Senior Pastor

Joe Markum
Name: Joe Markum
Position: Senior Pastor
Email: joe@ccto.org

Ministries:

Joe says that his preparation for the ministry began very early in his life. From the time he was a young he knew that he was supposed to be doing something for God's kingdom. His parents faithfully taught him the truths of God's Word as well as involving him in church. By the time Joe was in high school there was a desire and passion to give his life in full-time ministry. He went to Pacific Christian College (currently Hope International University) where he graduated in 1988 with a dual degree in Business Administration and Ministry. While at college he met his wife Lynne. Joe served at Community Christian Church in San Juan Capistrano for six years as Youth Pastor. He feels like his greatest impact there was to see a number of the youth that he worked with go into ministry themselves.

In 1993, Joe, Lynne and their two boys, Matt and Blake moved to Thousand Oaks to serve with CCTO as the Associate Pastor. In 1997 Joe received his Masters of Ministry from Pepperdine University. Since 1998 Joe has been the Senior Pastor. He loves to preach and has a passion for worldwide missions which has been the central thrust of his ministry focus at CCTO.

Associate Pastor

Karen Hartmann
Name: Karen Hartmann
Position: Associate Pastor
Email: karen@ccto.org

Ministries:
- Feed My Sheep
- Missions
- Women's Ministry
- Community Life Groups
- Seekers and Sowers
- Prayer
Karen has served as Associate Pastor with oversight in Women's Ministries and Missions since 1999. She graduated from Pacific Christian College (currently Hope International University) in 1978, joined the CCTO staff in 1980, and was ordained in 1982. She taught 6th grade at an inner-city Christian school before serving on staff at CCTO for 15 years as Family Ministries Pastor. She and her family left Thousand Oaks in 1994, where she and her husband, Craig, served with AMOR Ministries, a housebuilding ministry serving the poor alongside the local church in the border communities of Mexico.While serving at AMOR, she mentored missions interns for the Intercultural Training Institute and served on the pastoral staff at Bonita Wesleyan Church.

Karen loves Jesus and serves Him as faithfully as she can. She believes the Bible to be the inspired Word of God and delights in study and teaching. She is happily married to Craig, who shares her passion for ministry and missions. She has three wonderfully wild and crazy kids, Luke, Clay and Carly who challenge her and give her life purpose. Luke is currently working on his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at St. Augustine's in San Diego; Clay graduated in June 2007 from UCSB with a major in law and society; he is involved in a variety of social helps agencies, working as a substitute teacher and interning for Lois Capps, Congresswoman. Carly is finishing 8th grade and looking anxiously toward high school participation.

Her favorite Scripture verse is Lamentations 3:21-25; she also loves Reese's peanut butter cups, VERY hot weather, X-large ice tea, the outdoors, yellow roses, reading great literature and spending time with family and friends.

Associate Pastor of Youth / Music

Marty Milligan
Name: Marty Milligan
Position: Associate Pastor of Youth / Music
Email: marty@ccto.org

Ministries:
- College Ministry
- Community Life Groups
- Praise

Marty was born and raised in southern california. How he ended up being a Seahawks fan is a mystery to most people but one of his goals in life is to witness them winning the Super Bowl (2006, so close, Pittsburgh, you didn't deserve it, aargh!). Much of Marty's young life was influenced by some special people in different churches that modeled life with Jesus. That more than anything led to the decision to enter ministy. After graduating from Azusa Pacific, Marty started working as a youth pastor, and started serving at Christian Church of Thousand Oaks in 1994. In 2008 Marty moved out of youth ministry and started working in adult ministries while continuing worship leading at the church, a role he started in 2004.


Marty's greatest joy in ministry is watching people discover how much God loves them, and then seeing how that one truth can change the way they view themselves and others.

The greatest day of Marty's life was the day he married Crystal in January of 1993. They now have two adopted children (and done), Kyler born in 1997, and Cory born in 1999.

Marty enjoys taking in the scenery, being with his friends, vacationing with the family, watching movies, eating, discussing God with others, seeing God in other people and cultures, and learning more about the depths of his love.

Let Marty know when a cure for baldness has been discovered.

 

Children's Ministry

Amy Downing
Name: Amy Downing
Position: Children's Ministry
Email: amy@ccto.org

Ministries:
- Children

Amy started serving on staff at CCTO in 2003. Her responsibilities cover the 3-year-olds through Kindergarteners. Amy's favorite parts of working in Children's Ministry are hearing children pray and seeing them bring in money they have saved to give to others.

Prior to CCTO, Amy worked for 10 years in publishing, developing books for children. The Lord has been so faithful in showing her opportunities where she can use her passions--writing and children and Jesus--to glorify His Kingdom.

In this hyper-busy society of Southern California, Amy tries never to be too busy to do some of her favorite activities: read something from the Bible, run or kickbox, dig for rolie-polies with her son Tate, ride scooters with her other son Drew, try futilely to keep things green in her yard, try (also futilely) to keep dirt and dust out of the house, bake cookies, and occasionally catch up on episodes of "Lost" or "24" with husband Michael.

 

Office Manager

Cindy Pritchett
Name: Cindy Pritchett
Position: Office Manager
Email: cindy@ccto.org

Ministries:
Cindy has served at CCTO for 10 years as Children's Ministry Director. Currently, she is the Office Manager. Her heart's desire is to serve CCTO and the pastoral staff so they can be as effective for God's Kingdom as He has purposed.

Music and Sound

George Gabriel
Name: George Gabriel
Position: Music and Sound
Email: george@gabrielmusic.com

Ministries:
- Community Life Groups
- Praise

George Gabriel is a professional musician / composer who has been blessed with many opportunities inside the music business and inside the church community. George started working as a professional in the music business about the same time he started going to CCTO in 1996. George started with CCTO music back in early 1997 working as a youth group sponsor and doing worship with Marty Milligan. Marty taught George how worship and praise was really about getting people to personally connect with God one on one. After 4 + years as high school youth sponsors, George and his wife Jennifer felt a leading to start a college ministry at CCTO. George and Jen created 'The Core' college & career group and led it for over 3 years. Working in praise music for youth, college, and in regular Sunday services for 8 years, and with his professional experience, George and Marty talked about bringing the music and sound at CCTO to a new level. Their focus was to lead the congregation to have a personal worship time with God each Sunday. In October of 2004 CCTO brought George on staff to focus on achieving that goal in the music and sound. George and Jennifer have 3 girls – Allie, Ana and Ariana.

I.T. Services

Mike Downing
Name: Mike Downing
Position: I.T. Services
Email: mike@ccto.org

Ministries:
- Praise