Leadership

Atascadero Gospel Chapel is governed by a group of elders.  All of our elders are equal in position and authority and share the responsibility of overseeing our fellowship.  We believe this team approach is what is described in the Bible.  It safeguards against abuses of authority and provides for a variety of perspectives and gifts that lead to a healthy church.

One of the elders, Ted Mort, is employed as a full-time pastor of the Chapel.  This allows him to devote his attention to studying, teaching, planning, and caring for people, so that our ministry is consistent and effective.

Each of the elders look to the Lord Jesus Christ as the Head and Chief Shepherd of our church.  Without His power and guidance, everything we do would be in vain.

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Ted Mort

Ted grew up in southern California, then moved up to SLO to attend Cal Poly in 1979. After graduating with a degree in Construction Management, he worked in the building trades for about twenty years. In 2006, he felt the Lord leading him into pastoral ministry at the Chapel. He feels blessed to be able to devote his time to studying God’s Word and helping people. Ted grew up in a Christian home, but walked away from the Lord in his teen and college years. He’ll never get over the love, forgiveness, and grace of God that accepted him back and continues to be poured out on him. Other than saving him, the Lord’s greatest gift to Ted has been his wife, Karey. Together, they have 11 children (yes, we know how that happens) and 22 grandchildren (so far).

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John Botts

John was born in Paso Robles and grew up on a large ranch near the south shore of San Antonio Lake.  His dad farmed there and that was his dream as well.  John says, “On a human level it was an ideal childhood, except I neither knew who Jesus was, nor knew Him personally.”  When John was 17 years old, a series of events occurred in his life that God used to bring him to Himself through his Son, Jesus Christ.  It was life-changing, as those of you who have experienced a personal relationship with Jesus know.  “I suddenly had an identity and a purpose that I had never known before.”  Today, John has been married to his wife, Linda, for over 40 years and has walked with Jesus for about 44 years. He says he would choose no other path.  He claims Hebrews 12:1-2 as his life verse.  “And let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.”

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Ray Johnson 

Ray grew up in Ripon, California where he came to know the Lord at a special children's event at age 10. After graduating Modesto Junior College, he entered the Navy flight training program and he spent a career as a Naval aviator. Ray and Helen have been married since 1959. They have three children, eleven grandchildren, and many great grandchildren. Throughout their Navy career, they were involved in home Bible studies with the Officers Christian Fellowship (OCF), and when he retired from the military, joined the staff of OCF to become the executive director of their east coast conference center. Since moving back to California in 1987, they have been members of the Gospel Chapel. Ray has served as a city council member for Atascadero and retired from the Economic Vitality Corp. He has led the seniors Bible study at the Chapel for many years as well as a home Bible study group. Proverbs 3:5-6 has been a guiding light throughout his life.

Chris Wohlwend

Chris joined the family of Atascadero Gospel Chapel in 2020. He is the Campus Pastor of Oakview Village, an independent retirement community in Atascadero. His six children and eight grandchildren are scattered across the country (Tennessee, Alabama, Texas, Washington, and California) so if you want to know what he loves to do on his vacations he is usually heading in those directions by train or car. He has been a full-time church pastor in various capacities (youth, music, evangelism, preaching pastor) for 34 years in California, Florida, and Washington. He enjoys being an elder, leading our worship ministry and hanging out with kids in the Awana program.