Leadership
Pastors
Dr. Leonard W. DeWitt - Founding Pastor - Retired
Rev. Jim Merillat - Senior Pastor
Pastor Jim grew up in Archbold, Ohio, and came to faith in Christ after his high school graduation. While studying Industrial Arts Education at Bowling Green State University, Jim sensed a call to full-time ministry. He earned his Master of Divinity at Asbury Theological Seminary, where he met his wife, Pam. They married in 1986.
Jim and Pam have served together in ministry in Hawaii, Indiana, and Washington. Jim spent 22 years as senior pastor at West Valley Missionary Church in Yakima, WA, before joining Ventura Jubilee Fellowship in 2020. As of January 2026, he serves as VJF’s senior pastor.
They have one young-adult son, Caleb, and a cuddly cat named Frodo. Jim enjoys woodworking, smoking meats, following the Cleveland Browns, baking Christmas cookies, playing the banjo, and serving the VJF family.
Mike Sherrow - Worship Pastor
He was born in Winchester, Indiana; graduated from Fort Wayne Bible College with a Bachelor of Music Education degree in May of 1972. Taught music for 3 years in the Fort Wayne public schools there and in Lynn, Indiana. Served in full-time church ministry at Lakeview Church in Zion, Illinois for 13 years. In July of 1989, he was called to serve at Ventura Missionary Church, where he remained for 25 years. After a brief retirement, he was offered a position with the newly formed Ventura Jubilee Fellowship, where he remains at present. He is married to Sue, and they have 3 adult children, Sally, Luke and Jordan, and 2 grandchildren.
administrative Staff
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