Trinity Elders

ELDER

Scott Beckman

Scott earned a Bachelor degree from CSUS Sacramento and currently works in sales at International Paper.  He and his wife Lori have been married since 1990 and have 4 children: Derek, Jacob, Matthew, and Alexa.  They have lived in the Fresno area since 1991 and have been members at Trinity since 2000.  Their favorite thing about Trinity is the family atmosphere and the focus on Christ.  Scott has enjoyed being given the opportunity to serve as an Elder as well as a B2B table leader.  Lori has enjoyed the blessing of raising her children and also serving as a Deacon.  In his spare time, Scott enjoys reading as well as playing tennis and golf. One of his favorite scriptures comes from Philippians 4:6-7, which says, “Be anxious for nothing but in all things, through prayer and with supplication and with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.”

ELDER

John Blackburn

John graduated from Santa Clara University in 1986 and works as an Optometrist at Kaiser Permanente. After college, John was commissioned in the United States Navy and continues to serve in the Air National Guard with the 144th Fighter Wing. He and his wife Susan were married in 1987 and have two daughters, Claire and Faith. The Blackburns have been attending Trinity since 2010 and serve on the Memorial Team, with the Young Marrieds group, and as leaders in our Brother-to-Brother and Sister-to-Sister Bible Studies. John and Susan love Trinity’s commitment to teach and preach the gospel to all ages and to stand in the Truth of God’s Word.

ELDER

Curtis Cookingham

Curtis attended Point Loma University where he earned his Bachelors of Science in Biology. He later attended the University of the Pacific and earned a Master of Science in Physical Therapy.  He currently works as a physical therapist and owner of Thrive Physical Therapy in Clovis.  He and his wife Pamela were married in 2001 and have 3 sons:  Ryan, Joshua, and Nathan.  As a family, they love adventure, travel, hiking, watersports, and relaxing at Hume Lake.  Curtis and Pamela came to the Fresno area in 2003 and began attending Trinity at that time. They love Trinity’s unwavering commitment to biblical teaching, the exaltation of Christ, and the strong sense of family and community. 

ELDER

Keith DeLong

Keith has a Bachelors degree from Fresno State in Quantitate Analysis and is the President of Redcort Software Inc., a company that publishes employee time tracking software across the globe. He and his wife Patricia have been married since 1988 and have 3 sons, 9 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild. They have lived in the Fresno area for over 40 years and have been attending Trinity since 2017. Keith has enjoyed teaching and developing the EquipU: Systematic Theology class on Sundays at Trinity. He has been particularly encouraged by Romans 8:28-29 which says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

ELDER

Cameron Fong

Cameron earned his Bachelors degree in History from UCLA and went on to Cal State Northridge where he completed his teaching credential. He works as a Social Studies teacher at Clovis East High School.  Cameron and his wife Jaimi (who is our Director of Women’s Ministries at Trinity) have been married since 1998 and have 4 daughters: Hannah, Avery, Logan, and Kate. The Fongs have been attending Trinity since 2004 and are thankful for the fellowship, and for the leadership who are humbly committed to knowing God and teaching the Bible. One of Cameron’s favorite verses is from Philippians 2 which reminds believers of Christ’s humility.

ELDER

Sam Musgrave

Sam has lived in the Fresno/Clovis area for his entire life, except for 3 years spent in the Philippines where his parents served with New Tribes Mission. He double majored in Philosophy and the Classics for his Bachelor of Arts at Fresno Pacific University (2010), then earned a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) at Western Seminary (2013) and a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) at The Master’s Seminary (2017). He is currently working part-time on a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at The University of Edinburgh (2026). Sam loves to read, study, and write (in case you haven’t noticed 😊). He also loves traveling and sharing meaningful conversations with God’s people. Sam has been on pastoral staff at Trinity since 2019 and is encouraged to see how Trinity “humbly seeks to preach and practice God’s Word with contagious love for God and one another.” Sam says, “My favorite Scripture is always the one I’m preparing to teach on a given day. But the passage which has recently had the longest lasting impact on my personal life and public ministry has been Isaiah 42:1-4… This description of the King’s heart has revolutionized my relationship with Him.”

ELDER

Jerry Reimer

Jerry attended Multnomah School of the Bible where he received a Bible Certificate. Later, he attended USC School of Medicine and is now working as a doctor specializing in Family Medicine. Jerry and Brenda have been married since 1999 and have four children: Riley, Noah, Zachary, and Kaylee. They have enjoyed Trinity’s devotion to teaching the Word of God faithfully and thoroughly. Jerry and Brenda call Trinity their family and love how caring and relational the body is and look forward to seeing how the Lord grows this body of believers.

ELDER

Gene Sperling

Gene attended Pacific College and Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary.  After pastoring Hilltop Chapel in Miramonte, CA for three years, he and his wife Geri began their family. Having always felt the call of God on his life, Gene joined the staff of New Hope Community Church in Clovis, CA where he served as Associate Pastor for 15 years and as a Clovis Police Chaplain for 10 years. Upon retirement, Gene worked part-time and served as Board Chairman for Christian Businessmen’s Connection. Gene and Geri began attending Trinity in 2015.  Gene began serving on the Elder Board and became a part of the Trinity staff in 2018. Gene and Geri have two adult children and two grandchildren.

ELDER

Andrei Sava

Andrei completed his undergraduate degree in Theological Studies at the University of Bucharest in Romania followed by a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.  He and his wife Samantha were married in 2009 and have 4 beautiful girls:  Sofia, Eliana, Lydia, and Clara. They came to Trinity in 2012 when Andrei was hired as the Intern for Thrive and Jr. High Ministries.  Andrei now serves Trinity as the Pastor for Preaching and Discipleship.  In his own words, Andrei says that “Trinity feels like a big sweet family, with humble people that recognize God’s grace in their lives and seek to glorify God through their lives by serving one another and the ones around them.”  One of his favorite passages of scripture is Ephesians 2:1-10: “These verses encompass my life’s story and a continual reminder of God’s grace and mercy over me!”  In his spare time, Andrei loves spending time with his wife and girls, reading, and playing sports such as tennis and soccer, or as he says, “Football – the real FOOTball!”

ELDER

Chuck Shillito

Chuck attended UC Davis and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Bio Science with a minor in Math and Chemistry.  He then earned his secondary teaching credential and taught at the high school level for 3 years. Sensing a call to ministry, he attended seminary and in 1979 received a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Ministry.  Chuck and his wife Cathy were married that same year in July 1979.  They have 5 married children and 12 grandchildren. Chuck was called to be the Senior Pastor at Trinity in June of 1998 and is Humbled to see God’s Faithfulness and grace in his own life and at Trinity since that time. Chuck’s “life verse” from Galatians 2:20 is:  “I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in this body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

ELDER

Nate Van Verst

Nate and his wife Kara have lived in the Fresno area since 2011 and have three children: Noah and his wife Taylor, and Anelise. Nate works in Information Technology as a Systems Analyst and Network Manager.  He enjoys outdoor activities including walking, running, swimming, and backpacking and Kara loves to garden.  One of the things Nate appreciates most about the Trinity family is the opportunity to worship God with others through studying His Word and singing His praises together. Nate’s favorite scripture is from 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

Click here to read the testimony that Nate shared at our 2019 Congregational Meeting.

ELDER

Rick Wood

Rick attended Grace Bible Institute and Fresno Pacific University where he earned his bachelor’s degrees in Bible as well as Management and Organizational Development after which he served as a local pastor for 14 years in the Fresno/Clovis area. Today he is the President and CEO of Select Education Group, Inc. operating four vocational colleges and universities. Rick and his wife Melinda were married in 2002 and have four children and five grandchildren. They have attended Trinity for 14 years and love Trinity’s commitment to Biblical teaching, discipleship, fellowship, and its sense of community.  Rick and Melinda have been involved in B2B and S2S as group leaders, the Heart of Jesus ministry, teaching Adult Sunday School classes, and personal discipleship. One of Rick’s favorite passages of scripture is 1 Timothy 1:12-17 because he says it describes his grateful heart for what Christ has accomplished on his behalf.