Pastoral Leadership

Our pastors teach, serve, and pray as part of the church family

Scott
Mehl

Pastor

Scott is the husband to Lara and father to Harper, Addison, Lincoln, and Skylar. His passion for the lost and for God’s work in and through the local church brought him to West LA in 2005, and that same passion has allowed the city to truly become his family’s earthly home. Scott serves the church as a part of the preaching team and by overseeing leadership development, global ministries, and counseling/discipleship.

Brian Colmery

Pastor

Brian moved from the San Francisco Bay Area to attend UCLA. After meeting Scott in seminary, the two planted Shoreline Church in Fall 2005. Over the next several years Brian married his wife, Chrissie, had a daughter, Quinn, and Cornerstone WLA was born. They've added a son, Weston, and have become foster and then adoptive parents to Olivia, Caroline, and Benjamin. Brian serves the church as a part of the preaching team and by overseeing preaching & Sunday morning services.

Matt Kleinhans

Pastor

Matt is married to his high school sweetheart, Nicole. He has served as a pastor in a variety of areas since 2011: homeless outreach, family ministries, preaching and teaching, pathway ministries, community groups, and leadership development. Matt and Nicole have four kids: Owen, Zoe, Caleb, and Baylee, and they live in Mar Vista. Matt currently serves Cornerstone by overseeing Pathway Ministries, Community Groups, and Church Planting/Multiplication.

Jim Leonard

Pastor Emeritus

Jim loves the opportunity to connect people to Jesus Christ, as well as enabling Christians to find new and excellent ways of living out their relationship with God. He is married to Karen and they have one son, Steven. Jim serves Cornerstone through pastoral care and by overseeing internal ministries and administration.

Ara Torosian

Pastor

Ara was born and raised in Iran. He came with his wife, Anet, to the United States as a refugee in 2010. They have two children, Emily and Evan. Ara has a passion for church planting, and has planted and pastored churches in the US, Turkey and Iran. He speaks Farsi, Armenian, and English. Ara serves Cornerstone by leading Cornerstone Farsi and facilitating community outreach.

José González

Pastor

José was born in Guatemala and came to Los Angeles to pursue higher education. While attending this church, he met the love of his life, Becky. They are the proud parents of Sara, Daniel and Michael. José’s passion is that people may experientially know God and His beloved Son Jesus Christ, while living a transformed life in the power of The Holy Spirit. José serves by overseeing the Cornerstone Español Family.

Reggie Austin

Pastor

Reggie is honored to serve Cornerstone as a nonvocational elder. Originally from New York, Reggie moved out to Los Angeles in 2005 with his wife Nicole to pursue his career as an actor. Since moving, they have put down roots in Culver City where they live with their children Adina, Maya and Sam. Whether it’s on a film set or in church on Sunday, Reggie relishes the opportunity to point people to the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus.

Chris Woolsey

Pastor

Chris was born in the Midwest and other than a six-year stint in Sacramento has lived the rest of his life in Southern California. Chris became a Christian in a Comparative Religions class in college and moved down to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. After working for a number of years as an actor, Chris began working in the tech industry and currently works for an entertainment company. He and his wife Nicole have two kids, Cassidy and Connor. Serving the family at Cornerstone as a nonvocational pastor is one of the greatest joys of his life.

Dennis
Der

Pastor

Dennis and his wife Stephanie have two children, Evan and Alyssa. Except for five years of education and training as a physician in the Midwest, Dennis has always lived in the Los Angeles area. Dennis practices as an interventional radiologist with an emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment of liver and lung cancer. Dennis’s passion is that others would find their ultimate joy and peace in Jesus Christ.

Stephen
Sato

Pastor 

Stephen grew up in Pasadena, CA. He moved to West LA to pastor a church for a season of his life. As a nonvocational pastor, Stephen works for the LA County Health Department in a program that regulates the use of recycled water. Stephen loves to spend his free time with one of his favorite objects in his hand: a hammer, a basketball, or a fishing rod. Stephen and his wife Alina have two girls, Carissa and Kayla. Stephen is most passionate about encouraging all people, especially the marginalized, to know that their great hope is in Christ alone.