T.J. Samuelu, whose full name is Talalotu Elekana Samuelu Jr, joined the staff at Cloverdale Church of God as an Associate Pastor in February 2016. He and his wife Courtney have three children: son Tre, daughter Elekana, and son Isaia. T.J. graduated from Oklahoma Christian University in Portland, OR in 2005 with a degree in Business Administration and Bible.  He has been serving full-time in ministry since graduating as well as worked for Nike in Portland for 9 ½ years. T.J. and his family felt God’s call to Boise after serving as an Associate Pastor over Missions at Vancouver Church of God. He enjoys spending time with his family, golfing and most sports. He is a passionate person who desires to see others grow in Christ. His goofy and silly side allows him to have fun. 

Tom is the lead pastor of the Cloverdale Church and is in his 30th year. He and his lovely wife Denise have been married 35 years and they have a daughter Kaylee who recently got married to an incredible man, Tyler Schoefer.   Tom was on staff at the First Church of God in Vancouver Washington for nine years before accepting a call to Cloverdale.  At the time Cloverdale was a small 60-member church that had gone through some tough transitions, but God opened up a wonderful door.   Tom is very active in the community as he has been the chaplain for the Idaho House of Representatives for the past 10 years.  He hosts two radio shows, called “Lifepoint” and “The Heart of the Athlete”.  Tom enjoys sports and has been the voice of Meridian High School football from 2007 to 2015.  Tom and Denise enjoys traveling when the opportunities arrive.   When Tom was growing up sports were a big part of his life and his brothers lives. He always wanted to be a teacher and a coach.  Through time and prayer Tom was called into ministry, but God still opened the doors for him to coach sports for a number of years. He was even able to teach school for a time when Cloverdale was still a small church.   If Tom could change places with anyone for a week it would have been the Apostle John since he could travel around with Jesus and watch and learn how to live life from the Master, being in Jesus inner circle.

Gary is our “semi-retired” adult education director. Having served 12+ years as associate pastor, he directs and serves in our JOY Group and adult education ministries. Gary also does a lot of couples’ coaching. He and his wife Nancy have seven children between them as well as many grandchildren, 25+, and great grandchildren, 18+. They also have a four-legged son, Cooper, their beloved Yorkie. Gary officially started his assignment November 1, 2004, coming to Cloverdale from Vancouver First Church of God in Vancouver, Washington. At Vancouver First Gary served as the Executive Director of LIVE Ministries (a national lay ministry), adult teacher, board of trustees and Kings Way school board member. Gary has served the Church of God nationally and internationally. He served as Associate Executive Director of the Mass Communications Board overseeing the Church of God’s national and international radio ministries and served as production coordinator for the COG’s national television special, The Doctor Is In. This special featured Charles Schultz and the Peanuts characters as well as Bill and Gloria Gaither, Sandi Patti, Dr. James Massey and others. Gary also served as Vice President of Business and Management for Warner Pacific College and chairman of the Churches of God is Oregon and SW Washington. He currently serves as a coach in the COG’s national Leadership Initiative coaching pastors going through the ordination process. Gary loves teaching and coaching and is also an avid sports fan. In addition to being a BSU fan, his favorite pro football team is the Denver Broncos. John Elway was born in Port Angeles, Washington, where Gary grew up and his father, Jack Elway, was Gary’s coach in high school. Growing up Gary wanted to be a cowboy and if he could trade places with anyone for a week it would be Neil Armstrong

Max Buchanan is the youth pastor at Cloverdale Church of God. He is married to his wonderful wife, Jenny, and they have an adorable little boy Conrad "RAD-man". Born and raised in southern California he attended Calvary Chapel Bible College right out of high school.  While attending Bible College he served as a youth pastor for a year and a half at Spoken Word Christian Church in California. Through what Max refers to as a crazy chain of events God brought him to Cloverdale a year after graduating from Bible College in the summer of 2014. He considers it a great blessing being able to serve this community and teach the youth. In his free time Max loves skateboarding, gardening and juggling. He and Jenny are great dog parents to their little dog named Benny who is the best pup ever!  The weirdest thing Max may have in his desk would have to be a can of shaving cream. The intention of it was to be able to shave once a year if he forgot to before Easter service. If Max had the chance to swap places with anyone for a week it would have to be the Fonz from Happy Days. According to Max the Fonz is rad and he rides a cool motorcycle. 

Dee Sienknecht serves as our Worship and Arts Director here at Cloverdale Church of God. Dee is single and has a newly adopted 5-year-old son, Josiah, who is her pride and joy (plus 3 fur babies – kitties Figaro, Romeo, and Othello). There have been many teaching positions in Dee’s career (middle school, high school, and university-level) and therefore, brings with her a love of investing in others and helping them use their musical gifts for God’s glory. Since the age of 13, Dee has been playing piano and singing on worship teams inside the church, at community events, in prison ministry, and around the world including Mexico and Kenya. Dee came to visit Cloverdale Church of God in the Fall of 2016 when a friend mentioned they might be filling their Worship Leader position soon, and has loved it from the word GO! Outside of Cloverdale, Dee and Josiah love to travel when the possibility arises, loves to be a foster parent to babies, she sings with a professional jazz group, Dee loves a good Game Night with friends, and really adores a good game of volleyball. Through some rough spots in her life, one of the biggest life lessons Dee has learned is how the people who surround you and cheer you on during the hard stuff are absolutely family– whether officially related or not. Because of receiving that support, she hopes to be an encourager and a cheerleader when people need a voice in their corner reminding them they are able because God is SO able! When she was growing up, Dee thought being the first female president would be a great goal, but if that didn’t work out, an Olympic gymnast or ice skater would be OK too. The most unusual thing in her desk drawer is hairspray (an important ingredient in her life) because one day she desperately needed some and couldn’t find any in the entire church building! If Dee had to switch places with anyone for a week, it would either be Maria VonTrapp so she could spin around the mountaintops of Austria singing high notes, or switching places with a neonatal nurse – but only the non-gross things, like holding and loving on the babies.

Courtney Samuelu serves as the Administrative and Design Director here at Cloverdale. She works alongside her husband, TJ Samuelu and they have 3 adorable children: son Tre, daughter Elekana, and son Isaia. Courtney joined the staff at Cloverdale Church of God in March of 2016. She comes to Cloverdale from Vancouver Church of God where she worked as the Administrative Assistant at King's Way Christian Learning Center. As an east coast girl growing up in Pennsylvania she graduated with a Business Marketing degree from Mercyhurst University. She found her way to the great NW via Nashville, TN.  During her time in TN she grew more in love with missions and outreach while serving at her local church and joining a YWAM (Youth With A Mission) team in Brisbane, Australia. She met TJ while living in Nashville and relocated to Vancouver, WA upon getting married. Courtney also served as a Marketing Director in Vancouver, WA for a non-profit youth outreach ministry; Dare to Live/Common Ground. Courtney has an eye for photography and loves shooting portraits. She enjoys playing and watching most sports and is a Pittsburgh, Steelers fan. Most of all she adores spending time with her family. If Courtney could switch places with anyone in the world she would choose Mother Theresa.  She would love to walk where she's walked, see what she's seen, and gain the wisdom and humility of her experiences!

Katy Nelson serves as our Children’s and Women’s Pastor. Katy came to us in April, 2016, with a degree from Warner Pacific College in Portland, Oregon. She is an ordained pastor with a heart to serve and connect children and women to the love of Christ inside and outside of the church. Katy defines her ministry as relational; discipling people where they are and meeting them “on their turf.” You will find Katy visiting in schools, at sporting events, coffee shops and other venues with both kids and the women. Katy is married to Scott Nelson; between them they have 4 sons, 2 daughters-in-love, and 5 grandchildren. She enjoys time with her family, birdwatching, camping and exploring God’s great outdoors. Since marring Scott in 2017, she has discovered the NHL world. She is an avid Las Vegas Golden Knight’s girl, and, naturally a regular attending fan of the Boise Idaho Steelheads! Go Knights and Steelies!!! One thing you will always find in Katy’s office is chocolate and “red” licorice. Katy models her life after her mom, a woman of great faith!