Randy Archer, Pastor of Community Connections and Men's Ministry

Email Address: randya@vbconline.org

Life verse: Isaiah 43:18-21 – “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. Wild animals will say ‘Thank You!’ – the coyotes and the buzzards – Because I provided water in the desert, rivers through the sun-baked earth, Drinking water for the people I chose, the people I made especially for myself, a people custom-made to praise me.” (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language)

Testimony:

My journey with Christ started before I was born. My dad was (and is still) a pastor and my mom was the worship leader – so if the church doors were open, we were there.

In sixth grade I started a seven year trip away from God and I couldn’t stand the church. Following Christ had never been mine, it was always my parent’s thing. During this time, my brother and sister were born and I took the responsibility of being a positive influence in their life seriously and began to slowly look back towards God.

When I was 19, in a small chapel listening to a man share about the love of God and the extra baggage we carry in our lives, I committed my life to following Christ – this time it was mine.

I started volunteering with junior high and high school students, loved it and decided to be a Youth Pastor. I graduated from Azusa Pacific University in 1992, and Alisha and I were married the following year. We moved to Oregon to work with youth. Thirteen years, one dog and three children later, God has brought us to Village. The Journey continues in amazing, new and emerging ways. What a ride!

Who are the important people in your life? Wife – Alisha, sons – Cody & Ethan, daughter – Julia, dog – Hunter

What is your day job? I always tell people I am the person trying to get people out of the church and in to serving their neighborhoods/communities and city. Build relationships with ministries and people who are serving and loving the city. Expose people to the needs surrounding us. Help them experience serving those needs. Help them engage in vital relationships that expand the Kingdom of God.

What do you like to do in your free time? Be with my family. Surf. Drums. Green Tea.

What do you love to do in ministry? See those ‘aha’ moments when someone makes the connection between serving and being Jesus to those people God has entrusted to our care.

What is something most people don’t know about you? One of the first words I spoke as a child was a result of living close to Disneyland. Every night when they would have the fireworks show, I would say ‘fire.’

What’s on your reading list?