MEET the Sanctuary team

Lead Pastor

Dr. Rod Collins

Rod is the founding bi-vocational pastor of Sanctuary Church. He is formerly the teaching pastor at the Packing House in Redlands and the founder of their Saturday Night Life services. He was also their founding youth pastor. He has been a medical missionary traveling to over forty nations. Rod was the chaplain at Oral Roberts University and director of international missions. He is married to Kirstin and they have three grown sons.

Assistant to the Lead Pastor

and Head Administrator

Jillian Chester

Jillian has been married to her husband Drew since 2018. They have three children, Eleanor, Hudson, and Henrietta. Jillian has been a part of Sanctuary Church since 2007. In the past she has served in youth ministry and on the worship team. Now she is working as Pastor Rod's Assistant and the Head Administrator - which includes being the Volunteer Coordinator and the Event Planner.

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Taps Mugazda

Worship Director

Taps is from Zimbabwe and grew up an orphan at Saint Joseph’s orphanage and the Harare boys home. He graduated from the LA Institute of music and was celebrated as the top vocalist in the school. Taps has been a part of our worship team since 2008. 

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Social Media Manager/Graphic Designer

Next Gen Leader

Jen Higgins

Jen and her husband Matt have been married since 2001. They have one adult daughter. Jen has been at Sanctuary Church since 2008. She's the face behind all of our graphic design and social media accounts and loves all things creative. On Sundays you'll find her serving as the Early Childhood Lead for our NextGen department. With a background in child development and as a former Pre-K teacher, she has a passion for working with preschoolers and sharing the love of Jesus with them. 

Receptionist

Sandra Scott

Sandra was born and raised in Beaumont and has three adult children (two sons, one daughter), and four grandchildren. She started attending Sanctuary January 2023 and she is our front desk receptionist.

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Lead Pastor of Sanctuary Hope City

Jim Willard

Jim and his wife Darlene have six adult children. He has been at Sanctuary since 2019 and is the lead pastor of Sanctuary Hope City, our outreach campus in San Bernardino since 2016. Jim is the chaplain at a private Christian school in Redlands. As a former division one athlete, he also coaches football there. On Sundays you'll find him helping to lead our elementary kids program.

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Director of Bloom Women's Ministry

Kirstin Collins

Kirstin Collins is married to Rod Collins, our Lead Pastor. They have three sons: Forrest, Garrett, and Jordan. She has a B.A. in Psychology from Long Beach State University and a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Azusa Pacific University. She has worked as a therapist in private, Christian settings and at Redlands Christian School. At Sanctuary, she was the founding Children’s Ministry Director for nursery-5th grade for 11 years. She is currently the leader of Bloom, Sanctuary’s Women’s Ministry. She loves books, nature, a glass of iced tea, and good conversations.

Worship/Tech Director

and Young Adult Lead

Nate Peister

Nate and his wife Aly have been married since 2018, and together have three children. He studied Studio Production at California Baptist University, and has been involved in music ministry since he was 12. In his free time, he enjoys all things music, reading theology, and board sports.

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Men's Pastor

Ron Williams

Ron and his wife Anita have been married for more than 60 years and have two children. Ron served as a lead pastor for 33 years and has a doctorate and double Masters Degree in theology. He teaches apologetics and church history at Community Christian College as well as serving as our men's pastor.

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Youth Lead

Mike Philips

Mike has been married to his wife, Christina, since 1996. They have four children and one grandchild. Mike attended Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa’s School of Ministry and has served the Lord in many capacities, including as a Bible teacher to elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as young adults. His hobbies are studying God’s Word, drawing, writing short stories, playing drums, cooking, and spending time with his family. He started attending Sanctuary in 2017 and loves serving the Lord and His people.​

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