Staff & Elders
Greg Lavine
Greg grew up in a Jewish home near Minneapolis and learned Hebrew scripture and tradition from birth. He knew about God, but did not know God. As a young teenager God opened his eyes and awoke his soul to experience Jesus as the messiah, the fulfillment of all he knew. College, marriage to Debra, and seminary followed in Colorado. He’s been at New Life since 1998. Greg and Debra’s incredible adult children (Levi, Abigail, Samuel, and Grace) all grew up here, and two grandchildren (Mariah and Ethan) call Colorado home. He enjoys hiking, photography, sports, and is a bit fanatical about all things Vikings.
Email:gregl@newlifetucson.com
John Beeson
John grew up in Tucson, Arizona. He received his B.A. from Gordon College. After serving as a Detention Officer in Maricopa County, he received his M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. He pastored in Princeton for 8 years before returning to Arizona to serve at New Life in 2015. John is married to Angel who serves as a counselor at Whole Hope Christian Counseling. They have two teenagers, Camille and Soren, who bring them constant laughter and joy. The Beesons love good food, adventures, and sports of all types. You can find John’s writing ministry at www.thebeehive.live.
Email:johnb@newlifetucson.com
Blog:http://thebeehive.live
Paul Mueller
Paul is a native New Englander and an avid Patriots and U of A fan. He and Donna have a blended family with five kids. Before serving at New Life, Paul was an executive in the commercial landscape construction field, and spent time in education and finance as well. He holds an MBA from the University of Arizona and a BA in English from Concordia College – New York. When not working, he loves hiking, reading or just spending time with Donna.
Email:paulm@newlifetucson.com
Dustin DeJong
Dustin is an Arizona native who grew up on a dairy farm in Maricopa. He and Lori have three kids: Peyton, Colby, and Jeremiah. He studied ministry at Hope International University and Grand Canyon University before pursuing a Master of Divinity from Gateway Seminary. He has pastored all over the state of Arizona (Tucson, Phoenix, and Flagstaff) and has spent time in youth, children’s, adults, small groups, leadership development, and tech ministries. He loves to explore Tucson and beyond with his wife as they take in the best food and drink offerings (especially breakfast and coffee).
Sammie Wolstenholme
Austen Albert
Josh Barella
Amber Banales
Email:amberb@newlifetucson.com
Stacy MacLaren
Email:stacym@newlifetucson.com
Maureen Albert
Cindy Carpenter
Email:cindyc@newlifetucson.com
Jeff Purcell
Email:jeffp@newlifetucson.com
MaryNell Yarborough
Maria Brown
Email:mariab@newlifetucson.com
Vanessa Peterson
Yvonne Barton
Tiffany Pate
Shawn Albert
Email:shawna@newlifetucson.com
Sevin Williams
Email:sevinw@newlifetucson.com
Mark Nichols
John Pate
Lynn Goar
Cesar Alaestante
Michael Schaeffer
Sal Perez
Email:elders@newlifetucson.com
Abby Stevenson
Email:abbys@newlifetucson.com
Our Leadership Structure
There are four groups of people who help lead New Life:
They set aside ego and mutually submit to each other to lead New Life together. Here are just some of the benefits we have received through this:
- It helps the church anchor itself in Jesus rather than the personality and charisma of a Senior Pastor.
- It multiplies gifting. Pastors Greg and John are very different people, they complement each other and we get the strengths of each.
- It infuses humility and community into the whole church. Co-leaders must die to themselves, set aside power and control, and submit to each other.
- It makes succession plans obsolete. Doing co-leadership right sets the church up to never need a succession plan as long as God graces us with co-leadership.
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