Our Team

TOM MERCER Board President, Executive Director

Tom has been in pastoral ministry for almost 50 years. For 38 of those years, he served as the Senior Pastor and primary teacher at the High Desert Church in Southern California. During that time, the church grew from 125 to over 14,000 regular attenders, from one campus to four. 

For the past decade, Tom has also been an ambassador for the oikos principle around the world, frequently speaking at conferences, churches, university classrooms, and denominational gatherings, challenging church leaders to become more efficient through simplification.

Tom received his formal education at Biola University and Talbot Seminary. He is the author of three books, 8 to 15—The World is Smaller Than You Think, Not My Church, and Diary of a World Changer. Tom and his wife, Sheryl, have been married for 44 years. They have three married children and eleven grandchildren.

GEORGE BEARDSLEY Board Secretary

George has served at the High Desert Church in Southern California for over 30 years, presently as an Executive Pastor. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Transformation Ministries, a national network of over 200 churches. In his role with Transformation Ministries, George helps local churches build healthy cultures that encourage believers to impact their worlds for Christ.

George graduated from Biola University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. He also received a Master of Christian Ministry Degree from the International School of Theology. He and Cassie, his wife of 34 years, have three married daughters and have been blessed with five grandchildren.

SUE LADD Board Treasurer

Sue grew up as a missionary kid in Manila, the Philippines. She met and married her husband Jim while at Evangel University. She has a Master’s Degree in Accounting and owns and operates Ladd Business Services, providing bookkeeping and tax preparation help for businesses, non-profits, and business owners. She and Jim lead Evergreen Christian Community in Olympia, Washington, where they have served since January 2011. They have five children and five grandchildren. 

JOHN DIX Board Member

John Dix has been the Lead Pastor at Grace Church in Glendora, California since 2011. The son of missionaries, John grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; a Master of Theology Degree from Dallas Theological Seminary; and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology. John leads short-term mission trips to various locations around the world. He is passionate about equipping people with truth, knowledge, and boldness, with the primary goal of encouraging them to lead others to Christ.

John and his wife Carolee have four children and one grandchild. 

AARON KOELSCH Board Member

Aaron Koelsch is the CEO and Founder of Koelsch Communities. Combining a lifelong history in the senior living industry, a vision for unified operations, and a passion for service, Aaron and his teams have developed and built over 36 senior housing communities in eight states, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Today, Aaron leads Koelsch Communities in continual growth, with numerous senior housing communities currently in development and under construction with an emerging focus on multi-family markets. He has received numerous awards and accolades for Koelsch Communities quality of service.

Aaron graduated from Walla Walla University in Washington with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. He and his wife Judy live in Olympia, Washington, where they enjoy their four children and two grandchildren.

JIM LADD Board Member

Jim was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Before his call to ministry, he worked as a professional Sports Writer and air traffic controller. After attending Evangel University, Jim served as a youth pastor, church planter, denominational Leader, and as the Lead Pastor for four churches. He has been the Lead Pastor at Evergreen Christian Community in Olympia, WA since 2011. Evergreen is an intergenerational community of over 2,000 believers with a focus on bringing measurable community transformation through more and better followers of Jesus, living on mission in their oikos every day.  

Jim and his wife Sue have five children, three granddaughters, and two grandsons.

JEREMY McGARITY Board Member

Jeremy McGarity is the Lead Pastor for Skyline Church in San Diego, California. Skyline is a multisite church with campuses in Lakeside, California; Rancho San Diego, California; Raytown, Missouri; and Tempe, Arizona. After a ten-year minor-league baseball career, he was called to Christian ministry and has been serving in church leadership for over 24 years.

Jeremy holds a Bachelor of Biblical Exposition Degree from San Diego Christian University, two Master’s Degrees from Haggard Graduate School of Theology at Azusa Pacific University, a Master of Religion Degree, with an emphasis in Theology and Ethics, a Master of Divinity Degree, and Doctor of Church Growth and Multiplication Degree from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University in Los Angeles, California.

He and his wife, Janie, have three sons. He is enthusiastic about competing at anything sports related and loves San Diego Padres baseball.

DREW MERCER Board Member

Drew Mercer has been operating businesses in healthcare IT for the past 15 years. Most of Drew’s career in healthcare has been focused on growing and optimizing software solutions for hospitals and physician group practices. In 2018, Drew co-founded PayGround, a payment platform that serves as healthcare’s digital wallet. Drew currently leads as PayGround’s CEO, overseeing the company’s expansion across both provider and consumer markets. Prior to his role at PayGround, Drew served in multiple leadership roles at GE Healthcare, DaVita, and Experian Health. 

Drew holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Biola University in La Mirada, California, and a Master of Business Administration Degree in Finance from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.

Drew’s favorite roles are at Mercer HQ in Chandler, Arizona, as husband to his wife, Teagan, and dad to his kids Ace, Andie, Auggie, and Al. In his spare time, you will find him coaching his kids’ sports teams and planning their next family vacation.