Pastors
Steve Schibsted – Senior Pastor
Steve is a Southern California boy, born in San Diego, grew up in LA, and attended college in Santa Barbara. Because of living so many years on the coast, the one thing that Steve misses now that he’s living in Chico, is the beach. Steve has been married for 20 years to his wife Leslie, who works at Chico State in the Advancement Office. Steve and Leslie have two teenagers, Allie and Drew. Prior to coming to Chico, Steve spent time in the Bay Area, serving for five years as a youth pastor in Pleasanton, and seven years as an associate pastor in Burlingame. He loves being a pastor and is especially grateful to be with Bidwell Presbyterian in this exciting period of its long history.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Give me a nice beach with decent waves and I am very happy.
What are your hobbies?
Cycling (road and mountain), working in the yard, backpacking, and reading.
What is the best meal you can cook?
I am known in the Schibsted home for cooking a pretty good omelet.
What would you be doing if you weren’t a pastor?
I would be the point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Greg Cootsona – Associate Pastor,
Adult Discipleship
What energizes Greg the most about pastoral ministry is seeing people “get God”— to watch them see the relevance of God in their everyday lives, either for the first or the thousandth time. It’s for that reason that Greg is engaged in spiritual formation and outreach. Greg and his wife, Laura, live in Chico with their two daughters. Outside of church, Greg enjoys mountain biking, hanging out with my family, and drinking Peet's coffee. For more about Greg and his interests, visit his blog. If you’d like to connect, please email him at Gcootsona@bidwellpres.org.
What would you be if you weren’t a pastor?
I love music, and if I weren’t a pastor, I’d be a professional drummer. OK, if I weren’t a pastor or drummer, I’d be a professor because I love engaging with big ideas and questions. (By the way, I do teach Western Religions at Butte College.)
What’s on your iPod?
Currently on my iPod are the Future of Forestry, the Police, and U2.
Who are your favorite authors?
Because of my intellectual thirst, I savor the writings of C.S. Lewis, Karl Barth, and Blaise Pascal. I also did a degree in literature, and so I’m a fan of John Updike, Shakespeare, John Dunne, and Anne Lamott.
Have you written anything yourself?
I love to write, and I’ve finished three books, the most important for this purpose is Creation and Last Things: At the Intersection of Theology and Science.
Jim Coons – Associate Pastor,
Youth Ministries
Jim and his wife Emily have three children, Julia, Jakob and Eliza Kate. Jim loves cycling and hanging out with friends and family. He’s been involved in ministry for over 20 years and doesn’t see the end in sight. His passion lies in taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the lives of people and putting them together. Jim believes he has the best job in the world and the best family of all time!
What’s currently on your iPod?
U2
What do you do to relax?
Fly fishing with my dad.
Any interesting stories to tell?
Ask me about the wooden fish in my office.
Jeff Gephart – Associate Pastor, University
Jeff is a native of Seattle, WA who grew up skiing, sailing and playing on Lake Washington. Married to Kristen Gephart, they have two children, Alex (7) and T.J. (4). Jeff enjoys reading, keeping up with the latest technology, listening to and making music, bike rides to Bidwell park with the family, and dreaming of sailing from the Mainland to Hawaii! He studied Speech Communication at the University of Washington and theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. Jeff’s usual coffee order could be a grande vanilla latte, but he also likes to change it up!
What is the best meal you cook?
Anything for breakfast
What would you be if you weren’t a pastor?
A musician, professor, or perhaps a strategic analyst for a media company
What's currently playing on your iPod?
Switchfoot’s “Oh Gravity”
If you were a magazine, which one would it be?
Wired