NEWPORT CENTER UMC STAFF

A MOMENT WITH PASTOR KARL...

NAME: Karl Stuckenberg

HOMETOWN: Anaheim, CA

FAMILY: My wife Kristen, our daughters Kayla and Kendal, Kola (Lab/Border Collie), Koko (cat), and Biskit (Cockapoo)

JOB TITLE: Lead Pastor

WHAT MY JOB TITLE REALLY MEANS: I get to work with our amazing staff and leadership teams to seek God's vision for our church and keep everything we do aimed in that direction.

WHAT'S THE BEST PART ABOUT YOUR JOB?: Outside of being the reigning Table Tennis Champion in our Youth Room, my favorite part of being a pastor is creating space for people to experience the love of God in their lives.

FAVORITE PLACE IN THE WORLD: Sheraton Caverns, Kauai (about 64 feet under water and a favorite place for the Green Sea Turtle) It also has zero cell phone reception, which I love.

BIBLICAL CHARACTER OTHER THAN JESUS YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE COFFEE WITH (because we all want to have coffee with Jesus right?): Peter, because I want to know how he kept going after putting his foot in his mouth so many times. If anyone understood the forgiving love of Jesus, it was Peter.

FAVORITE MUSIC: I'm a drummer so this is tough... Anything that's got a solid groove and great playing. Groups included but not limited to: U2, Marc Cohn, Weezer (lead singer's mom is a United Methodist!), Chicago, Miles Davis, John Mayer Trio, Rich Mullins, Steely Dan, Taylor Swift (I have daughters so we play her music in the car), Lyle Lovett (great story teller), Herbie Hancock, Elton John, Green Day, Train, and Berlioz (Music Appreciation in College)

FAVORITE BOOKS: Into Thin Air, The Ragamuffin Gospel, and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

FAVORITE FOOD: Anything deep fried