Joe has been an elder at Candlelight since 2007 and has attended since 2004. As a Marine Corps kid, he was born in California and raised in North Carolina and Pennsylvania before returning to California to complete his schooling. Joe has degrees in Fire Science and Health Services and retired after a career as a fireman/paramedic in southern California. Joe enjoys hunting, fly fishing and fly tying along with DIY projects. Joe enjoys the interaction with the Men’s Ministry here at Candlelight. “It is the responsibility of men to lead both at home and church.”

Fletcher Michael started attending Candlelight in 2010. He currently serves as both an elder and a member of the board of directors. Over the years he has held numerous positions at several churches in California and Idaho. Fletcher was born, raised and has lived most of his life in northern California until discovering what northern Idaho has to offer. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California at Davis. Upon graduation, he first worked in his family’s business and then later as vice president of a professional corporation. Before moving to Idaho, Fletcher started his own advertising agency which he continued to operate from Idaho for several years. In California, Fletcher spent his spare time sailing, horseback riding and hunting. In Idaho, when he can find the time, he heads to the shooting range. Fletcher is now retired and shares a house with his sister, Janetta. When asked what Fletcher enjoys most about Candlelight, he responded that first and foremost is the sound doctrine and excellent teaching one receives at Candlelight. Additionally, he loves using the gifts which God has given him to serve the church.

Dr. Jason Murray came to Candlelight with his family from Kentucky, where he had finished a doctor of education in theology and apologetics. Back in 1999 he met his wife Karen, who is from Creston, BC up above Sandpoint. After marrying her, he drug her around the South for 20 plus years, with a family that's now grown to four young adults, before being led by God to North Idaho in August of 2020. Now that they are here, the Murrays enjoy hiking, sightseeing, camping, guns, a good story, and fellowship with born-again believers. Jason loves driving motorcoaches and buses like some guys like riding motorcycles. They have four amazing grown children, a daughter-in-law who is a special gift from the Lord, and a new baby grandson. Jason's spiritual gifts include pastoring, teaching, and wisdom. His calling at Candlelight is now a) to help families defend the Faith through all life's seasons, b) to train and mentor the other pastors, and c) to assist Pastor Paul in carrying out his pastoral call for Candlelight.

Kyle Mooney began attending candlelight in 2007 with his parents when he was 6 years old. He was involved in AWANA here at the church through high school and was a consistent part of the children's and youth ministries. As a young adult he visited some other churches and then stopped church altogether for over a year. But in 2022 he returned to church and soon found himself at Candlelight serving with the youth and attending the young adults group.

After spending some time with the pastors of Candlelight, Kyle discovered he had a call to ministry. In 2023, Kyle began working at Candlelight as an intern, and on December 8th 2024, he was ordained as a Pastor. During his time as an intern, he also got married and adopted a young daughter. His family has since grown and continues to do so.

Pastor Kyle is heavily involved in administrative functions at Candlelight and has a special heart to minister to young men. He leads and disciples a small group of high school boys in the youth ministry as well as a Young Adult Fellowship on Thursday nights. Pastor Kyle’s mission is to help people develop their potential as faithful followers of Christ and get them connected to the ministry.

Jeff Gambrino is our youth and worship pastor at Candlelight Christian Fellowship. He and his wife Amanda, and their five children have lived in Idaho since 2015. He holds a B.A. in Music Education and a M.Ed. in Secondary Education. Jeff came to know Christ at a young age and the Lord has been faithful to mature him throughout his life. In his college years, he heard The Lord calling him to minister to young people. With a passion for music and this new calling from God, he chose a career in music education. For six years, Jeff ministered to our community as a middle school and high school band and choir teacher in the public schools. Now on staff at Candlelight, he serves with his teaching experience, his musical gifts, and his love for God’s children.

I came to know the Lord in High School after re-examining what I was raised to believe. I got baptized when I was 5, but when Junior & Senior High School came around, I began to seriously question whether or not I believed God existed, whether the Bible was authentic, why I had the moral or political beliefs I did. After a lot of struggle with honest, skeptical questioning, and careful examination of the Scriptures, it became clear to me that the Bible is truly the Word of God. It also became clear to me why salvation can only be by grace through faith, and that salvation cannot be lost once the gift is received. No work of man can meet the standard of God’s righteousness. Only He is good, and the work of Christ is not incomplete. The works of a believer are only an outpouring of gratitude for receiving the forgiveness of God and the blessings of the inheritance, being guided and nourished by the work of the Holy Spirit. “neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase” – 1 Corinthians 3:7

Thomas Neighbors joined the Candlelight staff in 2023 and was ordained as Children’s Pastor in 2025. Before stepping into ministry, Thomas ran his own business, producing and selling music online—a background he now draws upon to lead worship for both the Children’s Ministry and Young Adults Fellowship.

Growing up in a Christian home, Thomas first encountered faith personally during his teenage years. It was through volunteering in the children’s department that he felt a clear calling from the Lord to serve in ministry. His love for kids, paired with his passion for worship, has led him to disciple and teach the Bible to children.

Thomas is passionate about creating a loving, faith-filled environment where young hearts can encounter God, learn His Word, and develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Sheri serves as a Secretary for Candlelight. She was born and raised in Decatur, IL, the Soybean Capital of the World. She has 2 brothers, 2 sisters, 2 college degrees, and 2 men living in her home, a husband of 18 years and a son, age 19. A few of her interests are walking, hiking, gardening, enjoying the outdoors as often as possible, meeting monthly with a few friends to play cards, cooking, baking, traveling, and simply taking care of family and home. A goal of Sheri’s work at Candlelight is to help people ascertain that they are priceless treasures soon to sparkle when their salvation is realized and their gifts are discovered, hoping all the while that they are delighting themselves in the LORD. The WORD of God is her greatest treasure because it is the path to all righteous hope. Proverbs 13:12 encourages her as God’s plans unfold – “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”