Northpark Community Church Board Candidates 2025

For more information about the Annual Business Meeting and upcoming board election, please go to NorthparkChurch.org/meeting

These candidate profiles are intended to give you a brief introduction to each candidate.

Be sure to join us at the Annual Business Meeting as we have a live interview with the board candidates prior to the election.

MATTHEW DILL

Spouse: Lindsay
Children: Brylee (14) Brielle (12) Brooklyn (6)
Occupation: Senior Director, Forsta
Accepted Christ: 1989
Joined Northpark: 2021

Current Ministries: Children’s Ministry Studio 56 Director, Wednesday Night Group Leader, Men’s Ministry

Past Ministries: Board Mentee, CIA (compassion in action), Truth Project host, BSF participant

Spiritual Journey: I was born in Citrus Heights, CA and was blessed to be raised by parents who are believers. I gave my life to Christ at age 6. I distinctly remember the moment to this day! I was baptized in 7^th grade.

Growing up, Christ and the church was always at the center of my life. My parents led our church’s high school and young adult ministries, so there was always something ‘church’ going on. In my own personal younger life, I helped drive intercity outreach programs throughout the Central Valley region. Our mission was to assist in every day tasks (like yard work, painting, etc.) and open up conversations to a family’s relationship with Christ.

Lindsay and I met in 2007 and married in 2008. We have 3 girls, all goofballs. We attended another church for several years, leading 3^rd and 4^th grade children’s ministry and hosting ‘Truth Project’ in home studies, before ultimately coming to our home at Northpark in 2021 (we saw Pastor Candi on YouTube, and that was it!!) I’m thankful to Northpark and the volunteer opportunities they have welcomed my family into. Lindsay and I currently partner with an amazing team to lead Studio 56. We are having a great time and appreciate Northpark’s true family atmosphere. I am also looking forward to further serving as a board member, if that’s what God has in store next!

CHRIS DODA

Spouse: Melissa Doda
Children: Mackenzie (11), Lucas (8)
Occupation: Firefighter, Clovis Fire Department
Accepted Christ: 1995
Joined Northpark: 2011

Current Ministries: Board Member, Men’s Ministry Co-Leader, Wednesday Night Group Leader, Worship team, Summer Adventure Leader, Wagon Train Camp Counselor

Past Ministries: Mountain View Church Youth Worship Team, Tech Team, Youth Camp Counselor, Set Up and Take Down team.

Spiritual Journey: When I was a child, my mom attended Community Bible Church with my sister and I. My mom was very active with children’s ministry. Growing up at that church I accepted Christ into my life when I was about 7. We attended church regularly and I was baptized at 14. I became interested in serving at the church and was allowed to join the technical team to help with setup, tear down and sound during the services.

We began to attend Mountain View Church when I entered high school. I was approached by one of my friends in youth group to join our youth worship team. He gave me a bass guitar and there I fell in love with worship.

My wife and I were married in 2009. We wanted to choose a church together, so we began to attend the various churches in the area. We found Northpark and really enjoyed the people and the services. As my spiritual path has progressed, I have come to find that when my focus is off of God, the chaos of the world begins to creep in and take hold. Through the years I have come to learn from my studies and wonderful, godly mentors, that to follow Christ is not always easy but it is always worth it. I very much enjoy serving at Northpark and will continue to do so where and when I can.

JERRY HOWELL

Spouse: Cindy Howell
Adult Children: Shawna and Keri, 5 grandchildren
Occupation: Semi-Retired/PT Public Works Inspector
Accepted Christ: 1972
Joined Northpark: 2017

Current Ministries: Board Member (Secretary), Wednesday Night Group Leader, Fresno Police Chaplain

Past Ministries: Selma First Baptist member (45 yrs), Praise Team, Church Choir, traveling Music Ministries, Chairman and member of the Board of Trustees (multiple terms), Chairman and member of the Deacon Board (multiple terms), Land Acquisition Team, Mexico Mission Team, President and Board member of Kingsburg Young Life

Spiritual Journey: I was adopted at 3 months (long story, God thing). My parents were very active in churches in Orange Cove and Selma (Dad was Head Usher and my mom spent many hours in the church kitchen). We were in church every Sunday morning and Wednesday night until I graduated from High School. During my sophomore summer, I went on a 2-week mission trip with 2 other churches to El Sauzal, Baja CA. During those 2 weeks we did construction work during the day and Vacation Bible School in the evening. It was during this trip I felt God’s calling and when we returned, I accepted Jesus and was baptized. After High School and graduating from a vocational college, I got married and entered the U.S. Navy. Upon completion of my service, we returned to Kingsburg and the farm. Selma First Baptist Church was our home church, where I served in many capacities (see above). In 2013, we left Selma and moved to Clovis and started the arduous task of church shopping when at the invitation of Kyla Fox, whose sister attended Selma First suggested we try Northpark (another God Thing). We attended the next Sunday and church shopping was no longer needed; we found our new church home.

JODY JO MIZE

Children: Taylor, Morgan, Lauren, 2 Grandsons
Occupation: Radio Personality 93.7 Kiss Country
Accepted Christ: As a child
Joined Northpark: 1998

Current Ministries: Worship Team and Choir

Spiritual journey: I was raised in a Christian home with my parents being extremely involved in youth group, choir, multiple ministries in the church, which meant us kids were also involved. I started attending Northpark with my sister, Nicole Liberta, in 1998 and I was hooked! I then attended our church plant, The Quest, when it was first beginning. After they were well established, I missed my Northpark family, so I came back. I was rebaptized with my 2 youngest daughters in 2007 at Northpark to publicly declare I had been reenergized to walk with Christ.

I have been singing with the Northpark choir and worship team since my kids were young! My daughters attended Northpark and were involved with children’s ministry, youth, Mexico missions trip and Hume.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 and went through 6 months of chemo and countless surgeries. I have no idea how anyone gets through all of that without faith! I leaned on mine every step of the way.

My daughters are all married, Taylor is in Texas with my grandbabies, Morgan is in Salt Lake City and Lauren is still in Clovis.

I serve on the board for 2 local organizations. The Light House Recovery Center is one of the ministries that Northpark supports and I host their weekly podcast. I also serve on the board for Pink Heals, helping men, women and children with life threatening illness or disease.

BOARD ELECTION INFORMATION

At this meeting, the membership will elect TWO new members of the church’s Board of Trustees. The regular term for a Board Member is three years. A Board Member may be elected to serve two (2) consecutive three year terms.

2025 NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Lindsey Murakoshi, Chairman, Board Member
Dean Menard, Board Member
Jan Weldon, Board Member
Dave Maur
Jody Mize
Steve Silva
Kim Tatham

BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES

Being a Board Member means service. In addition to monthly meetings, Board Members take turns as “Board Member on Duty” overseeing Sunday morning activities and volunteers. They may serve as Church/Board officers (Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer) and hold one or more portfolios in which they serve as liaisons with Northpark ministries (including Children’s Ministries, Youth, Young Adults & College, Worship & Arts, Spiritual Growth, Women’s Ministries, Men’s Ministries, Missions, and Facilities)

Each year the Board selects the Church/Board Officers and determines what portfolio(s) each member will be assigned for the year.

THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE PROCESS

Electing Board Members is a very important decision in which Northpark Church’s membership seeks God’s guidance to select individuals for leadership positions. The Committee’s first step is to review the qualifications necessary for the position as listed in Scripture and in the Northpark Church Bylaws. The next step in the process is to try to select a group of individuals with a healthy mix of personalities, backgrounds, and talents to cover the Board’s responsibilities (Church/Board Offices & Portfolios). The committee also looks at current and past ministry involvement at Northpark, as well as their support of the church and its mission. Because the Board of Trustees and pastoral staff is very much a team effort, we seek good team players; Board Members must be willing and effective at expressing their views, and equally as important, good listeners who encourage others to express their views, all in a spirit of unity.

The Nominating Committee believes the Lord has led and directed us in the selection of a slate of candidates that have the qualifications and the desire to serve as Board Members of Northpark Community Church. We ask that you review the slate of candidates, their biographies, and then spend time in prayer before making your selections for TWO Board Members.

Board Election