Jim Duran

Lead Pastor 

Jim Duran was born and raised in Ventura and has a passion for his city. Jim currently serves as the Lead Pastor of The River Community Church in Ventura, a ministry his team began in 2004. Jim has a B.A in Biblical Studies and an M.A. in Theology from Channel Islands Bible College & Seminary.

Jim is the Executive Director of The City Center Transitional Living, a facility for homeless children and their parents. He is also the Executive Director of Tender Life Maternity Home, servicing homeless pregnant women and their babies.

Jim has been honored with various awards over the years including the “Heroes Among Us” award from the Ventura Police Community Foundation, The Golden Triangle Award from the YMCA, and the “Hometown Hero” award by the Ventura Chamber of Commerce; Jim was honored in 2020 with the first ever Legacy Award, awarded to those citizens who go above and beyond to make a difference in Ventura.

Jim and his wife Pam, serve on the board of Marriage Well, a non-profit organization that provides support for couples to achieve excellence in their marriages. He is actively involved with solving the homeless crisis in Ventura County through the Homeless to Home collaboration, by partnering with the Downtown Ventura Partners and being involved with the Ventura Social Service Task Force.

Jim and Pam have been married for over 31 years and have six children, two daughter-in-laws and three incredible grandchildren. Jim’s passion is to serve his community and to be a blessing to his neighbors through partnerships and collaboration.

Pam Duran

Next Gen Coordinator
Pam Duran is a Ministry Leader (currently as NextGen coordinator) along with her husband, Pastor Jim Duran. It is her joy to disciple other leaders in ministry.

Pam enjoys spending time with her family of four sons, two daughters, two daughters-in-law, a grandson and two granddaughters.  Her highlight of each week being Sunday night family dinners. God has given Pam a heart to walk with the brokenhearted and lead them to relationship with Jesus.She loves to cook for and plan events, which allows her to show the love of Christ in a practical way.

Pam goes through life with these scriptures in her mind and heart: Galatians 2:20 & Philippians 4:6-7

Doug and Terry Long

Associate Pastors
Doug and Terry Long have been serving in a Foursquare Church ever since they committed their lives to Jesus over forty years ago.  They were excited about getting to know the Lord and found themselves at church every time the doors were opened.  This is where they learned that serving was part of their DNA, whether it be supporting the lead pastors, ministering to the congregation or taking care of the facilities.

Doug has had the opportunity to cover many areas, especially since this has been their home church for the past 20 years.  He has been the bookkeeper, given oversight to the facilities, taught classes on the prophetic and discipleship and is currently overseeing the sound department.

Prior to moving to Ventura, Terry served as Children’s Ministry Coordinator for almost 20 years and currently works in the Church Office.  She prefers to be behind the scenes and has worked with teams to prepare and serve at many events in the past.

Doug and Terry’s passion was discovered almost 30 years ago when they began their journey with Cleansing Stream Ministries.  This seminar is where they learned how to effectively minister in discipleship, healing and leading people to freedom through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Doug and Terry were high school sweethearts and have been married for 41 years.  They have two adult children, one son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, three grandchildren and one on the way.  They recently celebrated 25 years in pastoral ministry and are looking forward to seeing how God will continue to use them to serve Him and His people.

Mike Cormode

Associate Pastor
Mike and and his wife Kerrie met the first day of high school and started dating their sophomore year of college.  Three years later, in 1993, they got married and have been serving together ever since.  They were both blessed to grow up in Christ-centered homes in Ventura, with their earliest memories involving church. They have experience in a wide range of ministry areas, from Men’s and Women’s ministries, leading home groups, and working with youth.  Mike currently serves in the Men’s ministry, and Kerrie with Women’s ministry. They serve together, with their daughter Rebecca Jade in the Food Pantry.

James Gonzales

Associate Pastor

Don Knisley

Associate Pastor

Danny Sinohui

Associate Pastor

 

Troy Jones

Missional Pastor
Troy lives in Ventura with his wife Resee, married 33 years and have two grown daughters; Tiffany & Kara. Troy has served in ministry for over 35 years. From leading youth, to worship teams, outreach and missions, leading worship, church planting and pastoring.Troy started Expression Ministries in 1999, a ministry that was focused on worship life development, and training worship teams in the global Church. Expression has been a music and teaching ministry with international influence, Troy Is a Pastor/worship leader and songwriter who has written discipleship & study curriculum with strong focus on biblical foundations in living a life of true worship.

Currently Troy is pioneering YWAM Ventura, a missions and training base with YWAM University of the Nations which runs Discipleship Training Schools (DTS), a YWAM Bible School (DBS) and a School of Worship, Intercession, Spiritual Warfare & Evangelism (WISE) With and emphasis on discipleship and training to sending teams into global missions to work with the indigenous peoples of the nations.

Here at home, Troy serves, with his wife Resee, as part of the pastoral staff with the River Community as the pastor over worship and missions.

Troy says;
“Discipleship is the driving purpose of all I do, whether here at my home Church, or on the global platform God has given me;  to tell Gods story… Reaching people and making disciples in His name, equipping and releasing the gifts of God in people. Jesus said to ‘Go and make disciples of the nations.’

This has always been the primary call to the Church.