Meet Our Pastor
Pastor Mike Ernst
Mike came to know Christ during spring break of his senior year in high school. His life drastically changed as God opened his eyes to the reality and beauty of Christ and the truths of Scripture. His call to ministry (as he would later call it) was simultaneous with his conversion. Soon after coming to faith Mike attended Westmont College. While there he met Michelle and they married soon after graduation. Mike received a Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. Dallas Seminary provided great soil for Mike's soul to grow. It was a vital time of preparation for pastoring as well as a nutrient-rich landscape to learn to love Christ. Before coming to Cornerstone in 2009, Mike was the Lead Pastor at Cool Community Church.
Mike and Michelle see God's glory in one of His most magnificent theaters, the foothills and the high country of the Sierra. In their free time, they can be found hiking, paddling, skiing, backpacking, or sitting by a fire. Mike rides his mountain bike as much as possible in the American River Canyon. You can view some of the books that have influenced him and read his reviews of them by clicking the button below.
You can reach Mike at office@cornerstonecc.org or 530-823-0141.
Meet Our Elders
From our Elder Chairman: Our elders help lead the church by praying for our people and seeking God’s wisdom for where He’s leading us. We try to follow the biblical model of shepherding — focusing less on business decisions and more on spiritual direction, health, and unity.
The elders meet regularly to pray, talk through big-picture questions, and support our lead pastor. When difficult ministry issues come up, we work together to listen, seek God’s guidance, and help the church move forward in a way that honors Him.
Don Bramer
Don has served as an elder at Cornerstone for about twelve years. He and Shirley are longtime residents of Auburn and have been members of Cornerstone since 1984. Aside from serving at Cornerstone and enjoying their church family, their favorite pastimes are spending time with kids and grand-kids, traveling (usually to see kids and grand-kids), and doing outdoorsy stuff.
Keith Goodrich
Keith and his wife Janet have been in fellowship with the Cornerstone family since 1998 and have served in various ministries. The Goodrich family enjoys gardening, playing in the Sierra, and traveling to destinations that offer promises of outdoor activities and tasty foods.
Chris Slater
Chris grew up in Southern California, but has been a NorCal convert since meeting his wife, Sarah, at UC Davis over 25 years ago. They live with their four children, four dogs, goats, chickens, ducks, alpacas and far too many cats. Chris makes a living as an engineer.
Meet Our Deacons
Randall & Lori Hensley
Randall and Lori have been attending Cornerstone since 1997 after moving to Auburn from Sonoma County. Over the years, they have both served in a variety of ministries at Cornerstone. Randall is a doctor of chiropractic and Lori works as a case manager in workforce services. In their spare time, Randall and Lori enjoy outdoor activities including hiking, camping, fly fishing, tennis, and snow skiing.
Mike & Dannelle Maurer
Mike and Dannelle have attended and served in various roles at Cornerstone since 1992. Mike is retired from a corporate career and Dannelle continues an active realtor profession. They enjoy time with family and their grandchildren.
Mark & Marilyn Rickabaugh
Speaking at a Cornerstone women's retreat in 2009 introduced Mark and Marilyn to a church they call home. As professionals they both served in education; Mark a teacher and administrator, Marilyn a school psychologist and counselor. They embrace serving others in a variety of roles. Living on 20 acres in Auburn keeps them busy with horses, an orchard, and a never ending list of to-do's. Time with family and friends both at home and afar bring them joy.
Jerry & Chris Shannon
Jerry and his wife Chris have been attending Cornerstone for about 15 years. Chris is retired from a double career of nursing and teaching. Jerry is retired from a double career of vegetable farming and accounting. They enjoy gardening, traveling, and entertaining with tasty food.
Joel & Dennise Smith
Joel and Dennise met on a summer mission in Ireland as college students and later served as missionaries in Belgium for 35 years with ReachGlobal. Their roles there were primarily working to start new churches and assisting in church development. They retired from overseas ministry in 2020 to care for Dennise’s mom. They remain involved with Belgium as “retired staff” through a Zoom ministry Joel initiated, connecting Belgians who want to practice English with American believers. Some of their favorite pastimes include listening to audiobooks while cooking together, entertaining, traveling, and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation wherever they go. They miss their two adult children who live out of state but are thankful for the many ways they are able to stay connected.
Meet Our Staff
Jacob Koder - Worship Director
Jacob has been a longtime resident of the Foothills. He grew up in Garden Valley but now resides in Auburn with his wife Sheri and their three sons. Together they have volunteered in worship and youth work and have slowly transitioned into vocational ministry. The Koders love to get outside, hike, bike, camp, and just have a good time with family and friends.
Sheri Koder - Children's Ministry Director
Sheri grew up in Placerville in a Christian family. As a teen she volunteered with Youth For Christ which greatly impacted her walk with the Lord. Just after high school she married Jake, and they soon started a family. She now homeschools her two of her three sons and loves the freedom to individualize their education. In 2017, she moved from the Georgetown Divide to Auburn and is enjoying the convenience of town life - both the ease of running errands and, more importantly, connecting with people.
Jamie Wharton - Office Administrator
Jamie joined the staff in 2022 but she has been attending Cornerstone since she was 2 years old. Having the opportunity to serve in the church that helped grow and inform her faith has been a true blessing. In the other half of her life, she coaches competitive gymnastics, judges at gymnastics competition, and helps a local mandarin rancher sell his excellent fruit during the season.
Cornerstone Community Church of Auburn
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