Leadership
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Jeff worked for several years as the youth director at First Presbyterian Church in Burlingame where he met and eventually married his wife, Esther, in 1992. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1996 and took a call as the Associate Pastor for Youth and Families at Dundee Presbyterian Church in Omaha, Nebraska, where he served for eight years. In 2004, Jeff and Esther received a new call back to California and joyfully became a part of the Faith community here in Sacramento. Jeff and Esther have four children — Isabel, Noel, Godebo and Bereket. Next to spending time with his family, Jeff most enjoys backpacking, playing his guitar, dining on Mexican food and coaching Little League baseball.
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Brett Shoemaker serves as Associate Pastor to Youth and Families. Brett, a native of Washington, came to California after twenty years of youth ministry at a church near Seattle. His home team consists of four beautiful women: his wife, Wendy, and three daughters. Brett enjoys activities that involve motion, including biking, running, skiing, and ultimate Frisbee, and a few things that do not, such as card games and reading. He is thrilled to walk alongside Faith's young people and their families and to experience Spirit-filled, memory-making moments together through worship, mission and community.
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Eunice Bancu
accompanist
Eunice has been playing the piano for more than 20 years. She earned her degree in composition from UC Davis, followed by a master’s degree in piano performance from CSU Sacramento. She lives in Sacramento with her two spoiled dogs, Loki and Miki. She feels extremely blessed to be a part of Faith, and thinks that the Faith congregation is made up of the most welcoming and friendly church members she’s ever encountered.
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Laura joined the Faith staff in May 2013. She oversees the day-to-day administration of the church; give her a call if you have general questions about Faith. In her spare time, Laura enjoys connecting with her adult children and extended family, baking, reading, hiking and taking spur-of-the-moment road trips. Laura became a member of Faith in 2017 and continues to be grateful to God for bringing her to this church family.
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Ron BeaMs
Director of Congregational Care
Ron and his wife, Sherry, have been members of Faith since 2015. Ron has an extensive background as a bereavement counselor, hospice chaplain, family support counselor and ordained minister. Ron feels that accepting the position of Director of Congregational Care is truly a calling of God for this time. Ron enjoys gardening and is known for bringing his harvests to church on Sundays and sharing them with neighbors. He also enjoys blessing us with his gift of singing on occasion.
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Mark joined Faith as Director of Music Ministry in January 2017. He has been in music ministry since the early 70s and holds a degree in Composition from CSU Sacramento. He has three beautiful children: Chris (married and teaching music in Elk Grove), Eliza (studying music and art at American River College), and Jesse (in high school). His wife, Tracy, is the love of his life and the most gifted person he knows. He is thankful for being a part of, and inspired by, the people at Faith, who continually show God’s love and grace.
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Lindsay was raised in Sacramento and, while working towards her BSBM, she lived across the United States in Florida, Hawaii, and Texas. In 2017, after she lost her home in Hurricane Harvey, Lindsay returned to Sacramento to be closer to her mother. In 2023, Lindsay and her young children, Madison and Lawson, were joyfully welcomed at Faith, where the congregation's warmth has beautifully fostered their growth in faith, friendships, and community. Lindsay finds joy in baking, expressing her creativity through art and DIY projects, gardening, and volunteering in various activities with her children. She has a true passion for working with children and helping them learn how God has blessed each of them with strengths and creativity, and watching them grow in confidence through their faith.
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Rachael Tezanos-pinto
Communications coordinator & financial assistant
Envelope rtezanos-pinto@faithpresby.org
Rachael grew up in rural Missouri on her family's sixth-generation cattle farm, where she learned the value of hard work, faithful community, and neighbors who show up for one another. After making California home, Rachael found that same sense of belonging at Faith. She joined the staff in 2025 as Communications Coordinator and later stepped into the role of Financial Assistant, where she enjoys serving the church both creatively and behind the scenes. Motherhood is Rachael's dream job. She is the proud mom of Mae and Rex and is deeply grateful to be raising them in a church family where they are known, loved, and surrounded by people who genuinely care for one another. Seeing her children grow up in a community that echoes the one she experienced as a child is one of God's sweetest gifts. She is thankful to be part of what God is doing at Faith and considers it a joy to help others feel welcomed, connected, and at home.
