What is an Elder?

Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.  -- 1 Timothy 3:1-7

An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. -- Titus 1:6-9

Elders Affirmation

The following men are being presented on February 16-17 for your affirmation.  According to our by-laws, each person must receive at least 75% approval to serve as an elder. In order to be counted, each ballot must have a printed name and signature.

Current Elders:

• Cliff Fischer
• Ken Hensley
• Jim Phillips
• Chuck Weyandt
• Brendan Yost

Prospective Elders:

• Matt Atherton
• Rick Bowers
• Brian Cook
• Mark Scott

Biographical Information

The biographical sketches below are designed to help you get know each person better.

Matt Atherton

Matt has served as the worship pastor at Mountainview since April, 2012. Prior to moving here, he served the congregation of Southwinds Church in Tracy, California, for over seven years. Matt has been in full-time ministry for twelve years. He is married to Lisa and they have three kids, Levi (8), Asa (4) and Sadie (22 months). 

Rick Bowers

Rick and Robin Bowers moved from North Carolina to Colorado in 1991. They served as missionaries with Overseas Missionary Fellowship for the next eleven years. The Bowers have attended Mountainview since 2006. Both Rick and Robin have served in various leadership roles during this time. They have three adult children: Matthew, Erin and Ashton. They also have been blessed with four amazing grandchildren. It is Rick’s desire to model servant leadership to the Mountainview family.

Brian Cook

Brian and his wife, Bobbi, started attending Mountainview in 2006 when they visited their daughter and grandchildren 4-5 times a year. This became their Colorado church. They have participated full-time for three and a half years since moving back. Brian has led a small group and taught or co-taught three courses through E4U. He is currently in two Bible studies and involved with Marked Men for Christ. Brian is interested in finding ways to invite new people from the surrounding neighborhoods to Mountainview.

Cliff Fischer 

The Fischers started attending Mountainview twelve years ago, when we met at Sand Creek Elementary. Cliff has taught classes, led small groups, and been active in the Friday morning men’s group. The Fischers have served together in Juarez, Mexico, and Westwood. Cliff has also helped to rebuild houses in Louisiana with Habitat. Their lives were significantly shaped by their daughter Michela, who was taken to heaven at age 23. She was born with a liver disease and had two liver transplants before succumbing to an aneurysm in 2005. During that time, the Fischers became very close to the staff at Children’s Hospital and started a support group for families who had children with liver diseases. The Fischers have two adult sons, Andrew and Joey. Cliff has worked as an aerospace engineer at Lockheed Martin for 25 years. Cliff’s aspiration is to model 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have run the race, I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith.”

Ken Hensley

Ken and his wife, Tonya, have been in full-time ministry since 1991. Before moving to Mountainview, Ken pastored churches in San Diego, San Francisco, and Atlanta. While in San Diego, Ken was hired to start a new church through Stadia: New Church Strategies. Ken currently serves as our Executive Pastor and one of our teaching pastors. Tonya teaches first grade at Southeast Christian School in Parker. They have two daughters, Hannah (15) and Hope (12).

Jim Phillips

Jim is the senior pastor at Mountainview, a role he has served in since 1992. He and his wife, Janice, moved here along with their daughters (Megan Estes, Brooklyn Phillips, and Jacquelyn Penn) from Bloomington, Illinois, where Jim had worked with Eastside Christian Church. During his time at Mountainview, Jim has also served as the Executive Director of Church Planters of the Rockies, an organization that helps start new churches in Colorado. He and Janice have also been very active in our mission efforts in Ukraine.

Mark Scott

Mark is the exposition and leadership pastor at Mountainview. He came to MCCC in June, 2011, having concluded a 28 year ministry at Ozark Christian College (Joplin, MO.). He is married to Miss Carla, and they have four children and ten grandchildren. His education includes a Bachelor of Theology from Ozark Christian College, a Masters of Divinity from Lincoln Christian College, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Denver Seminary. Mark is a morning person (are night owls really spiritual?). He tends to fall asleep in movies, thinks he can still play racquetball but does enjoy swimming and jogging (slowly). He and Miss Carla have been married for 40 years and have been in vocational Christian leadership all of those years. He thinks more about heaven these days for obvious reasons.

Chuck Weyandt

Chuck currently serves as one of our elders. He is actively involved in a life group and the Thursday morning men’s Bible study at Mountainview. He was raised in the Lutheran church, left the church and returned in his mid-20’s. The Weyandt’s have attended Mountainview regularly for over eleven years. During this time, Chuck has served in various capacities including parking, youth ministry, children’s ministry, communion team and has been actively engaged in a variety of evangelism and outreach ministries. He works as an engineer at Lockheed Martin, is married, and has two grown children.

Brendan Yost

Brendan has been serving at Mountainview since 2005. He is currently our Missions and Outreach Pastor and loves spending time with our Westwood families. He has two adopted sons, Aaron and Wesley, who are getting ready to graduate high school this year.