouse on the Hill. A lighthouse has always been a guide for leading boats to a place of safety, and away from danger. When people come to our church, I want them, whether visitors or regular attendees, to know that they are coming to a place of spiritual safety, a place where the truth of the Word of God is taught, and where they can find salvation in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.”
Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
Pat Parks, Lead Pastor
Pastor Patrick "Pat" Parks recently accepted the position of Lead Pastor with the retirement of Jerry Lites who has served over 21 years as Senior Pastor with Pat as his Associate Pastor for that entire time.
Pat Parks began attending Bodega Bay Church in 1987, a short time after he had accepted Christ. He has been very active in the ministry here since that time. In 2001 as Pat was nearing the end of his 30+year career as a Police Officer, and current job as Chief of Police in Petaluma he assumed the Associate Pastor Role. At that time both Pat and Jerry Lites were asked to consider taking on the role of Pastor's by the entire congregation. After many months of prayer he accepted that calling. He served 21 years as Associate Pastor in Bodega Bay, alongside Pastor Jerry Lites, until Jerry's retirement. Pat retired from the Petaluma Police Department in 2002. In addition to local ministry, Pat spent 29 years serving as a security consultant and in other leadership roles, working with international missions. He currently sits as a founding member, along with Jerry and Arden Lites, on the board of a small non-profit called Hope Milele Africa which serves children living in poverty in East Africa.. Pat is happily married with 3 grown sons and 6 grandchildren.
Pats vision: That the Bodega Bay Church would be a "lighthouse" to our community where people learn about the love of God through the teaching of His Word. His prayer is that each of us would be challenged to put that love into action daily, both locally and globally.
Verse: John 13:34-35, A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another. By this all men will know your are my disciples, if you love one another.