Light Church was launched January of 2018 with Benji and Jen Horning, their four kids, and an amazing team of people committed to seeing the light, love and redemption of Jesus in Encinitas and beyond.

Benji Horning / Lead & Teaching Pastor

Where would you want to go on vacation? Europe 

Favorite local coffee shop: Ironsmith or Philz 

Significant verse / book: All of John Ch. 13

Favorite hobby / passion: spending time with my family, surfing, reading, running 

Random fact: I love eating Frozen Haribo Gummy Bears with a cup of coffee (don’t knock it until you try it)

What do you hope people know about your heart for Jesus & ministry? My greatest passion and hope is that people would come to know the mercy and love of Jesus and to be transformed by His love.

Jennifer Horning / Co-Pastor & Creative Director

Where would you want to go on vacation? Tokyo, Japan & Iceland are at the top of my list right now. 

Favorite local coffee shop: Lofty

Significant verse / book: 1 Peter 1:3-9

Favorite hobby / passion: Music & painting

Random facts: I’m an Air Force kid, have been to 49 states (just need to get myself to Alaska), & I lived in Guam & Korea. 

What do you hope people know about your heart for Jesus & ministry? I look for the redemption of Jesus around every corner, and my greatest desire is to sow & notice his redemption wherever possible. I have a heart for creativity, music & storytelling within & outside of the church that reflects the heart of Jesus.

David Gabel / Executive Pastor

Where would you want to go on vacation? Anywhere with snow and chairlifts!

Favorite local coffee shop: Philz

Significant verse/book: Colossians 3, John 3:30, Romans 11:17

Favorite hobby/passion: Baseball, Fitness, Snowboarding and Cold Plunges! I love any opportunity to adventure with my family!

Random fact: My great-great grandfather invented the Jukebox

What do you hope people know about your heart for Jesus & ministry: My wife (Brittany) and I have been married for 10 years. We have 4 amazing children: Raegan, Jordyn, Kayce and Chase. I try to learn all that I can about how to love Jesus from my kids. I got a degree in Business and Economics and worked in the marketplace for a decade before stepping into full time ministry. I often admire how God uses our past experiences for His purpose. I have a passion for raising kids to love the Lord, glorifing God through marriage and growing deeper in our individual friendship with Jesus.

Stevy York / Associate Pastor

Where would you want to go on vacation? Italy

Favorite local coffee shop: Necessity

Significant verse / book: Galatians 2:20

Favorite hobby / passion: Beach days with my family, surfing, reading, and watching the Padres

Random fact: My name is spelled with a Y at the end because I have three older brothers (Vinny, Tony, and Kenny) all with a Y … I get asked a lot, and no, we aren’t that Italian…

What do you hope people know about your heart for Jesus & ministry? I love the absolute privilege it is to be let into people’s lives and stories, to walk with them, and together discover the freedom and joy of the Gospel. The longer I live and apprentice to Jesus I am more and more convinced that His ways and life really is better than anything else

Josh Burt / Youth Pastor

Where would you want to go on vacation? Japan 

Favorite local coffee shop: Ironsmith

Significant verse / book: The book of James, straight to the point and keeps me in check

Favorite hobby / passion: Researching anything and everything

Random fact: Not a fan of coffee, I know, I had to choose a coffee shop.

What do you hope people know about your heart for Jesus & ministry? If you’re looking at this and thinking if you should come to youth or send your kids, the answer is “yes.”

Ambar Burt / Care + Compassion Pastor

Where would you want to go on vacation? Anywhere in the Caribbean

Favorite local coffee shop: Ironsmith, consistent matcha and the jalapeño and cheddar bagel goes off

Significant verse / book: Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”

Favorite hobby / passion: Cooking, trying new restaurants, museums, & laying down.

Random fact: I’m scared of my own shadow.

What do you hope people know about your heart for Jesus & ministry? That it is a gift to know and to be known by the Father. For us to understand how Holy God is + allow Him to sanctify us by His love and kindness.

Abby Pillsbury / Young Light

Where would you want to go on vacation? I would love to travel to Italy for all the amazing food. I would also love to travel to Greece. There are not many places I wouldn’t want to travel to.

Favorite local coffee shop: Captains Grounds in Oceanside

Significant verse / book: I have always been a Galatians girl.

Favorite hobby / passion: I love to cook and I love to read a good book!

Random fact: I can do the worm.

What do you hope people know about your heart for Jesus & ministry? I have been a part of kids ministry for 5 years and I have loved every minute. I am passionate about sharing the love of Jesus with children and coming alongside parents to help teach their children about Jesus.

Britt Gabel / Young Light

Where would you want to go on vacation? I would love to visit every country and culture! But for now, a dream vacation would be to go backcountry cat snowboarding in Canada.

Favorite local coffee shop: Butter coffee at Nectarine Grove, mmmm. Technically, that's not a coffee shop though? So, I guess I will go with Pannikin - been going there since I was in high school: tried and true.

Significant verse / book: Colossians 3 is gold and encompasses our wedding verse & Matthew 25:34-40 is the passage that first brought me to Jesus.

Favorite hobby / passion: I love to be outdoors doing pretty much anything: snowboarding, watching sunrise and sunset, romping at the beach with my girls, & playing or watching any competitive sport (especially baseball). You name the sport- David & I will take you on!

Random fact: I asked David (hubby) out on the first date... and the second date... and the third date.

What do you hope people know about your heart for Jesus & ministry? I am married to David, and we have 2 little girls: Raegan & Jordyn. I was raised in San Diego & have my Master's degree in Public Health, focusing on child nutrition & physical activity. I have always been passionate about the growth and development of children & their mothers. Being a part of Young Light, I feel right at home helping families to shepherd their sweet kids & teaching children the love of Jesus. We are incredibly grateful to raise our children in this community with you all!

Brandon Castillo / Worship Coordinator

Where would you want to go on vacation? Bahamas

Favorite local coffee shop: Philz

Significant verse / book: Psalms

Favorite hobby / passion: Writing and composing music

Random fact: I love to rollerblade and want to be in a rollerblading dance crew!

What do you hope people know about your heart for Jesus & ministry? I love that through music and worship I get to partner with the Holy Spirit for people to encounter His presence in a real and tangible way!

Ashley Castillo / Worship Coordinator

Where would you want to go on vacation? Greece or Italy 

Favorite local coffee shop: Vinaka Cafe in Carlsbad (strictly because of the nostalgia it holds for me haha)

Significant verse / book: Romans 12:2

Favorite hobby / passion: Playing music & cooking!

Random fact: I was a child model...?

What do you hope people know about your heart for Jesus & ministry? I truly am so honored to be a part of what the Lord is doing in and around our community. My heart is to see the Lord to continue to move in our church and for us to know Him more and more each day!

Savannah Goodell / Creative Pastor

Where would you want to go on vacation? The Azore Islands, Portugal! Where my family is from! & Greece, again. Pls + thanks. 

Favorite local coffee shop: Necessity + Steady State. Dreamiest rosemary latte.

Significant verse / book: Isaiah + 1 Peter 2:9.

Favorite hobby / passion: Writing + playing music, live shows, playing mermaids in the ocean (duh), museums + painting! 

Random fact: I see God’s face every time I eat from Nectarine Grove.

What do you hope people know about your heart for Jesus & ministry? Jesus is my deepest desire. To know + love Him with all of who I am. My prayer is to honor Him with my life. To stay child-like. Tender. & eager to say yes to Him. I hope the creative + pastoral ministry that flows from my life, releases others to operate in their authentic self in Christ. I hope it magnifies the glory + beauty of Jesus and turns our eyes toward Him! 

Alison Stephen / Young Light • Oasis • In House Artist

Where would you want to go on vacation? Scotland at the moment because I’ve been reading books that take place there! 

Favorite local coffee shop: Java Huts chai is really hitting these days

Significant verse / book: Psalm 46 & John 15 ALWAYS 

Favorite hobby / passion: Creating anything! Painting, drawing, all the things!

Random fact: I have a twin brother

What do you hope people know about your heart for Jesus & ministry? Jesus is so creative in all that he does. How he moves, how he works, and how he has made and shaped each one of us is truly significant and beautiful ✨

Kelly Rathje / Young Adult Director  

Where would you want to go on vacation? I’ve been dreaming of a long vacation that starts with hiking in New Zealand and then relaxing in Fiji  

Favorite local coffee shop: Steady State 

Significant verse/book: The whole book of Hebrews & this verse: “But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” -Jeremiah 20:9 

Favorite hobby/passion: long distance running & surfing   

Random fact: I grew up in a small beach town outside of Boston where we boated and jumped off docks all summer.

What do you hope people know about your heart for Jesus & ministry? My heart burns for Jesus having a pure Bride that is absolutely enamored and wholeheartedly devoted to Him. I love spaces of corporate prayer and worship, where we get to behold His beauty and give him the affection and honor that He is worthy of. It’s in that place that I believe we are made ready.