Joseph Family
Lead Pastor
Although both G’Joe and Aimee came to faith in high school, their college years were their most formative, spiritually-speaking. After three years in the marketplace, God called G’Joe to full-time vocational college ministry through Campus Outreach Greenville (COG). Although he left the marketplace, the marketplace never left him. In 2002, COG launched a team to begin Campus Outreach in Minneapolis at Bethlehem Baptist Church. G’Joe stayed in Greenville to become the Director of COG. In 2012, after settling into marriage and growing a family, the Joseph family moved to San Diego to begin Campus Outreach San Diego.
After nearly a decade of planting the gospel both on the college campus and in the places where they live, work, and play, the Lord has planted a church. Passing off the leadership of COSD to a trusted friend and disciple, G’Joe is now able to focus on shepherding the flock that God has been gathering all these years.
After years of team ministry, the Josephs knew they did not want to do the work of church planting alone. They prayed the Lord would provide partners in the work. The Lord faithfully provided through the Lecheler family who, in God’s providence, had been deeply impacted by the ministry of Campus Outreach in Minneapolis. God always writes the best stories. In the words of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “God’s gifts put man’s best dreams to shame!”
G’Joe, Aimee, and their three boys look forward to seeing God’s faithfulness in this new chapter of their lives.
After nearly a decade of planting the gospel both on the college campus and in the places where they live, work, and play, the Lord has planted a church. Passing off the leadership of COSD to a trusted friend and disciple, G’Joe is now able to focus on shepherding the flock that God has been gathering all these years.
After years of team ministry, the Josephs knew they did not want to do the work of church planting alone. They prayed the Lord would provide partners in the work. The Lord faithfully provided through the Lecheler family who, in God’s providence, had been deeply impacted by the ministry of Campus Outreach in Minneapolis. God always writes the best stories. In the words of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “God’s gifts put man’s best dreams to shame!”
G’Joe, Aimee, and their three boys look forward to seeing God’s faithfulness in this new chapter of their lives.
Lecheler Family
Staff Pastor
James and Betsy Lecheler were rooted in Minneapolis, feeling very called to their local church (Bethlehem Baptist) and neighborhood. That all changed during a trip to California in early 2020 for a wedding when James started to sense a need for the type of discipleship they had been experiencing at Bethlehem over the previous decade.
James couldn’t shake the sense he had, so he decided to bring it up to Paul Poteat who said “That’s a little crazy, because my good friend G’Joe just reached out to me about his desire to plant a church in San Diego. You two should connect.”
After the Lechelers and Josephs spent a few months connecting, praying and getting counsel from their respective church communities, they decided to take the plunge and move towards planting a TCT church in the center part of San Diego.
James couldn’t shake the sense he had, so he decided to bring it up to Paul Poteat who said “That’s a little crazy, because my good friend G’Joe just reached out to me about his desire to plant a church in San Diego. You two should connect.”
After the Lechelers and Josephs spent a few months connecting, praying and getting counsel from their respective church communities, they decided to take the plunge and move towards planting a TCT church in the center part of San Diego.
Joe Brigantino
Finance
Joe Brigantino is a California native from the Monterey Bay area with a catholic upbringing. During his time at San Diego State University, he came upon faithful believers who shared the Gospel with him. Through God's grace, Joe believed in the Gospel and came to faith in Christ. He continued to grow in his faith and be discipled through the ministry of Campus Outreach. Upon graduation, he decided to go on staff with Campus Outreach part time, very briefly. Soon later, he met and married his wife, Nicole, and was called into the corporate world.
Joe has known the Josephs throughout his time in the CO ministry. Nicole and Joe knew they wanted to be a part of the church plant as soon as they heard of it. Now using his gifts of organization and working with numbers, he has joyfully joined the Center City family and uses his talents as the Finance Director. You can also catch him on Sunday mornings playing the cajon or guitar for worship time and hanging out with the youth group as a leader alongside his wife.
Joe has known the Josephs throughout his time in the CO ministry. Nicole and Joe knew they wanted to be a part of the church plant as soon as they heard of it. Now using his gifts of organization and working with numbers, he has joyfully joined the Center City family and uses his talents as the Finance Director. You can also catch him on Sunday mornings playing the cajon or guitar for worship time and hanging out with the youth group as a leader alongside his wife.
Patrick Claytor
Administrative Assistant / Sunday Worship Coordinator
Patrick Claytor grew up in Indio, California. He was raised in a “spiritual” home, being baptized as a Roman Catholic, educated in a Lutheran school, and attending a non-denominational church. Through the influence of his father and his friends at church, he began listening to Gospel preaching through the ministries of John Piper, Francis Chan, and David Platt. Through the preaching of the Gospel, Patrick came under conviction of sin, and he turned to faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.
After graduating from high school, Patrick was discipled in San Diego. Eventually he moved to Minnesota to pursue a degree from Bethlehem College and Seminary in Biblical Studies. After graduating, he began teaching Latin and Bible, and he married the love of his life, Renata. They sensed a call to seminary, so they moved to San Diego to attend Westminster Seminary California, where he is currently studying. He serves on the worship team and preaches occasionally at Center City. Patrick loves good food and all things sports. He serves Center City by helping organize church gatherings and other administrative needs.
After graduating from high school, Patrick was discipled in San Diego. Eventually he moved to Minnesota to pursue a degree from Bethlehem College and Seminary in Biblical Studies. After graduating, he began teaching Latin and Bible, and he married the love of his life, Renata. They sensed a call to seminary, so they moved to San Diego to attend Westminster Seminary California, where he is currently studying. He serves on the worship team and preaches occasionally at Center City. Patrick loves good food and all things sports. He serves Center City by helping organize church gatherings and other administrative needs.