Staff

Senior Pastor Ted Swinburne

Senior Pastors Ted & Carolyn Swinburne

Pastor Ted and Carolyn and their three sons, Steve, Tim, and Phil came to Northside Community Church to serve as Senior Pastor in March of 2000. Returning to Bellingham was a welcomed opportunity, as Ted and Carolyn first met in Bellingham in 1980 when Ted was on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ on the campus of Western Washington University. After being on staff with Campus Crusade for four years, they were in California for the next 16 years serving three different churches as a youth pastor, church planter, and senior pastor respectively.

Pastor Ted earned a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Utah in 1980. He later earned a master's degree in Church Planting and Church Growth from Simpson Graduate School. He desires to be a lifelong learner, with some lessons coming from formal academics, but most from the school of life.

Ted's desire in his personal life is to daily restore a passion for God and from that a compassion for others. He believes that God loves every individual as much as an infinite God can possibly love, and that God's desire for humankind is that of restoration and not condemnation. Because of this deep belief, his sermons reflect God's grace and desire to restore the heart of everyone who will come. Pastor Ted sees the Christian life as being a daily journey with a loving God.

Assistant Pastor Steve Swinburne

Steve and Renee' Swinburne

When did you come to Northside?

I came on staff at Northside in May of 2006. I'm so thankful that God called me to come to this church. Before Northside I was on staff part time at a church in Redding, CA.

What is your role at Northside?

I do a little bit of everything. I get to lead our Youth Ministry, oversee our Worship Teams, lead our Outreach Ministry, oversee Small Group leaders and use my creative side with media and web development.

What are your hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time?

I love basketball. I play pick-up games, watch it on TV and read the stats online. My hobbies include playing the guitar, hiking, camping, playing competitive board games, drinking coffee and hanging out with my beautiful wife!

Where's did you grow up?

I was born in Yakima, WA. The majority of my childhood was spent in San Jose, CA. When I was 16 my family moved to Bellingham. When I was 18 I moved to Redding and a few years ago I was blessed to return to the Pacific Northwest.

Where did you go to School?

I graduated from Squalicum High School. I have a BA in Pastoral Studies and minor in Bible & Theology from Simpson University and I am almost finished with my MA in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Servant Leadership from Gonzaga University.

Administrative Secretary Gail Lober

When did you come on staff at Northside?

In May of 2006.

What is your role at Northside?

Administrative Secretary. I believe that God has given me the desire and heart to treat people with love and respect. I'm delighted to be Northside's church secretary.

When did you move to Bellingham?

We moved to Bellingham in 2002, after selling a printing business that Larry and I owned and operated for 15 years in Kirkland. I spent my childhood growing up in Kentucky.

Where did you go to School?

I spent two years at Mt. Vernon Nazarene College; then graduated from Montana State University, earning a secondary teaching degree. I taught Junior High Home Economics for seven years. My students nick-named me the "Velvet Steamroller" because I had a soft voice, but didn't let them get by with anything. I later earned another teaching endorsement for teaching elemenary education.