John grew up in Wheaton, Illinois and came to California in late 1964. He was active in Youth for Christ (YFC) since he became a believer in junior high and spent 6 months in Brazil on his first long-term missions trip through YFC. He later worked for YFC in Southern California while attending BIOLA. He met his wife of 55 years, Sandy, during college and they moved to Bakersfield in 1969 where John became the local Director of YFC. After his time at YFC, in 1978 he went on to form and charter a Savings and Loan Association with a friend and was subsequently hired by the FDIC. In the years following he continued working in business leadership roles as president of Paramount Savings Bank and then Golden Empire Ambulance (which was sold to Hall Ambulance in 2001). John has also served as a pastor, a Rotary club president and a church elder, and he and Sandy have been very active in the Shaklee business for many years. They have six children (seven if you include Victor Popa) and 23 grandchildren.

 

John loves being at CTL because it’s a ministerial, entrepreneurial activity that allows him the ability to examine new ideas and ways of doing things. There are new opportunities around every corner, but it’s kingdom-driven and Spirit-led. It’s about the kids, and that’s something that John loves. He also loves the relationships, and truly enjoys our partners, our staff and the many other people who we get to work with. John says it’s about transformation and not transaction. One of the highlights of his time with CTL was the 30th Anniversary Celebration held in March of 2023. It was a wonderful time of celebrating all that God has done, is doing and looking forward to all that’s ahead.

 

Favorite scripture: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” Romans 12:1-3 NIV

 

We asked John, "If you were a pasta shape, what shape would you be and why?"

John: "Rotelle – Round and round it goes, full of good taste and fun!"