Mike Chaves, Senior Pastor
Mike Chaves moved to Leucadia and started attending Beacons Bible Church in 2014. He and his wife, Starla, have been married since 1992, and they have three adult children.
Mike spent six years as a youth pastor in Rancho Cucamonga, California, and another five years as a missionary planting a bilingual church in Playa Dominical, Costa Rica.
In 2020, after the passing of Pastor Steve Barke, who served at Beacons for over 28 years, Mike stepped in as interim pastor and was commissioned in 2021 as Senior Pastor.
The curriculum focuses on foundational Christian principles, including the character of God, the life and teachings of Jesus, prayer, worship, obedience, kindness, and living out faith in everyday life. Children are encouraged to ask questions, participate in discussions, and apply what they learn in meaningful ways at home and at school.
Through consistent biblical teaching, positive role models, and a supportive community, our K–6th Grade Youth Ministries seeks to partner with parents in laying a strong spiritual foundation that will guide children throughout their lives.
Rick Doughty
I am married and have two adult daughters, and one is newly married. I have attended Beacons since 2019 and I enjoy the aspect of a small church. A smaller church allows me to participate and make many friends. I assist with the greeting teams and I enjoy two weekly bible studies at our church.
Paul Coomes
Paul Coomes is an elder at Beacons Bible Church, where he has served faithfully for many years.
In 2009, he came to faith in Christ under Pastor Steve Bark’s leadership. After spending 13 years
in the Northwest, Paul returned to Beacons Bible Church and was inspired by Pastor Mike
Chaves, solidifying his commitment to serve.
Through Pastor David Spurdle’s mentorship, Paul became passionate about evangelism,
regularly handing out scripture pamphlets at the Oceanside Street Fair. He also joined a mission
trip to Japan, which further deepened his focus on outreach and community engagement.
Today, Paul leads the prayer meeting before Sunday services and is actively involved in both the
co-ed Wednesday night Bible study and the men’s Saturday morning group. He often shares that
there is something uniquely special about Beacons Bible Church, and that deep sense of
belonging continues to fuel his service to the Lord and the San Diego community.
Ted Newton
Ted Newton and his wife, Joan, live in Carlsbad with their dog, Byrdie. Originally from Iowa,
they spent much of their working years in Cincinnati before retiring to a lake house in
Tennessee. In 2021, they relocated to California to be closer to family—two of their children and
three of their five grandchildren live in Carlsbad.
Ted has been active in church throughout his life. He began attending the Beacons Bible Church
men’s Bible study about five years ago and was drawn in by the strong sense of community. A
few years later, he and his wife began attending Sunday services.
He appreciates how much the church accomplishes with a modest budget and values the close-
knit, welcoming environment—adding that at a small church, “you can always find your car in
the parking lot.”
Our Church Government
Members covenant together to share of their time, talent and treasure for the building up of Beacon’s as their home church (Luke 14:25-35; Titus 2:11-14). Members are expected to strive to live a biblical lifestyle and obey the laws of the land and avoid any life choices that could damage the reputation of the church in the community. Members vote for the Pastor and elect Elders, who serve three year terms on the Session. The Pastor and the elected Elders form the Session, which is the governing board of the Church. The Session is charged with maintaining the spiritual government of the Congregation.
