Desert Springs is a Bible-believing, non-denominational, Christian church located in Palm Desert, CA and we invite you to meet our team.
Ministry Team
Meet our team of dedicated leaders and staff who are guiding Desert Springs Church and are committed to serving our community of believers while spreading the Gospel throughout the Coachella Valley. Our team is guided and supported by a valued team of Church Elders and Board of Directors.
Mark Cedar - Lead Pastor
Mark Cedar has served at Desert Springs on the pastoral team since 2003, becoming lead pastor in 2006. He is a fourth generation pastor, having completed his BA in Speech Communication at Cal State University Los Angeles and his MA in Evangelism at Wheaton College, with added theological coursework at Phoenix Seminary.
Rev. Dr. Leon Fikse Pastor to Seniors & Groups
Abie Perkins Director of Worship
Ian Villasenor Youth Director
Lorraine Hart Pastor of Kids & Families
Dr. Jason Powell Ed.D., M.Mus., B.M.E Director of Worship Choir
Michael Gagliardi Contemporary Worship Leader
Pam Luerken Director of Women's Ministry
Currently Recruiting Director of Men's Ministry
Sharon Wren Office Manager & Lead Pastor Asst.
Cindy Hassett Admin Asst. & Early Childhood Supervisor
Laura Keener Frontline Director & Reception
Sherri Gagliardi Director of Family Room
Meet Our Team of Elders & Board of Directors
Church Elders: Mark Cedar, Pete Donovan, Hal Graham, Larry Hilton, Jim Prock
Board of Directors: David Buehn, Mark Cedar, Hal Graham, Steve Jaros, Ron Marinella, Al Taylor
We'd love to hear from you
Contact a Pastor
Our team at Desert Springs is here to serve you. To schedule an appointment with one of our pastors or counselors, simply complete the contact form.
When you complete the form, please be specific about your needs:
Do you need a spiritual friend or mentor?
Do you need counseling or spiritual guidance?
Do you need a hospital visit or help planning a Celebration of Life?
It’s important that we know the nature of your request so that we can connect you with the appropriate member of our staff.