VH Staff

VH Teaching Pastor

David Lucas


David is committed to Christ, devoted to His people, and determined to handle God’s Word with care. He moved to Chowchilla as a teenager, where he met Wendy, his high school sweetheart. They married in 1995 and have three grown sons, two daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren.

David spent over a decade in architecture, designing homes and commercial spaces. In 2003, he surrendered to God’s call to ministry and began pursuing theological education while continuing his career. He earned a Diploma in Theology from Gateway Seminary in 2009 and, the following year, transitioned fully into pastoral ministry.

Since 2006, David has been pastoring in Chowchilla, first at Crossroads Community Church until it merged with two other churches in 2013 to form Valley Harvest. Through seasons of change and growth, his focus has remained the same: to faithfully preach the Word, shepherd God’s people with conviction, and lead the church in growing together in truth and holiness. Whether in the pulpit, a Bible study, or a one-on-one conversation, his goal is always to make the truth of Scripture clear, compelling, and impossible to ignore.

Contact David at david@valley-harvest.org

 


VH Worship Pastor

Matthew Souder

Matthew is the Worship Arts Pastor at Valley Harvest.  He is passionate about music and has a desire to see God’s people have a more complete picture of Him so they have a greater desire to worship Him.  Matthew and his wife, Kim, were married in 1997 and have five amazing children and two grandchildren.  They enjoy playing games, camping, and watching movies together.  Matthew grew up in a musical family and has been performing in church since he was five.  He has served in worship ministries for over 30 years in Long Beach, CA; Carson City, NV; Hume, CA; and Fresno, CA before coming to Chowchilla. Contact Matthew at matthew@valley-harvest.org


Ministry Support Staff

Lisa Gowin, Ministry Assistant · lisa@valley-harvest.org


Elder Council

David Lucas is Chairman of the Elder Council & is currently overseeing Growth Groups, Community Food Pantry, Harvest Kids, & Missions.

Mike Muchow is currently overseeing Men’s Ministry.

Matthew Souder is currently overseeing Connect2Care, Hospitality, Sprouts (Nursery), & Worship Ministry

Walt Zurilgen is currently overseeing Facilities, Grafted Student Ministries, & Women’s Ministry


Leadership Structure

Our Leadership Structure

At Valley Harvest, we are committed to a biblically grounded, elder-led model of church governance, ensuring spiritual oversight, accountability, and faithful stewardship of God’s people.

Christ as Our Head

Jesus Christ is the supreme authority over His Church (Colossians 1:18). Every decision, ministry, and action is guided by our commitment to glorify Him.

Elder Council

The Elder Council serves as the primary governing body of our church, providing doctrinal guidance, shepherding, and oversight of church affairs. This council includes all pastoral staff and holds final authority, though certain key matters are presented to the congregation for affirmation.

Pastoral Staff

Our pastoral staff consists of those called to full-time ministry, serving as shepherds under Christ. Since they are also part of the Elder Council, they play a key role in guiding the church’s spiritual direction while overseeing ministry operations.

Extended Leadership Team

The Extended Leadership Team consists of individual ministry leaders responsible for various areas of church life (e.g., worship, missions, children’s ministry, discipleship, and outreach). They serve under the authority of the Elder Council, ensuring that their ministries align with the church’s mission and vision.

Ministry Support Staff

Our ministry support staff assists in the daily functions of the church, including administration, facilities, and specialized ministries. They report directly to the pastoral staff.

Committees & Congregation

  • Committees assist in specific areas such as finance, events, and special projects, working under the guidance of the elders.
  • The Congregation plays an essential role in affirming major decisions, participating in ministry, and supporting the overall mission of the church.

Our Commitment

We seek to function as a unified body under Christ’s authority, equipping the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:12) and advancing the gospel together.