Let us introduce you to the elders at South Hill Baptist Church. These are men called of God to humbly shepherd the Lord's church according to 1 Peter 5:2-3, 1 Timothy 3, and Titus 1. If you would to like to contact the eldership you can email eldership@southhillbaptist.org.
Elder
Mark was born into a Christian family and raised as a preacher's kid. He doesn't remember having much of a personal spiritual life during his childhood years; however, there were moments when he thought God was real but distant. His family did not have much money, and he blamed God and the church for that.
At the age of 16, he got a job on Sundays and stopped attending church. He went to college and dabbled in Buddhism and Hinduism. God brought several strong Christians into his life during those years, and he had to admit they had something that he didn't. Mark entered into a "modern" marriage knowing that it might not last because their careers might take first place. They went to graduate school, and it was there the marriage ended.
At this point, he realized how empty he was and became desperate to change his life. A strong Christian man witnessed to Mark and brought him to a Calvary Chapel meeting. Mark was amazed and began to believe that God had his hand on him. He surrendered to Jesus in 1982 at Calvary Fellowship in Seattle. His life made a complete "U" turn. He was entirely broken, and Jesus began a good work in him.
Mark met his wife Rene at a Bible study, and they were married in 1986. They had two daughters, Emily and Jennifer. Mark is now retired, but he is always working and desiring to glorify God in everything he does.
Senior Pastor/Elder
Stephen was born and raised in Spokane, WA. Though he heard the gospel growing up in his home, it wasn't until his sophomore year in college that he was converted. A few years later, Stephen went on a short-term mission trip to Sierra Leone and it was there that he felt a desire and calling to ministry.
Upon graduating from Seattle Pacific University, Stephen moved down to Portland, OR, married Lisa whom he met in college, and attended Western Seminary, where he received a Masters of Divinity. Four years later, he and his wife moved to Corvallis to minister to college students at Oregon State University with the Navigators.
Stephen then went on to plant a church as an Associate Pastor in Corvallis, OR, called The Branch. During those years, he oversaw small groups, local/global missions, an internship program, and gained invaluable experiences in pastoral ministry. After 5 years, he and his family moved back to Portland for a 5 month pastoral residency at Hinson Baptist Church. Shortly after, in June 2018, the Chapel Church called Stephen to be their next Senior Pastor. Upon the merger of South Hill Baptist Church and The Chapel Church in 2025, Stephen became the Senior pastor of the newly merged church.
Stephen and his wife, Lisa, live in Puyallup with their four children, Sadie, Calvin, Graham, and Whitaker.
Elder
Although he was born in California, Tom did not spend much time there, moving to Elko, Nevada and then to Twin Falls, Idaho where he graduated from high school in 1962. He then went on to get a degree in chemistry at Oregon State University, graduating in 1966.
This was during the Vietnam War, so Tom found himself in the army and going to the US Army Infantry Officer’s Candidate School in Georgia and then, after more training, stationed at the US Army Chemical Biological Explosive Ordnance Disposal School in Ft McClellan, Alabama near Anniston, where he met, his future wife, Shirley Jones. They got married in 1968 and Tom went to Vietnam in 1969, where he was captain of the First Chemical Corps Detachment in Phan Thiet, Vietnam. After a year in Vietnam, Tom processed out at Ft Lewis, WA and embarked on a career as a lab technician in Salt Lake City, Utah.
This work later led to him getting two degrees in Chemical Engineering (Master of Science from the University of Idaho, Doctorate from the University of Washington). While at the University of Washington, Tom accepted the Lord as his savior and the family joined Mercer Island Baptist Church. After graduating in 1982, Tom got a job as a professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. In the interim, Tom and Shirley had three children (Edward, David, and Chris).
In 1999, Tom and Shirley responded to a call be missionaries, so they sold their home, packed up and went to China where they taught English and did evangelical work. After four years there, they returned to WA state and finally ended up in Ferndale, Washington where Tom taught Process Technology at Bellingham Technical College and they joined Bellingham Community Church where Tom was a deacon. After Tom’s retirement and a four year move to Alabama, Tom and Shirley returned to Washington where they now live in Graham, Washington. Tom has been an elder at South Hill Baptist Church since 2019.
Tom is involved the Gideons International and Kairos Prison Ministries International. Tom and Shirley enjoy walking in the park across from where they live and learning how to play pickleball.
Elder
Jason was raised in a family that attended the Presbyterian church his grandparents were part of founding and his parents were married at. He grew up knowing God and the importance of prayer. When Jason was a young school age boy he had inner ear complications that required many surgerys. His mom tells of how adamant Jason was to have the elders pray over him before each surgery.
At age 13 Jason acknowledged Christ as his savior and prayed the prayer of repentance in his youth pastor's office. Due to his ear problems, Jason was not medically cleared to be baptised. However, despite Dr. recommendations, Jason was baptised. Jason praises God for this mini miracle. Jason continued attending church throughout his youth.
Jason met his wife, Bekah, while both were attending his church's youth group. They were married shortly after high school and moved to WA, from CA, and had their first son. Jason and Bekah were young parents (20 and 19) and struggled to grow in their faith. They found being young parents exceptionally challenging as they could not find peers in their same situation. This struggle continued in their church experience, and they never really connected with a church in WA.
In 2004 Jason and Bekah began attending our church. Jason found his spiritual life was missing something, and God had placed a hunger for His word in him. At the time, Jason and Bekah had not yet found a church since moving to Pierce county. A friend shared a cassette tape (yep that's aging him) of a God's word being preached out of the book of Daniel. Jason was never taught expositionaly, but he loved what he believed to be a series in the book of Daniel. While traveling for work, Jason searched for a similar style of church in that area, and they were also teaching expositionaly. It was then Jason saw what God was revealing to him about how there was more to the Christian life than just being a good person. Upon returning home, Jason searched for this style of church and found ours. Jason has grown as a disciple of Christ at our church, and has continued to grow in his faith and love for God's word.
Jason and Bekah raised their two sons into adulthood here at our church. Jason and Bekah began to serve in the youth ministry and Jason faithfully served as leader of the youth for nearly 15 years. Both of his sons attended the youth groups Jason was leader of, and have both gone on to serve the youth as well.
Jason and Bekah love to host people in their homes, in both fellowship gatherings (bible study groups or having people over for dinner) as well as having foster kids stay in their home. Jason and Bekah have served the community in Foster Care for many years and have come to know the provisions of God in deeper ways through this ministry.
Jason calls it a blessing to be an Elder at South Hill Baptist Church, and is so thankful and honored to be part of the body.
Associate Pastor/Elder
Phil was born in Pasadena, CA, and spent his childhood and teenage years in a loving family in Grants Pass, OR. Phil was raised in the Catholic Church, and he first gave his life to Christ at a Youth for Christ convention in high school. During his studies of electrical engineering at Gonzaga University, Phil struggled with his faith and was lost and confused by his graduation.
After college (1999), Phil's life was changed forever when he became a servant of his Savior, Jesus Christ. Just prior to that point, he had a wonderful girlfriend, great friends, and good education, but he was still missing the central purpose of life. Then, an old high school friend invited him to study Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell. This started him on a deep study of God's Word. As a result, Phil repented of his sins, gave himself fully to Jesus, and began to be fed the Word at Calvary Chapel churches.Following his complete surrender to the Lord, Phil earned his master's degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington, and he married that wonderful girlfriend, Heather, on July 1, 2000. They now have two daughters, Anna and Rose, and a son, Seth. The Spagnolo Family lives in Puyallup.
In July of 2008, he left his job with Boeing Research and Design to become a full time pastor. Phil currently serves as an associate pastor and elder. In 2024, Phil graduated with a masters of Arts in biblical counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary, and he now has a particular emphasis in serving the church and the community through counseling.
The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
Associate Pastor/Elder
Ben was born and raised just outside of Philadelphia, PA, and came to faith in Christ during his sophomore year of high school. Early on, he developed a strong desire for pastoral ministry and cross-cultural missions.
After graduating from high school, Ben met his future wife, Emily, at a Bible college in Hungary, where he completed a Missions Training Program. Following his graduation, he and Emily were married and moved to Croatia as missionaries in 2011.
During their time in Croatia, the Spectors became fluent in the Croatian language and planted a church, Raskrižje Kršćanska Zajednica, in the capital city of Zagreb. Ben served there as Lead Pastor from 2015-2020.
In 2020, the Spectors moved back to Washington State, where Ben worked as a Pastoral Assistant at The Chapel Church before moving to Portland, OR, for a five-month pastoral residency at Hinson Baptist Church. Following this, he earned his M.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies from Western Seminary. Currently, Ben is pursuing doctoral studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The Chapel Church (in 2023) and South Hill Baptist Church (in 2025) called him to be one of their pastors.
Ben and his wife, Emily, currently reside in Puyallup with their three children: Lily, Liam, and Jack.
Deacon of Creative Arts
Deacon of Hospitality
Deacon of Bookstore
Deacon of Ushers
Deacon of Women's Ministry
Deacon
Senior Pastor/Elder
Stephen was born and raised in Spokane, WA. Though he heard the gospel growing up in his home, it wasn't until his sophomore year in college that he was converted. A few years later, Stephen went on a short-term mission trip to Sierra Leone and it was there that he felt a desire and calling to ministry.
Upon graduating from Seattle Pacific University, Stephen moved down to Portland, OR, married Lisa whom he met in college, and attended Western Seminary, where he received a Masters of Divinity. Four years later, he and his wife moved to Corvallis to minister to college students at Oregon State University with the Navigators.
Stephen then went on to plant a church as an Associate Pastor in Corvallis, OR, called The Branch. During those years, he oversaw small groups, local/global missions, an internship program, and gained invaluable experiences in pastoral ministry. After 5 years, he and his family moved back to Portland for a 5 month pastoral residency at Hinson Baptist Church. Shortly after, in June 2018, the Chapel Church called Stephen to be their next Senior Pastor. Upon the merger of South Hill Baptist Church and The Chapel Church in 2025, Stephen became the Senior pastor of the newly merged church.
Stephen and his wife, Lisa, live in Puyallup with their four children, Sadie, Calvin, Graham, and Whitaker.
Associate Pastor/Elder
Phil was born in Pasadena, CA, and spent his childhood and teenage years in a loving family in Grants Pass, OR. Phil was raised in the Catholic Church, and he first gave his life to Christ at a Youth for Christ convention in high school. During his studies of electrical engineering at Gonzaga University, Phil struggled with his faith and was lost and confused by his graduation.
After college (1999), Phil's life was changed forever when he became a servant of his Savior, Jesus Christ. Just prior to that point, he had a wonderful girlfriend, great friends, and good education, but he was still missing the central purpose of life. Then, an old high school friend invited him to study Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell. This started him on a deep study of God's Word. As a result, Phil repented of his sins, gave himself fully to Jesus, and began to be fed the Word at Calvary Chapel churches.Following his complete surrender to the Lord, Phil earned his master's degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington, and he married that wonderful girlfriend, Heather, on July 1, 2000. They now have two daughters, Anna and Rose, and a son, Seth. The Spagnolo Family lives in Puyallup.
In July of 2008, he left his job with Boeing Research and Design to become a full time pastor. Phil currently serves as an associate pastor and elder. In 2024, Phil graduated with a masters of Arts in biblical counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary, and he now has a particular emphasis in serving the church and the community through counseling.
The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
Associate Pastor/Elder
Ben was born and raised just outside of Philadelphia, PA, and came to faith in Christ during his sophomore year of high school. Early on, he developed a strong desire for pastoral ministry and cross-cultural missions.
After graduating from high school, Ben met his future wife, Emily, at a Bible college in Hungary, where he completed a Missions Training Program. Following his graduation, he and Emily were married and moved to Croatia as missionaries in 2011.
During their time in Croatia, the Spectors became fluent in the Croatian language and planted a church, Raskrižje Kršćanska Zajednica, in the capital city of Zagreb. Ben served there as Lead Pastor from 2015-2020.
In 2020, the Spectors moved back to Washington State, where Ben worked as a Pastoral Assistant at The Chapel Church before moving to Portland, OR, for a five-month pastoral residency at Hinson Baptist Church. Following this, he earned his M.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies from Western Seminary. Currently, Ben is pursuing doctoral studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The Chapel Church (in 2023) and South Hill Baptist Church (in 2025) called him to be one of their pastors.
Ben and his wife, Emily, currently reside in Puyallup with their three children: Lily, Liam, and Jack.
