Sports Staff
Josh Merrill: Sports Pastor
Sports have always run
through Josh’s bones—from little league baseball, soccer, and swimming
as a child growing up in San Diego, to playing three sports in high
school. Josh went on to play college and professional basketball.
It wasn’t until his college career at University of California Santa
Barbara was over that he began to learn that life was more than a game.
It was then that he fully came to know Jesus Christ.
Josh spent six years playing professional basketball internationally. He calls it “missionary basketball,” because in countries like Portugal, Argentina, Australia, Italy, Lebanon, and China, he was able to share his faith in Christ on a personal level through the common bond of sports.
Josh and his wife Angie reside in Simi Valley with their baby boy
Donovan and Ernie the GoldenDoodle. They hope to have a little
basketball team of their own some day.
Josh's favorites include surfing, snowboarding and any sport with
a ball.
Charles Bogray: Youth Sports Director
Charles spent over 15 years as a motivational
speaker in the public school system, allowing him a platform in over
1200 schools nationwide reaching 1.3 million students with a message of
hope and direction. Combining his love for kids and a passion for
sports, Charles has used his motivational abilities to coach many
different sports at the high school varsity level. Charles and his wife
Rebecca reside with their three children in Porter Ranch, Ca, where he
currently is very active in the community and desires to serve the
Lord through sports. Charles loves staying active and enjoy's
basketball, soccer, surfing and snowboarding.
Matt Ireton: Adult Sports Director
Matt grew up in Washington State under the clouds
and playing in the rain and mud. He was raised in a Christian home by
his loving parents along side his two brothers. Playing sports was the
biggest part of his childhood. Matt’s mom says that from the time he
was a baby if he wasn’t sleeping he was playing with balls.
Baseball and football were his biggest passions and you would always
find him doing one or the other.
When Matt was 19 he loaded up his Honda and moved to Los Angeles to start anew and begin an acting career. After some minor success in the land of Hollywood he met the girl of his dreams and decided to settle down and start a family. Now, with the love and support of his wife and 4 children he is working for the Lord and using his passion for sports as a tool to seek and reach out to a lost world.
Ann Boettcher: Youth Sports Assistant
Ann was born and raised
in Michigan where she was physically active through different venues
like riding her bike, playing tennis, skating (roller and ice), skiing,
playing racquetball and a little golf, horseback riding, and swimming.
She met Jesus as her Savior when she was 18 and has never looked
back. Her heart has been to help people, especially kids.
She was later involved as a volunteer in an organization that traveled
nationwide helping our youth “make right choices”. In June of last
year, she moved back here from North Carolina where she actively
volunteered helping in the effort to raise funds for the annual Golf
Tournament and Scholarship Fund.
