Doug Swagerty
Senior Pastor
Tell us about yourself:
I grew up in Long Beach, and met my wife, Lois, at a Christian high school we both attended in Paramount. We graduated from Covenant College on Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, got married in 1976 and then spent three years in the Philadelphia area where I earned a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from Villanova University. We moved to North San Diego County in 1980, and have lived here ever since. I completed my pastoral training at Westminster Seminary, worked on staff at a church in Escondido for 4 years, planted and pastored a church in Oceanside for 14 years, served as the Senior Pastor of Harbor Presbyterian Church in downtown San Diego for 10 years, and I’ve been at NCPC since April 2009. Our first son, Ryan, graduated from USC, was married to Jess in 2008, and they live and work in Los Angeles. Our second son, David, graduated from UCSD and now lives, works and surfs in Hawaii. Our daughter, Diane, is in her final year at Biola University and her passions are missions and community development. Lois is a very talented musician, writer and teacher. I enjoy sports and working on our house. We both enjoy movies and the beach at sunset.
What do you do as the Senior Pastor here at NCPC?
I do most of the preaching, provide leadership for the staff and the elder board, and then enjoy watching how God uses the people in our church to bless one another and our community.
What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is being involved in people’s lives in the big events (whether blessings or crises) and being able to see God’s grace at work in those situations.
What are the five most important books you have read?
Of course the Bible is the most important, but I would say that these five books have all had a profound effect on how I understand God, myself, and the world: The Prodigal God by Tim Keller, Inside Out by Larry Crabb, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, Reforming Fundamentalism by George Marsden, and Lament for a Son by Nicolas Wolterstorff
What talent do you wish you had?
I wish I could moonwalk.
What is your favorite movie quote?
I thought I was going to sneak away tonight. What a glorious night. Every face I see is a memory. It may not be a perfectly perfect memory. Sometimes we had our ups and downs. But we're all together, and you're mine for a night. And I'm going to break precedent and tell you my one candle wish: that you would have a life as lucky as mine, where you can wake up one morning and say, "I don't want anything more." Sixty-five years. Don't they go by in a blink?”
What do you order at Starbucks?
Strawberry frappuccinos (I’m not old enough to drink coffee…)
What food do you absolutely love? What food do you hate?
I love steak and potatoes, and I hate quiche-type dishes, especially those with mushrooms.
I grew up in Long Beach, and met my wife, Lois, at a Christian high school we both attended in Paramount. We graduated from Covenant College on Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, got married in 1976 and then spent three years in the Philadelphia area where I earned a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from Villanova University. We moved to North San Diego County in 1980, and have lived here ever since. I completed my pastoral training at Westminster Seminary, worked on staff at a church in Escondido for 4 years, planted and pastored a church in Oceanside for 14 years, served as the Senior Pastor of Harbor Presbyterian Church in downtown San Diego for 10 years, and I’ve been at NCPC since April 2009. Our first son, Ryan, graduated from USC, was married to Jess in 2008, and they live and work in Los Angeles. Our second son, David, graduated from UCSD and now lives, works and surfs in Hawaii. Our daughter, Diane, is in her final year at Biola University and her passions are missions and community development. Lois is a very talented musician, writer and teacher. I enjoy sports and working on our house. We both enjoy movies and the beach at sunset.
What do you do as the Senior Pastor here at NCPC?
I do most of the preaching, provide leadership for the staff and the elder board, and then enjoy watching how God uses the people in our church to bless one another and our community.
What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is being involved in people’s lives in the big events (whether blessings or crises) and being able to see God’s grace at work in those situations.
What are the five most important books you have read?
Of course the Bible is the most important, but I would say that these five books have all had a profound effect on how I understand God, myself, and the world: The Prodigal God by Tim Keller, Inside Out by Larry Crabb, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, Reforming Fundamentalism by George Marsden, and Lament for a Son by Nicolas Wolterstorff
What talent do you wish you had?
I wish I could moonwalk.
What is your favorite movie quote?
I thought I was going to sneak away tonight. What a glorious night. Every face I see is a memory. It may not be a perfectly perfect memory. Sometimes we had our ups and downs. But we're all together, and you're mine for a night. And I'm going to break precedent and tell you my one candle wish: that you would have a life as lucky as mine, where you can wake up one morning and say, "I don't want anything more." Sixty-five years. Don't they go by in a blink?”
What do you order at Starbucks?
Strawberry frappuccinos (I’m not old enough to drink coffee…)
What food do you absolutely love? What food do you hate?
I love steak and potatoes, and I hate quiche-type dishes, especially those with mushrooms.
Doug Swagerty