Chuckk Gerwig - Elevation Pastor

Chuckk is the primary architect, dreamer and Lead Pastor @ Elevation.  He has been a 24 year veteran youth pastor in the recent past. He has been ordained by the Evangelical Free Church of America and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Bible from (believe it or not) Liberty University in Virginia. Chuckk also has a sketchy past as a professional guitarist in many, many bands including some time playing for Christian artists Randy Stonehill, Brian Duncan and David Edwards.

Chuckk loves to teach God’s Word in an interactive, humorous, scripture-centric and multi-sensory barrage. He is passionate about Mission, seeing people grow to look like Jesus, Stratocasters and other loud machines. Chuckk also is the principal of Sacred Ink, an online faith / tattoo art- installation. Chuckk has a deep seated motorcycle addiction, if he doesn't answer his cell phone he's probably cruising his big blue custom Harley along the coastline and mountains of Santa Cruz

Chuckk is a father of 2 daughters: Carly and Jessi; 26 year husband of Queen Andrea and; master of "Yellowdog" the extra zesty smelling Labrador Retriever. Chuckk's creed is: Guitars and Harleys. Yes, Chuckk does spell his name with 2 K’s for some unknown reason.

Omar Spence - Director of Worship Arts

Omar was born Friday, October 13, 1967, the son of Skip Spence, founding member of Jefferson Airplane and Moby Grape - two rock bands that emerged on the San Francisco scene in the 1960’s. In true 60’s fashion, his full given name, Orion Omar Kahn Spence, was inspired by the constellation, an eastern mystic/poet, and yes, Genghis Kahn. “Orion” was dropped early on due to repeated mispronunciations that continue to this day, though he did tolerate it for his first school year from his pretty kindergarten teacher.

Omar has lived in the Santa Cruz area since he was seven. Omar has always enjoyed singing for as long as he can remember. His mom told him that when he was just six years old a first grade vocal teacher at his elementary school expressed a serious interest in teaching or coaching Omar because of something she heard in him early on. Omar later sang in his first band in the 7th grade called “Smoke” and won the junior high talent-show. That settled it; Omar was going to pursue a musical career and not too much else mattered. At about that same time at age 13, he was invited to church for the first time, and he came to Christ when his brother pushed him into the aisle during an alter call. Omar admits he was just getting his “fire insurance,” and it was several years before he decided to fully surrender his life to the Lord, but he realizes now that was the first of God’s interventions in his life.

As a young Christian, and because of the turbulent past of his rock-n-roll father and the toll it took on his family, Omar came to the conclusion that the sex, drugs, and the rock & roll music industry was a “package deal”, and to get rid of one you have to remove yourself from all of it. He decided to lay aside his musical aspirations. God had other plans, however, and He began showing Omar how his musical talents could be used for His glory; from the gracious senior congregation at First Baptist Santa Cruz who gave the pipe organ a timeout and encouraged Omar’s use of electric drums in worship, to the discipleship of his heart and talents as a drummer at Santa Cruz Bible Church where he was ministered to for over a decade. In 1999 Omar was asked to step out from behind the drum kit and sing a solo before the congregation. That was a pivotal point when Omar said God began showing him how he could be used in a very specific way unique to his skill set and giftedness. Omar initially did not want to lead music in front of the “church” and decided to join some other musicians and start a Christian outreach band that played in jails and prisons, sharing the Gospel message through playing a variety of hard rock music styles. After much encouragement from various church leaders Omar answered God’s call to leading God’s people in congregational worship and began focusing his efforts in that direction. In the summer of 2005 Omar and his family began attending Calvary Chapel of Santa Cruz and by January of that next year found God challenging him with leading the worship ministries there. Serving in volunteer leadership God used those opportunities to refine and develop Omar both musically and spiritually, which have prepared him for full time ministry using music.

Omar is absolutely blown away at key events in his life that have led him to this place and says, “when you honestly seek God and learn about Him and what He loves, and follow Him as best you can, He is faithful to give you life and life more abundantly than you could have ever imagined. Before I knew Jesus as my Savior, I wanted to be a rock star for the glory of the world, which would have been a waste of my life. Now I am a “rock star” for Jesus, and I am fulfilling His purposes for my life in the way he designed me to. God truly wants to give us the deepest desires of our hearts; we just need to hand Him over the mouse of our “heart”-drive.”

Omar recently celebrated his 18th anniversary with his wife, Robin. They have four children together, Nico (17), Bella (15), Ellie (14) and Eli (12).