pastor greg sumii
executive pastor & care pastor
It was so much fun getting to know pastor Greg when we sat down with this busy man. He has a deep passion for people who are hurting and Greg is the kind of guy that you just can't help loving. We hope you enjoy getting to know him a little bit more through this interview.
Responsibilities
Greg is responsible for Family Care Ministries including: the counseling center, adult ministries, family discipleship, hospitalization visits, crisis calls, funerals and weddings. In addition, he provides executive management of the staff.
"My favorite part of this job is caring for people in their most distressful times." Greg says. "I love to offer hope to people who are in hopeless situations."
Career highlights
- Joined the Northwest team in March 2005
- Worked for California Southern Baptist Convention as a Crisis Interventionist providing counseling and conflict resolution for churches and pastors through out California.
- Missions Director for Southern Baptist missionaries, involved in community missions, chaplains, hospitals, prisons and military.
- Director of Christian counseling center in San Jose.
- Pastored a church in Cupertino
- Associate pastor in intercity church in downtown San Jose
College
- BA in Psychology from San Jose State University
- MA in Counseling from Azusa Pacific University
Family
I married my high school sweet heart Yolanda. We met as freshmen in 1966 and have spent many wonderful years together. We have two adult children. His daughter lives in Los Angeles and is soon to be married. His son lives in Fresno with his wife and two girls.
FUN
Q: How would you describe your personality or style?
A: Calm, easy going, very accommodating, personable.
Q: What do you like to do for fun - outside of church?
A: Golf, fishing, outdoors stuff.
Q: If you weren't a pastor, what kind of work would you be doing?
A: A therapist or a chaplain
Q: Who in the Bible do you relate to?
A: I relate to Barnabas, the son of encouragement. That's my gifting and my role in ministry. No matter what title I have my role is always that of an encourager.
Q: Favorite scripture
A: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
Q: What are you reading right now?
A: 50 Days of Heaven by Randy C. Alcorn. I'm also rereading Opa's book called A Promise Kept - The 70 Year Ministry of Borneo's Jungle Evangelists as I go to Indonesia on numerous missions trips.
Q: Would you rather be at the coast, city, or mountains?
A: I love the coast, love the sound of water, all that water represents in the flow of the Holy Spirit, the temperature, walking on the beach, fresh air, how God's majesty is displayed.
QUIRKY
Q: If you were a super hero, who would you be and why?
A: It would be a Batman or Superman type that rescue people and make things right. I'm not into the hero thing but helping people would be great.
Q: Favorite food?
A: Mexican food, I only dated Hispanic gals, so I could marry a Hispanic woman and live happily ever after.
Q: Name a few of your favorite things.
A: I love my friends and I love jalapenos. My friends tell me when I die they'll put a cross and a jalapeno on my tombstone.
Q: What would surprise people to know about you?
A: That I went to college on a baseball scholarship. That I grew up in a Buddhist home and that my son Greg is a gifted tattoo artist.
