STUDENT & FAMILY MINISTRY STAFF:
ABRAHAM MUSTO
Director of Middle School Ministry
Abe has served at La Jolla Pres. since 2016. Abe says one of the best parts of his job is being able to demonstrate for students that church doesn’t have to be boring!
Abe has been a part of many SunHouse moments, but one of his favorite memories is hosting camp on Catalina Island. Abe’s favorite food in La Jolla is the “Jammin’ Bennie” from Breakfast Republic. When he’s not at SunHouse, Abe is often at the gym, or working on some type of art.
SOPHIE NICLES
Director of High School Ministry
Sophie joined the staff at La Jolla Pres. in 2020, and loves getting to watch teenagers discover who they were created to be. Sophie’s favorite moments with students so far have been shared conversations at camp or around the SunHouse kitchen island on Summer afternoons. Sophie’s current favorite treat in La Jolla is a strawberry-pistachio croissant from Wayfarer bakery, and she can often be found reading at the beach or visiting the octopus at the aquarium.
LIZZET FITZ
Director of Administration for Family Ministries
Lizzet oversees, manages, and implements clearing all students and volunteers, and makes sure that all administrative preparations are perfect for LJPC family ministry camps, programs, and events. Lizzet enjoys seeing the tremendous spiritual growth within the lives of our students (as well as their smiling faces)!
When she’s not serving on staff at La Jolla Pres. Lizzet can be found spending time at the beach, volunteering, or living it up with her friends and family!
PASTOR PAUL CUNNINGHAM
Lead Pastor-La Jolla Presbyterian Church
More about Pastor Paul: coming soon!
STUDENT MINISTRY VOLUNTEER LEADER TEAM:
KELSEY
SunHouse Volunteer Leader
Kelsey is a clinical psychology student at UCSD where she leads a freshman girls Bible study through her campus ministry, CRU. Kelsey began leading our SunHouse high school students in 2023, and one of her favorite aspects of leading is the conversations she gets to have with students who she says are “welcoming, talkative, and extremely funny with unique personalities.” Kelsey’s favorite story from Scripture is the account of Jonah: “every time I’m feeling sad, I read Jonah because it makes me laugh really hard.”
LAINEY
SunHouse Volunteer Leader
Lainey enjoys the energy and excitement students bring to SunHouse week after week, and appreciates how they remind her that joy can be found in little things. When Lainey isn’t at SunHouse, she’s a student, an athlete playing tennis or basketball, hanging out with friends at the beach, playing games with her family, or doing yoga & pilates. Lainey wrote this about serving at SunHouse: “What I love most about this team is that my faith and relationship with God has grown so much in a short amount of time…I learn more about myself and my faith through interactions with these adults and kids.”
SPENCE
SunHouse Volunteer Leader
Spence first attended SunHouse when he was a 7th grade student at Muirlands. As a SunHouse leader, Spence enjoys that he gets to hang out with the volunteer team and spread the word of God. When he’s not at SunHouse, Spence plays baseball, surfs, and thinks the best food in La Jolla is an order of carne asada fries from Rigoberto’s.
Spence’s favorite Bible verse:
Matthew 5:16 “..let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
TORI
SunHouse Volunteer Leader
Tori’s favorite part of being on the team is the community between leaders, and she loves to see smiles on the faces of students. Tori’s favorite SunHouse game is “River Crossing.” Tori is a full time student in an intensive coding education program.
Tori’s favorite Bible verse:
Romans 8:5-6 “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
KAILEY
SunHouse Volunteer Leader
A recent UCSD marine biology alum, Kailey enjoys bodysurfing, snorkeling, running, playing soccer, and sewing clothes. Kailey claims the tastiest food in La Jolla is a Camaron burrito from The Taco Stand, and thinks the best SunHouse game is 9-Square (especially when she wins).
Kailey’s favorite Bible verse:
Romans 12:12 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
BECCA
SunHouse Volunteer Leader
Becca joined our leader team in 2023, but she’s been involved at SunHouse and La Jolla Pres for many years! An accomplished soccer player, field hockey player, student, and employee at In-n-Out. Becca chose ultimate-ball as the top-tier game at SunHouse because it’s “fast-paced and super fun,” and one of her favorite SunHouse memories is her cabin’s skincare talent-show act at winter camp.
Becca’s favorite Bible verse:
Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
NEGAR
SunHouse Volunteer Leader
Negar has been a SunHouse leader for over three years, and she loves the relationship she has with students, as well as the bond shared with other leaders.
When she’s not at SunHouse, you can find Negar taking care of her son, taking care of the shop she owns, or watching any Marvel movie.
ADRIANNA
SunHouse Volunteer Leader
Adrianna is a student at UCSD where she plays volleyball and leads a freshman girls small group through her campus ministry, CRU. Upon attending for the first time, Adrianna thought SunHouse was fun, lively, and she really enjoyed the worship. Adrianna enjoys a chai (with oat milk) from Better Buzz, and her favorite SunHouse game is ultimate tic-tac-toe.
Adrianna’s favorite Bible verse:
Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
SYDNEY
SunHouse Volunteer Leader
Sydney says that “SunHouse is one of her favorite parts of the week and she’s always looking forward to it. Sydney’s top-choice SunHouse game is ultimate-ball, and one of her favorite camp memories is the talent show at winter camp. When she’s not leading middle school students at SunHouse Sydney runs track, plays soccer, field hockey, runs track, and hangs out with friends and family.
DYLAN
SunHouse Volunteer Leader
More about Dylan: coming soon!
MELINA
SunHouse Volunteer Leader
More about Melina: coming soon!
STUDENT MINISTRY PILLAR SUPPORT TEAM:
DEBBIE COLE (NURSE DEB)
Camp Health Tech.
Affectionally nick-named “Nurse Deb” by our students, she’s our camp health tech extraordinaire! Debbie serves because she believes “it’s critical that adult Christians should take an active role in mentoring our youth in their faith walk.” Debbie volunteers with the middle school Sunday school class each week: she enjoys caring for our students because “they have vibrant energy and enthusiasm,” and appreciates how they’re candid about faith and the church. When she’s not pouring her heart into student ministry at La Jolla Pres. you can catch Debbie enjoying anime, K-pop, international/indie films, traveling, and advocating for the disability and neurodiverse communities.
BILL BRENZA
Program Check-In Volunteer
More about Bill: coming soon!
ANGELA LANDEN
Family Ministries Elder
More about Angela: coming soon!
KAT PEPPERS
Family Ministries Elder
Kat says that volunteering is a core part of who she is, so she was honored when she was asked to serve as a church elder for family ministries. One of Kat’s favorite experiences with SunHouse is being at camp check-in because “everyone is so excited, enthusiastic, and energized.” Kat loves to see the growth that happens at camps (and especially enjoys the videos produced after camp). When she’s not serving at La Jolla Pres. Kat can be found running, skiing, hiking, mountain biking, teaching at The Evans School, or volunteering with Boy Scouts and La Jolla High School.
BROOKE PHELPS
Family Ministries Committee Member
More about Brooke: coming soon!
JILL OSTROM
Family Ministries Committee Member
Jill serves on our family ministry committee and told us “it is an honor for me to be able to be a part of it and give back for all that SunHouse has poured into my kids over the years.” Jill’s favorite SunHouse memory is of the time she hosted several families to celebrate student baptisms in her backyard pool followed by a taco lunch. “It was so moving to be able to watch those kids express their faith and take a big step in their faith journey that day,” Jill said.
When she’s not at church, you can find Jill backpacking with friends, playing soccer or tennis, taking walks along the coast with her two fluffy goldendoodles, or lounging on her couch surrounded by her family (and lots of popcorn)!
JEN MARCHESINI
Family Ministries Committee Member
More about Jen: coming soon!
