Meet the Sutherlands
We’re the Sutherlands, a family that loves Jesus, community, and a good adventure. You’ll often find us together on dirt bikes, around a campfire, or exploring somewhere new under a big sky.
Maggie finds joy in creating beautiful things, from designs inspired by Santa Barbara’s timeless architecture to curating spaces filled with warmth and meaning. She has a knack for finding hidden treasures, whether she’s thrifting something special for our home or picking out the perfect piece for a friend. Her eye for beauty and her heart for people make every space (and every person) feel seen and cared for.
Jeremy loves working with his hands, building or fixing just about anything, and collecting more books than he probably needs (though he’s convinced each one matters). He’s passionate about creativity, adventure, and telling stories of faith in everyday life, and someday he plans to write a book of his own.
Our daughters, much like their mom, love to create and try new crafts. Our oldest has developed a deep love for horseback riding, spending time with horses whenever she can. Our second daughter has taken to sports and excelled in her very first season of soccer. And our youngest is a little go-getter who loves tagging along and looking up to her sweet, creative big sisters. They’re all daddy’s girls at heart but reflect their mom’s creativity and eye for beauty in so many ways.
We’re grateful to call the Central Coast home, even if Maggie loves the ocean and Jeremy still dreams about the mountains. Thankfully, “happy wife, happy life” has proven true, and we love living where God has placed us, surrounded by beauty, community, and the joy of walking with Him together.
About Jeremy
I grew up as a ministry kid, and I always said I’d never “go into ministry.” I loved Jesus, but I was sure I’d never be a pastor or a missionary. That just wasn’t for me… or so I thought.
During my college years in Santa Barbara, God got a hold of my heart. Through a campus ministry called Cru and a small Bible study called Reality Friday Nights, my faith came alive. I fell in love with studying God’s Word, and before long, I discovered how much I loved teaching it too.
It all really began one night at the grocery store. I ran into our kids pastor, who asked if I’d consider teaching the 4th graders. I told him I’d “pray about it,” fully expecting to say no. But God had other plans. That one “yes” led to a few years teaching kids, and eventually to a full-time job at the church as the maintenance guy for our 40,000 square foot building. I figured that job wasn’t really ministry… turns out I was wrong!
Over time, my hours as a maintenance worker began including ministry with our 5th and 6th graders. I was ordained as a pastor there and served nearly ten years on staff at Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara. I loved being the Kids Pastor and seeing families grow closer to Jesus. Those were incredible years; I met my wife, we started our family, and I grew deeply in my love for God’s church.
After that season, I spent about five years in manufacturing and construction, eventually working as a Project Superintendent for a high-end contractor in Montecito. I loved the teamwork, the craftsmanship, and the chance to quietly shepherd the people around me—clients, architects, subcontractors, and vendors—often without them even realizing it. It was ministry in the marketplace, and it was fruitful.
Still, every day on my long commute from Santa Maria down the coast, I found myself listening to sermons, knowing in my heart that God was drawing me back into pastoral ministry. When a church on the Central Coast invited me to join their team as a youth pastor, I initially said no, then prayed, and eventually said yes. What I thought would be a short two-year commitment turned into five and a half years of growth, joy, and laughter, even through all the awkward flashbacks of my own junior high and high school experience!
After those five and a half years on staff, I began sensing a tug to plant a church out in the rural country east of Arroyo Grande, a community that reminds me so much of where I grew up near the foothills of the Sierras in California’s Central Valley. The pace, the people, and the open land all carry that same down-to-earth beauty and deep-rooted faith I’ve always loved.
And that’s where Outpost Chapel was born, a small gathering of friends walking by faith, growing around the Word of God, and experiencing a sweet community that offers a glimpse of the Kingdom to come.
We’d love for you to come visit, pull up a chair, share a meal, and be part of what God is doing out here in the country. You’ll find a family of believers learning to behold God’s glory, build on the foundation of Jesus, and bless our community in the power of the Spirit.