Leadership
Leadership
Reverend Jeanie Shaw
Pastor/Mission Team Leader
Jeanie is an ordained Presbyterian Minister with a heart for mission. She is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary and served churches on the East Coast before her love of the wilderness and rock climbing brought her to California. She has served churches in northern California ever since.
Jeanie is a great believer in short term mission and long-term relationships. Our Disaster Response Ministries has the gift of sharing deep friendships and partnerships with ministries and churches in Sacramento, across our nation and in Gods World.
Jeanie is a member of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance National Response Team and has served across our nation in the aftermath of fires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and superstorms. She leads teams and facilitates workshops and retreats in Emotional and Spiritual Care following a disaster, Compassion Fatigue and trains survivors on tools for recovery.
She has led teams helping people rebuild their homes and lives all over the United States and the world.
Her passion is connecting volunteers with the opportunity to make a difference.
Nancy Disher
Mission Coordinator/Photographer
Nancy is a graduate of UC Davis with a B.S. Degree in Environmental Biology and Management.
I have discovered my heartfelt passion through participation in Disaster Response Ministries.
I am called to serve in mission and love seeing the transformation of lives as we serve in our nation and around the world.
The past 2 years I have been serving as Filmmaker and Photographer on our mission trips. I bring a “snapshot” of our experience back home to share with others.
I will never forget my first mission trip. We went to South Carolina 3 days after Hurricane Matthew slammed into the Carolina Coast. I was so nervous I did not think I could do it and was transformed by the experience. One of the memories close to my heart is repairing a family’s small home that was destroyed by the hurricane the year before and again by the most recent storm. This family had lost all hope and God connected us.
Last year I felt called to take on a leadership role as Mission Coordinator and opportunities abound.
I am so enthusiastic about inviting and empowering others to experience short term, life-changing mission! When I am in service to others my heart is fulfilled.
James Harris
Mission Contractor
James is a graduate from Humboldt State University with a degree in Social Welfare. He is a life time member and active participant in the Davis Community Church. James is a ruling Elder and current member of the Buildings & Grounds Ministry and Mission Outreach Team.
James has always helped others in need and volunteered with a group of men from work calling ourselves “Craftsmen for Christ”. In the late 90’s this group traveled to our northern communities to help with flood relief and many other community service activities plus two trips to Mississippi and New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. James finally found a way to fulfill his interest in helping others and living out what he understands it means to be a Christian.
Pastor Jeanie has certainly helped focus his interest in mission to others as James has participated in ten missions to places like New York, New Jersey, South Carolina, Texas, Alaska, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico. He’s also been able to join Presbyterian missionaries in Guatemala and later this month with a border ministry mission to Mexico.
Recently James has discovered the joy of sharing what he’s learned as a carpenter and a builder with others particularly young people. When participating in mission trips whether disaster relief or outreach he feels like he’s living out his religious beliefs. If he becomes a mentor to others then that may be his opportunity to make a difference.
Deborah Francis
Medical Officer
Deborah is a graduate of the University of California, San Francisco with a dual masters in gerontology and nursing administration.
Deborah is an advance practice nurse who has discovered the joy of mission since retiring in 2017. She was the only hospital-based geriatric clinical nurse specialist in Sacramento for 28 years, and she continues to advocate and fundraise for frail elders and the need for adult day and day health care programs to prevent institutionalization.
A proud mother of 2 grown girls and 2 granddaughters who are the love of her life. When not playing with them, she can be seen in the garden or kitchen, exploring underdeveloped countries or enjoying hiking and all outdoor, water-based activities either at the beach or in the mountains.
Dr. Tom Wilkes
Medical Officer
Tom is graduate of University of California, Irvine Medical School
Tom Wilkes was raised in Southern California and came north to Sacramento to attend a Family Practice Residency in Sacramento. He was drafted by the US Army and spent his portion of the Vietnam War in Germany. His love for travel was stoked by that experience. He returned to the Sacramento area and practiced Family Medicine in Davis for 35 years.
Tom’s first mission trip was witnessing destruction of Hurricane Katrina. Since that first mission experience he has taken trips to New Jersey, New York, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico. These trips are a love of travel and helping people who are having a hard time in their life.
John Bull
Team Leader
My working career was spent mostly in banking at various banks in Las Vegas, Nevada, where I have lived most of my life.
I have been a member of Mountain View Presbyterian Church (MVPC) in Las Vegas since 2002. I have served on various committees over the years. I was a Deacon for five years, and in addition worked for the Church for four years as the Christian Education/Youth Director. I am now serving on our board of Elders (Session) for our 500 member congregation.
As an Elder I am serving on the Mission committee and I am the co-moderator of our Nurture commission which oversees various groups/committees at MVPC, such as Christian Education, men’s and women’s groups, adult Sunday school, Stephen Ministry, grief share, bookstore and library, and various other groups.
In 2018, I was privileged to lead a ten member team (including my wife Susan and son Aaron) to Alaska to join Disaster Response Ministries in Metlakatla, Alaska for an amazing ten day mission trip. I am looking forward to going back in 2019 and for MVPC to join with DRM in other upcoming mission opportunities in the future.
Remember to “Laugh Often And Fear Not”