About Us

We are followers of Jesus committed to sharing the good news of Jesus across North OC and making disciples who make disciples.

History

“When we launched NCP in 2015, I sat down with designer Anthony Carillo. He asked me to tell him my vision for NCP and to share a bit of my own journey in ministry. So I did. He soon came back with the logo we use today. Anthony wanted to capture something of our years of church planting in Guatemala which inform so many aspects of our ministry (hence the “mountain”). He also wanted to communicate our focus on North Orange County (the logo also suggests a needle pointing north). Because so much of our understanding of disciple-making revolves around spiritual formation and journeying together he incorporated the image of a labyrinth—an ancient church practice for devotion and spiritual growth. We loved it. In a wonderfully simple image, Anthony told our story.

I also like to think our logo not only points north but more importantly, points to Jesus.” – Alan Amavisca, Director

The Team

Alan Amavisca

Mission Director

Alan has served in a variety of ministry roles over the past 40 years. These roles include missionary church planter, mentor, mission pastor, church elder, and mission director. He enjoys sharing Jesus cross-culturally and investing in young, emerging leaders. He loves books, surfing, spoiling grandkids and, above all, his wife Barbara. ” I love doing ministry across barriers, whether generational, economic or cultural/linguistic; I believe that Jesus has given us a ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:20)”

Barbara Amavisca

Missionary

Barbara, MFT, has been a missionary with her husband Alan in Guatemala, and now serves as a co-leader in the LAB and partner in North County Project. She loves gardening, baking bread, and spending time with her 4 adult children and 11 grandchildren.

Nick Ward

Missionary, Intern Director, Content Creator

Nick has the privilege of being Jamie’s husband, Isabella’s father, and a disciple of Jesus of Nazareth. He has served in several different evangelistic and discipleship capacities in the last five years. He is currently stoked to be a new father, and excited about engaging in the Great Commission here in Orange County. He loves sharing the gospel, equipping others to share God’s Word, and eating dessert. Psalm 119:103

Jamie Ward

Missionary, Editor, Social Media

Jamie is a committed disciple of Jesus, the wife of Nick, and the mother of Isabella. Jamie enjoys engaging in the Great Commission, sharing her faith, and capturing people’s stories through writing. She also enjoys serving others through hospitality and loves seeing people become all they are in Jesus Christ. She loves going out on dates with her hubs, eating Italian food, and exploring the world.

Ken Schemmer

Missionary

Ken has been a Care Pastor at Friends Church, Yorba Linda for over 19 years and is working as a Hospice Chaplain for Premium Hospice and the Director of Bereavement for With Hope Foundation. Ken has Doctorate of Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and also received a Masters of Divinity and Masters of Arts in Christian Education. Ken and Pam have been married for over 26 years and have three children. Kenny is their oldest son, Ryan, and Abigail, is their youngest and only daughter, she passed away from brain cancer at the age of 17 years in 2016. Ken loves to sharing faith and equipping the church to disciple others. (Eph. 4:11-12)

Ron Patel

Disciple-Making Intern

Ron is a born-again disciple of Jesus who is defined by his Saviour’s love. He is a Business Analyst and Trader that aspires to serve the Kingdom full-time in various capacities, such as shepherding and cult ministry. He enjoys theology, literature, novels, poems, history, and film. There is no greater joy in life for him than spreading the gospel and showing the love of Jesus Christ to everyone around him.

Lee Sward

Administrator

Lee has served in the corporate world where he developed organizational and project management skills over a forty plus year career. He loves that he gets to use his experience to serve and help advance the kingdom as he works in North County Project and in community with other believes. Lee enjoys gardening and sees NCP as a type of garden, one where the soil is rich for disciple making. ” I, as one of the gardeners tends to the needs in the garden. While I have no formal ministry training, I want to be open and available to any and all opportunities the Lord brings before me. I do this knowing that the Holy Spirit provides me all I need to do this work, sharing the “Good News” by word and deed in all circumstance. ” 1 Timothy 1:12

Jim Sando

Strategy Consultant

Jim Sando has served in multiple managerial roles for the past 40 years, where he focused on organizational growth and sophistication. In his last corporate position, he was the CEO of a $40M enterprise with 650 employees. Subsequently, he co-founded Strategic Results Group LLC, a firm established to assist business leaders transform their businesses into what they were intended to be and allow these leaders to be free to develop healthier personal lives and grow into the men and women God called them to be.

The Board

Beth Kaura

Beth Kaura has been working and serving in the non-profit field for more than 25 years. Including education and faith based entities. She currently works with the Giving University, managing daily operations, teaching, and leading small groups abroad. Her passion in ministry is for those who have suffered abuse, relational brokenness, and need for spiritual healing.

James “Jimmy” Sanders

Executive Vice President Paynter Realty & Investments, Inc. A commercial real estate firm

Larry Bender

Retired 25 years Corporate Banking Wells Fargo

Jay Bond

Campus planner, architect, and consultant to higher ed. Lay leader at Rose Drive Friends Church. Father of 3 and Papa to 8.

Leslie Mayfield

Immigration Practitioner Immigration Legal Services Office at Yorba Linda Friends Church

Kenny Fox

Attorney at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

AJ Dean

Campus & Creative Arts Director at Yorba Linda Friends Church

Jane Warren

Retired Tax Director -Frazer, LLP (now Consultant for the Firm)

William “Billy” Malone

Senior Manager, Program Management and Portfolio Integration Specialty Products and Services, Boeing

Jim Stephenson

Business Owner at JBS Business Advisory Services LLC

Partnerships

We value our partnerships with local churches and ministries. All our training and resources are available to them for free. Our partners include:

Church Partners

When we first began to sense God’s call to create North County Project, EFCSW provided valuable back office support and have continued to offer counsel and office resources.
Although Gateway is in Diamond Bar, Gateway Friends Church was very excited about the vision of North County Project and the implications our ministries could have for churches beyond North Orange County. They became early supporters of our vision and a great encouragement—which is consistent with the heart of this vibrant, mission-focused fellowship.
When you visit a church for the first time, it can be intimidating or confusing. At Canyon Hills, it’s our goal to make your first experience as easy and stress free as possible. Keep reading to find information about what to expect, meet our teaching team, get a glimpse into our weekend worship experience, find out how and where to drop off your kids, and see ways to get better connected to Canyon Hills Friends Church.
We are grateful for the continual financial and prayer support we have received from FCYL. As one of the large churches in North Orange County with a strong commitment to church multiplication and reaching the unreached we have been able to work collaboratively towards the same goals.
We are a community that is passionate about Jesus, flourishing families, and the welfare of our city. We would love for you to join us on this journey of finding out God’s purpose for our lives. Let us know you are coming above.

Ministry Partners

Praying Pastors

Every Wednesday at 7:00 a.m., pastors from a variety of local fellowships and missions gather in Placentia to pray and also seek ways to serve God together in our community. North County Project has enjoyed a close working relationship with their churches. If you are interested in joining us, contact Alan at alan@northcountyproject.org

The Trellis

The Trellis is an association of churches, non-profits and businesses committed to creating a rich community life in Costa Mesa. We are working together on the Prayer Walker vision.

Lot318

We share a common burden for marginalized communities. Lot318 focuses on service but has created many opportunities for us to make disciples.

MissionOC

MissionOC provided valuable coaching and mentoring to us in the early stages of our development. We share a common goal to nurture disciple-making across Orange County. They are an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to plant a church.