Lead Pastor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Christyne and I have two children, TJ & Summer Rae, ages 11 and 12. We moved to San Diego in August 2001 from the Pasedena area and have really enjoyed serving alongside of the people here at Vista Grande Community Church for the past ten years now.

I was raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. At age 14 I turned the control of my life over to Jesus through a vibrant youth ministry at a park near my home. The ministry grew so rapidly that they launched a church in the movie theater in our town and named the church after that theater, Willow Creek. The church experienced unprecedented growth over the first six years and transitioned from a movie theater into it's own massive facility. At age 20, I followed God's calling and moved to Southern California, uncertain of what the future would hold. The next 29 years would prove to be life changing: 25 countries, 6 universities, 2 degrees, 27 years in pastoral ministries, Christian camps, overseas missions, military ministries, and international conference speaking.

I spent my teenage years learning about how God's Word can transform your life from guys like Bill Hybels and Don Cousins. I have also had the privilege of working on the pastoral staff of Charles R. Swindoll in Fullerton, Kenton Beeshore at Mariners Church in Orange County, Bob Kraning and Dave Hopkins at Forest Home Christian Conference Center and find myself humbled and blessed to have had so much access to men of such Godly character.

After completion of my Bachelors Degree at San Diego Sate University, I recieved my formal graduate education at Fuller Theological Seminary, Jerusalem University in Israel, and finished in 1991 at Talbot School of Theology.

I am now 49 years old and my goal is to grow a healthy, vibrant church where the Holy Spirit is transforming lives daily. I have come to realize that the size of a church is not as important as the healthiness and effectiveness of it's members. At Vista Grande, we are small in numbers, but mighty in impact.

 For the Silvestri family, VGCC has truly become a community of faith that journeys through life together. Most of my ministry experience has been in the large church arena, however, my wife and I, over these past ten years, have greatly appreciated the intimate community of faith that a small church can develop. We have found the people of Vista Grande Community Church to be transparent, vulnerable and authentic. They have been willing to share with us their successes and struggles, while allowing us to do the same. We are committed to an undying devotion to God, while displaying deep compassion for those far from God.

Each new day my prayer is to stay in step with the Spirit of God as He prepares His people for His purpose in this place. Therefore, we have a simple purpose, "love God, love others, and serve the world." We also have a simple process to develop fully-devoted followers of Jesus. Our Sunday Worship service is where we experience God together; our Community Groups are where we share our lives together; and our service opportunities are where we share the love of Jesus by meeting needs in our community with heart.  

We have seen that anything we do together is more effective than what we do apart. A single snowflake is harmless. But if you put enough snowflakes together in the same place, at the same time...they can stop traffic! Whether you are simply looking for answers to life's tough questions or seeking a community of faith where you can be trained to serve Jesus, we welcome you to join us on the Pursuit of a lifetime!

Living in the light of Eternity,

Pastor Tony