Daren Pitcher

District Superintendent

Anita Graef

District Administrator

Julie Cheney

District Secretary

Chelsea Peugh

District Discipleship Director (NDI)

Mike Smee

District Youth Director (NYI)

Martha Lundquist

District Missions Director (NMI)

Jesse Strutz

District Children's Ministry Director

Moises Baldallo

District Hispanic Ministries Coordinator

Kaitlyn Haley Deisher

District Ministerial Studies Director

Daniel Deida

Hispanic Ministerial Studies Coordinator

Nick Gebhart

District Financial Administrator

Natasha Gebhart

District Administrative Assistant

Daren Pitcher

District Superintendent

Rev. Daren Pitcher has served in multiple roles on the Central Cal District; initially as a youth pastor, then as a pastor, and on April 19, 2024, Daren was elected Central Cal District Superintendent. He and his wife, Amy grew up in the Pismo Beach area. Daren preached his first sermon and felt his initial call to ministry on a mission trip to Mexico as a teenager and ministries in Hispanic contexts have remained close to his heart. Daren also taught middle school in Boyle Heights.

After graduating from Point Loma Nazarene University, Daren served as a youth pastor in Southern California, the Central Coast, and the Central Valley. Daren’s first pastorate was the planting of a new church in Rancho San Diego followed by fruitful pastorates in Bakersfield and Los Osos (near Morro Bay).

Amy graduated from Azusa Pacific with a degree in Biblical Studies, served on staff in children and youth ministries, and has enjoyed a number of years as a teacher and administrator in Christian Education. She currently teaches Bible at Bakersfield Christian High School.Daren and Amy have two sons, Dawson (a graduate of PLNU) and Noah (a graduate of Cal Poly, SLO). Daren loves to surf and has many years of experience coaching volleyball and golf.

Julie Cheney

District Secretary

Rev. Dr. Julie Cheney currently serves as the Lead Pastor of the Tulare Church of the Nazarene. In ministry since 1997, she has also served the church as Worship Pastor, Associate Pastor and Executive Pastor, and brings expertise in leadership and organizational strategy as well. More importantly, she holds a deep desire to engage people in living lives transformed by Jesus Christ.

In addition to being an ordained Nazarene minister, Julie earned her BA at Fresno Pacific University, her Master’s degree from Trevecca Nazarene University, and her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Columbia International University. She presently serves as the District Secretary of the Central California District since 2021, Chairperson of the USA/Canada Nazarene Women Clergy Council, member of the District Advisory Board and District Ministerial Credentials Board for Central California, adjunct professor for Olivet Nazarene University, and lead developer of the Transformational Leadership course of study.

Julie has been happily married to her husband, Jim, since 1984. Together they have raised two sons, who are living their best lives following God and raising families of their own. Julie enjoys reading and playing the piano when time allows. In their spare time, Julie and Jim enjoy all kinds of travel.

Mike Smee

District Youth Director (NYI)
Rev. Mike Smee serves as the CCD NYI President. He has a passion for student ministry and seeing young people embrace a life in Christ through discipleship. Mike is currently the Youth pastor at Porterville Church of the Nazarene and has served on staff there since 2007. He is a graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University with a religion degree in Philosophy/Theology. He finished his Course of Study through Northwest Nazarene University and was ordained in 2011.

Mike has been married since 2007 to his wife, Michelle and they have two amazing kids, Kipton (2011) and Kailea (2015). Their family enjoys travelling, playing games, eating pizza, and watching movies together. All members of their family are committed and invested in youth ministry together. Mike's ministry and family are woven together through the lives of the students in their community.

Mike enjoys all sports...his favorite place when he's not at work or home is the golf course. He is currently coaching varsity basketball at a local high school and is the reigning champ in his fantasy football league.

Martha Lundquist

District Missions Director (NMI)
Martha has served as the District NMI President for 21 years. It is her passion and her heart’s desire that everyone would understand and know the difference they can make in being involved and supporting the work of Nazarene Missions around the world. Before serving as president, she served in several positions on the district council and also served as a local NMI president for 17 years. She also served as a Sunday School teacher for Kindergarten, Junior High, Senior High and College. She attends Connecting Point Church of the Nazarene in Denair where she is a third-generation member and is pleased to serve alongside her family now the 4th and 5th generations.


Martha has been married to Dale since 1974 and they have two children and five grandchildren. They enjoy watching their grandchildren participating on the worship team, playing football and baseball. They work on the almond and walnut farm together, travel together and enjoy being neighbors.

Jesse Strutz

District Children's Ministry Director
Jesse Strutz moved down to Central California in September of 2024 to be the Children's Pastor at Visalia Naz. He has served in some capacity of ministry for the past 5 years. He is currently on the ordination track and should be completing it in the next few years. He is also finishing his BA in Christian Ministry from Northwest Nazarene.


Jesse has been married to his wife, Sarah, for almost four years. They just had their first son in November of 2023. As a family, they have enjoyed the valley as they love the sun and being outside. Jesse loves to drink coffee and golf, so if you enjoy either of those be sure to let him know.

Moises Amador

District Hispanic Ministries Coordinator
Rev. Moises Amador has served as the lead pastor of the Spanish congregation at Ridgeview Community Church since 2013. With over 25 years of experience in church music and youth ministry, he brings great passion and dedication to his pastoral role. The Amador family has lived in Bakersfield since 2008 and considers it a blessing to minister to the Hispanic community.


Moises was born and raised in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, where he met and married his wife, Kari, who currently works as a fourth-grade teacher. Moises also completed his studies in Public Accounting, further enriching his professional and ministerial preparation. The couple has been married for 21 years and has two children: Caleb (19) and Lidia (17), along with two energetic dogs that keep the family active. 

The Amador family has lived in Bakersfield since 2008 and considers it a blessing to minister to the Hispanic community.

Kaitlyn Haley Deisher

District Ministerial Studies Director
Rev. Kaitlyn Haley Deisher is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene. She holds a BA in Christian Ministries from Northwest Nazarene University and an MDiv from Nazarene Theological Seminary. She is pursuing PhD candidacy in Contextual Theologies from Claremont School of Theology.

Rev. Haley Deisher serves as Co-Lead pastor of Ceres Valley View Church of the Nazarene with her husband, Braden, in Ceres, California.

Kaitlyn enjoys gardening, playing harp, drinking coffee, and quality time with her two-year-old son, Soren.


Daniel Deida

Hispanic Ministerial Studies Coordinator

Rev. Dr. Daniel Deida has served on the district board of Ministerial Studies, the Credentials board, and as Hispanic District Education Coordinator. He desires to motivate, inspire, and advise in the decision making that may impact the district’s future. He is a graduate of Southern Nazarene University with a master’s in ministry and of Nazarene Theological Seminary, earning a Master of Divinity. He has also obtained a Doctor’s in Theology.

Daniel has devoted his life to God in serving as pastor/teacher in the Church of the Nazarene for over 40 years. Currently mentoring and coaching new pastors in the CCD for awareness in holiness and to bring edification. His early pastorates included churches in Texas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Daniel, also served for 3 years at South Central Ohio as District Hispanic director for Course of Studies. In the present time Dr. Deida pastors the church in Sanger.

Daniel and his wife, Maria, have five adult children and thirteen grandchildren. He enjoys creating Comic Bible Stories and playing board games.