Meet Our Pastoral Team
Dr. H Bruce Stokes
Founding Pastor – Teacher
H Bruce Stokes, Ph.D., is Professor of Behavioral Science at California Baptist University in Riverside. He is the founding Pastor/Teacher of the DiscipleCenter in Anaheim Hills. As a Psychological Anthropologist, Dr. Stokes has focused on the integration and application of Biblical Truth to the behavioral sciences. He has lectured, written and counseled in the area of marriage and family, parenting and the establishment of Christian homes.
Dr. Stokes also served on the translation committee for the up-date of the New American Standard Bible.
His Ph.D. dissertation at University of California, Riverside was an anthropological perspective on the Messianic Movement in the United States and Israel. He supports the Union of Messianic Believers and is an advisor to the Administrative Board to the International Messianic Jewish Alliance. He is a frequent speaker at Messianic conferences and is published in several Messianic publications.
Trevor L Embry, MS
Pastor – Teacher – Administrator
Trevor L. Embry has been a pastor at the DiscipleCenter since 2007. He began to dedicate himself to the LORD’s work when he entered California Baptist University (CBU) in 2001. It was during this time that he started attending the DiscipleCenter, and began maturing in his faith and growing in the understanding that serving The Master meant serving others. With his bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, Trevor quickly learned that a master’s degree would be needed to help others in the mental health field which he felt called to serve.
In between his bachelor’s and master’s degree, Trevor added to his education by attending Southwest Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He took classes that focused on Scripture and the mental health field. He then returned to California Baptist University to finish his master’s degree in counseling psychology in 2007, and later that year went on to become a pastor at the DiscipleCenter as well as finding employment in the mental health field. The LORD answering the desires of his heart.
Since this time, Reverend Trevor L. Embry has served not only the community in which he works, but also those who worship at the DiscipleCenter. He has transitioned from serving as an Associate and Counseling Pastor, to the Administrative Pastor. Currently he strives to honor the LORD as the Lead Pastor of the DiscipleCenter congregation.
Trevor also serves on the board of the Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship (SBMF) and supports the Orange County Southern Baptist Association (OCSBA), the Union of Messianic Believers (UMB) and the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC). Pastor Trevor strives to encourage others to grow in their faith and relationship to the Living God, and fellowship with fellow believers in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus).
Jeff Travis
Music Pastor
Minister of Worship, Jeff Travis grew up in a church where a song leader led the singing out of a hymnal with the accompaniment of a piano/organ. Like a lot of churches in the nineties, the addition of guitars, a bass and a drum kit was introduced, and the song leader gave way to the worship leader and addition of a worship band or team.
Pastor Jeff began singing in church as part of the worship/praise team when he was in junior high and can’t recall a time in his life since his early teens when he wasn’t part of a group or the person leading a congregation in worship. When Jeff first came to the DiscipleCenter in the fall of 2002, Dr. Stokes led the singing with his guitar and his wife, Linda, played the piano. Jeff started helping when they would be out of town or unable to sing/play. Over the next couple of years, he would take on more and more of the worship responsibilities. Building on the foundation of the DC service structure, previous services, the Word, the hymnal, and his own sacred music experience, he now organizes and selects all the songs and Scriptures for the weekly services.
Today, Pastor Jeff is passionate about finding new hymns that are filled with articulate doctrine and stirring melodies to go along with the rich hymns and choruses that have been sung in churches and synagogues for hundreds of years. He is blessed to be joined by other musicians from the congregation who want to use their skills and talents to praise the Lord together.
Statement of Beliefs
Ministry Philosophy
Ministry Purpose
