Senior Pastors: David & Cheryl Koop

Dave and Cheryl met in 1977 while attending Columbia Bible College in Clearbrook, BC. After being married in 1978, they spent the next ten years pursuing further education, careers and raising a young family. As a couple they had always been active in their local church but never had expected to enter into the full time work of the ministry. During these years they experienced several divine occasions where God would call them to pastoral work, so in 1988 Dave left a successful career in the oil industry to take a position as assistant pastor in Regina, Saskatchewan. Over the next four years they ministered together before answering a call from the Lord to start a new church in the heart of downtown Vancouver in 1994.

The calling to serve the Lord as a couple has enabled them to pastor together along with the support of their four children. Together they share the duties of pastoring a busy city church. Besides her role as a wife and mother, Cheryl serves at Coastal as a pastor overseeing a number of areas and also serves on the board of directors for Pacific Academy School. In addition to his role as a husband, father and pastor, David serves on a number of church and para-church boards. He recently completed his doctoral studies at Bakke Graduate University, which focused on reaching the highrise communities found in world class cities.

Pastor Brian Taylor

Ministerial, Visitation and Follow-up

Brian Taylor and his wife Christine came from the UK in 1972. Upon coming to Canada, Brian entered bible college in Ontario where he graduated in 1975. Since then Brian and Christine have pastored churches in the Ottawa valley area, Kingston and the Niagara area in Ontario. They moved their family to BC in 1992 and pastored in North Vancouver.

After becoming semi-retired in 2003, Pastor Brian and his family joined Coastal Church. Since then he has again stepped into a pastoral role, helping with ministerial duties, pastoral visitations, prayer and follow-up.

Pastor Dan Walton

Abundant Life, Marriage Ministry, and Coastal Men’s Ministry

Dan and his wife Dianne met each other while attending Pacific Bible School in 1978. They were married shortly after in 1979 and were soon on their way to starting a family, raising 3 children. In 1987 Dan was called to a senior pastor role in Kaslo, a small town in the interior of British Columbia. He served there faithfully and also began working as a paramedic in 1988.

In 1997 Dan and Dianne moved their family back to Vancouver, where Dan continued to work as a paramedic. They began attending Coastal Church in 2004, and although Dan didn’t take on a pastoral role like he had in the past, he did become committed to leading the Celebrate Recovery program. In spring 2010 Dan again felt called to return to ministry full-time. He has since retired from being a paramedic and focuses now on leading the Abundant Life program, marriage ministry and men’s ministry at Coastal Church.

Pastor James Fam

Life Groups & Young Adults

James Fam joined the ministry team at Coastal Church after leaving a successful career as a professional engineer working at Translink. James completed his undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering and Masters degree at UBC, and has been active in campus ministry for over a decade. James has a passion for students and continues to lead REgeneration, an outreach event that began on campus and which Coastal Church adopted and now runs during the summer months. James currently serves full-time as the Life Group Minister, overseeing over 50 different life groups throughout the Greater Vancouver area. James also has passion for his wife, Michelle, and his two young girls.

Pastor Allan Burnett

The Alpha Course

Ordained as a minister in 1980 and receiving his Bachelor in Religious Education, Allan has had a number of years of ministry experience in both a senior pastoral role and in church leadership. A passion of Allan’s is Alpha – a dinner/ teaching/discussion course which helps people understand the meaning of Christianity and the significance of Christianity in leading a successful life. Teaching others how to lead “Alpha” has taken Allan as leader of a team to Tanzania, Haiti and Regina, Saskatchewan (teams going to the Dominican Republic).

Together with his wife Betty Ann he has raised four children and currently has three grandchildren. Allan is an accomplished pianist and enjoys golfing, travelling and spending time with his family. He also is a successful entrepreneur, and is the owner of the Chapel Group. As a family they support Coastal Church, Mercy Ministries, Lifeline Haiti, Asian Outreach, and Watoto Children.

Karen Wong

Internship &  SALT Bible School Director

Karen was born and raised in Venezuela, from Chinese descent, and loves world culture and languages. She holds a BA in Linguistics; a Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate; and a diploma in Biblical Studies. She has served in Missions in Nicaragua, Tanzania, Ukraine and Panama.

Karen completed the Coastal Masters’ Commission discipleship program in 2005, and joined the Coastal staff team in 2006. In 2011 Karen moved into the position of leading the new Coastal Internship Program, and overseeing the biblical courses Coastal offers in partnership with Hope International University.

Karen’s heart is to serve God while serving interns and students. Her passion is encouraging, equipping and empowering them to know Jesus, and His mission of building His church.

Chris Karuhije

Children’s Minister, Pre-School Administrator

Chris became the administrator of the Coastal Preschool & Kids Church after arriving in November of 2011. Having worked with children in various settings and environments for 9 years, he brings a renewed vision and passion to the kids ministry at Coastal Church. Not only does he want to see children from different backgrounds and culture communicating and interacting with one another, but also parents from various backgrounds networking together to build community.

Landry McAllister

Youth Minister &  Campus Ministry

Landry has been at Coastal Church since the Fall of 2010 as the Youth Minister. He was born and raised in Vancouver and has a heart to see the youth of this city get set on fire for Jesus. Before working at Coastal Landry served with Youth With A Mission in Perth Australia helping run one of their discipleship programs. It was there he met his amazing wife Abby and they both now serve in youth together. Landry now also leads our Campus Ministry AFJ that runs the Alpha program at UBC.

Brad Bergman

Music Minister

After years of serving as a volunteer worship leader, Brad Bergman completed his Master’s of Ministry degree and joined Coastal’s ministry team in 2010.

Experiencing Christ through the medium of music has been a consistent passion throughout Brad’s life. He loves creating opportunities for people to connect with Jesus. Serving alongside are his wife (Rebecca) and two boys (Levi and Judah).