Jeff and Annette Nichols • Senior Pastors
Email: jeffnick@pacbell.net

Jeff and Annette Nichols have been married 28 years and have two adult sons, and one teenage girl. They have lived in Marin for about 23 years being transplants from Southern California. Upon completion of his M. Div. degree at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Jeff became associated with Vineyard Christian Fellowship of San Francisco (now Promised Land Fellowship) and served as an associate pastor there for four years. In 1994, they felt called to plant the Vineyard of Marin and so with a little band of devoted folks from the San Francisco Vineyard and backed by God’s amazing faithfulness they established a new church.

Church planting is never easy, and planting a church in Marin has its unique challenges, but Jeff and Annette are convinced that God has placed them here in the county to simply do their part for the Kingdom of God, while God does His!

Though Jeff for the most part serves as a full-time pastor, God has met some of the financial needs of his family through a side business called Eichler Siding, established in 1987. Annette works part time as bookkeeper, customer service representative, and even makes deliveries! Jeff keeps the shop running and makes sure the production stays smooth while his sons and additional part-time help mill the plywood.

For recreation the Nichols’ enjoy camping, hiking, and even off road motorcycle riding. They are grateful that once a year they join Annette’s extended family for a giant family reunion in Rogue River Oregon each summer.

Jeff & Annette believe they are simple, ordinary people who serve an extra-ordinary God!

John Handley • Associate Pastor
Email: artguy007@sbcglobal.net

John moved to California from Washington State in the late 80’s to pursue a graduate degree in the arts. Having grown up in the Northwest, he did not immediately appreciate California’s austere landscape. After numerous attempts to leave California altogether, he gave up and settled into a career as both an artist and curator in the San Francisco bay area. He later joined the internship program at Vineyard Christian Fellowship of San Francisco—a two-year program aimed at preparing lay ministers for full or part-time ministry, something he never intended on really doing. Immersed in inner city ministry, outreaches, art ministry programs, and home fellowships—all of which John describes as "those years of chaos and precious inner development"—he discovered his love for pastoral care and theological study, a realization that would lead him to eventually pursue yet another graduate degree in theology. Having come completely full circle, he is now completing doctoral work in the areas of art and religion at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, at which time he hopes to stop earning degrees altogether.

John’s ministry includes outreach to those struggling with poverty and homelessness, as well as pastoral care and prayer counseling. Over the years he has lead numerous Bible studies and home fellowships in both San Francisco and Marin County. His interests include discovering the power of the gospel message; the visual arts and art history; church history; the development of early childhood literature; gardening—and long, drawn out theological discussions over a home-cooked meal.

Alex and Ana Vargas • Associate Pastors • Children's Ministries

Alex & Ana Vargas, the Children’s Church Ministry Leaders bring with them not only their status as parents of three children, but the experience of having pastored a church of 80 people, with 50 of them being children from 0 to 15 years of age in the City of San Francisco for more than 10 years. Alex and Ana are originally from Venezuela and have ministered in the Bay Area as missionaries and pastors for 17 years. They planted La Viña de San Francisco , a Hispanic (formerly Vineyard) Church and are right now functioning as Associate Pastors at Marin Vineyard.

A Healthy Children Ministry means a Healthy Church. We at Marin Vineyard see a church that can embrace the need that we have as a society, not only towards the adults but also towards our children. Children are an essential part in our community, and we’re committed to teach them the love of Christ so that they become disciples of Jesus wherever they are or go. In the process we are committed to a safe and learning environment bringing new teaching styles, materials and activities, so families feel at home and excited about their children’s spiritual growth.

Vern Philpott • Church Administrator