Leadership

Leadership

Dominic J. Avila

Lead Pastor

 

Dominic Avila grew up in East Los Angeles and surrendered his life to the lordship of Christ at the age of 20 just before attending The Master’s College on a basketball scholarship. There he met his wife Jessica, got engaged on the Sea of Galilee through the IBEX program, and they both obtained a B.A. in Biblical Exposition.

 

After graduation, Dominic taught Bible and other subjects at Santa Clarita Christian School. Nine years later, he became the Student Ministry Pastor at Cypress Community Church in Salinas, CA. While serving, he completed his M.A. in Biblical Studies from the Master's College and developed a deep passion for teaching God's Word and discipling men toward maturity in the faith.

 

In 2016, he joined his former pastor and mentor, Scott Ardavanis, at Grace Church of the Valley, Kingsburg, CA, and served as the Pastor of Equipping and Discipleship. After receiving a call from the elders of Seaside First Baptist Church to help revitalize, and after months of prayer, serving, planning, and preparation, both the GCV and SFBC elder boards installed Dom as the Lead Pastor at the newly named Grace Church Monterey Bay on November 19, 2019.

 

Since serving at GCMB, Dom has completed his M.Div through Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and The Master's Seminary. He and Jess have three children: a daughter, Makyla, and two sons, Titus and Judah. The entire family enjoys being active, reading books, and playing outdoors.

Dominic J. Avila

Lead Pastor

 

Dominic Avila grew up in East Los Angeles and surrendered his life to the lordship of Christ at the age of 20 just before attending The Master’s College on a basketball scholarship. There he met his wife Jessica, got engaged on the Sea of Galilee through the IBEX program, and they both obtained a B.A. in Biblical Exposition.

 

After graduation, Dominic taught Bible and other subjects at Santa Clarita Christian School. Nine years later, he became the Student Ministry Pastor at Cypress Community Church in Salinas, CA. While serving, he completed his M.A. in Biblical Studies from the Master's College and developed a deep passion for teaching God's Word and discipling men toward maturity in the faith.

 

In 2016, he joined his former pastor and mentor, Scott Ardavanis, at Grace Church of the Valley, Kingsburg, CA, and served as the Pastor of Equipping and Discipleship. After receiving a call from the elders of Seaside First Baptist Church to help revitalize, and after months of prayer, serving, planning, and preparation, both the GCV and SFBC elder boards installed Dom as the Lead Pastor at the newly named Grace Church Monterey Bay on November 19, 2019.

 

Since serving at GCMB, Dom has completed his M.Div through Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and The Master's Seminary. He and Jess have three children: a daughter, Makyla, and two sons, Titust and Judah. The entire family enjoys being active, reading books, and playing outdoors.

Paul Roman

Pastor

 

Paul Roman is originally from New York City and was raised in and around the Ozone Park area. His undergraduate work was done at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He completed a Masters in Nonthetic Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Masters in Religion from Columbia University, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Erskine Theological Seminary.


Paul has served over 20 years in the military in multiple positions, to include enlisted in the Marine Corps, an Engineering officer in the GA Army National Guard, and is currently serving as an Army Chaplain on active duty for the past 15 years.


Throughout all of this Paul met his amazing wife Cathrine and they have four children, Carmen Liliana, Gabrielle Hannah, Adelaide Rose, and Cordelia Marie. All of which are a true gift from the Lord and a blessing beyond anything a father could deserve.


Paul came to know Christ as Lord and Savior at the age of 22, leaving behind a life of atheism and slavery to sin. Immediately Paul was called to serve in the Military as a Chaplain and specifically to Men’s discipleship. Paul is highly committed to expository preaching through God’s Word, caring for God’s people and reaching the community with the uncompromised truth of God’s Word. He stands on the biblical principle of serving a fully sovereign and loving God.

 

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Paul Roman

Elder

 

Paul Roman is originally from New York City and was raised in and around the Ozone Park area. His undergraduate work was done at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He completed a Masters in Nonthetic Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Masters in Religion from Columbia University, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Erskine Theological Seminary.


Paul has served over 20 years in the military in multiple positions, to include enlisted in the Marine Corps, an Engineering officer in the GA Army National Guard, and is currently serving as an Army Chaplain on active duty for the past 15 years.


Throughout all of this Paul met his amazing wife Cathrine and they have four children, Carmen Liliana, Gabrielle Hannah, Adelaide Rose, and Cordelia Marie. All of which are a true gift from the Lord and a blessing beyond anything a father could deserve.


Paul came to know Christ as Lord and Savior at the age of 22, leaving behind a life of atheism and slavery to sin. Immediately Paul was called to serve in the Military as a Chaplain and specifically to Men’s discipleship. Paul is highly committed to expository preaching through God’s Word, caring for God’s people and reaching the community with the uncompromised truth of God’s Word. He stands on the biblical principle of serving a fully sovereign and loving God.

 

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Sam Salerno

Pastor

 

Born and raised in Monterey, Sam came to know Christ at an early age and grew up serving in youth and music ministry at Cypress Community Church. After graduating Monterey High School in 2009, he completed a year of leadership and discipleship training at the Joshua Wilderness Institute at Hume Lake — where he realized his creative passions could be used to glorify God in the context of the local church.

 

Sam took his passion to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL, to study communications in 2012. But after three years (and BRUTAL winters!), he returned home to recover from burnout, severe anxiety, and deep depression. Even through the darkness, however, God worked in Sam's life to draw him into a deeper, stronger relationship with Him; and by God's providence, he continues to recover and now has a platform to minister to believers struggling with mental health.

 

Since 2016, Sam has worked in a variety of environments—from Director of Music and Media at Cypress Church to a Content Marketing Specialist and Podcaster with Medallia. Through it all, however, he's never lost sight of his true passion: helping the people of God see and experience the great work that Christ is doing through His Church. 

 

He married his wife, Caroline, in May 2023, and now works alongside the elders and deacons in a  full-time capacity: overseeing communication, Children's Ministry, and church logisitics.

Sam Salerno

Pastoral Assistant

 

Born and raised in Monterey, Sam came to know Christ at an early age and grew up serving in youth and music ministry at Cypress Community Church. After graduating Monterey High School in 2009, he completed a year of leadership and discipleship training at the Joshua Wilderness Institute at Hume Lake — where he realized his creative passions could be used to glorify God in the context of the local church.

 

Sam took his passion to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL, to study communications in 2012. But after three years (and BRUTAL winters!), he returned home to recover from burnout, severe anxiety, and deep depression. Even through the darkness, however, God worked in Sam's life to draw him into a deeper, stronger relationship with Him; and by God's providence, he continues to recover and now has a platform to minister to believers struggling with mental health.

 

Since 2016, Sam has worked in a variety of environments—from Director of Music and Media at Cypress Church to a Content Marketing Specialist and Podcaster with Medallia. Through it all, however, he's never lost sight of his true passion: helping the people of God see and experience the great work that Christ is doing through His Church. 

 

He married his wife, Caroline, in May 2023, and now works alongside the elders and deacons in a  full-time capacity: overseeing communication, Children's Ministry, and church logisitics.

Jonathan Coon

Deacon of Music

 

Born and raised in Monterey, California, Jonathan started serving in worship ministry by playing the electric guitar. But as he pursued a degree in computer science and engineering at Santa Clara University (SCU), God led him to serve as a worship leader at one of the Christian fellowships on campus and soon became the Worship Coordinator of that college ministry.

 

Although professing faith in Christ early in his life, God rekindled his love for the Lord Jesus Christ through the discipleship of the men of a Christian fraternity on campus called Alpha Gamma Omega and led Jonathan to grow in ministry leadership by serving as the President of the chapter at SCU.

 

After graduating and returning to his hometown of Monterey, Jonathan led worship weekly for a group of men who met to study the Bible and books on biblical literacy and biblical manhood together.

 

Later on, Jonathan met his beautiful wife Becky (from Riverbank, California), and God led them to Grace Church Monterey Bay soon after they were married in September 2019.

 

Jonathan and Becky lead worship together at Grace Church Monterey Bay and enjoy going to the beach, eating sushi, and making music together.

Jonathan Coon

Deacon of Music

 

Born and raised in Monterey, California, Jonathan started serving in worship ministry by playing the electric guitar. But as he pursued a degree in computer science and engineering at Santa Clara University (SCU), God led him to serve as a worship leader at one of the Christian fellowships on campus and soon became the Worship Coordinator of that college ministry.

 

Although professing faith in Christ early in his life, God rekindled his love for the Lord Jesus Christ through the discipleship of the men of a Christian fraternity on campus called Alpha Gamma Omega and led Jonathan to grow in ministry leadership by serving as the President of the chapter at SCU.

 

After graduating and returning to his hometown of Monterey, Jonathan led worship weekly for a group of men who met to study the Bible and books on biblical literacy and biblical manhood together.

 

Later on, Jonathan met his beautiful wife Becky (from Riverbank, California), and God led them to Grace Church Monterey Bay soon after they were married in September 2019.

 

Jonathan and Becky lead worship together at Grace Church Monterey Bay and enjoy going to the beach, eating sushi, and making music together.