About

Our Senior Pastor

Leonard Sanchez, Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Spring Creek, previously served as an assistant pastor for nearly 18 years at Calvary Chapel Reno-Sparks under the leadership of Pastor Emeritus, Tom Luitwieler and the Last 4 years with Lead Pastor Phil McKay. Leonard served as the Missions pastor as well as the High School pastor. Pastor Leonard has been serving the Lord faithfully since 1989. Retired Pastor, John Sutherland, founding pastor of Calvary Chapel Spring Creek, passed the baton on to Pastor Leonard in January 2025.

God has raised up Leonard for such a time as this, under several Pastors such as, the late Pastor Aureliano Flores, Church of the Redeemer, Raul Ries, Calvary Chapel Diamond Bar, and Pastor Pancho Juarez, The Ark Montebello, all these Godly men have had a major impact on his life sitting under their teaching in his early years as a Christian.

He has been married to his wife Hoppy since 1991. They have a daughter and son-in-law who has blessed them with a beautiful granddaughter whom they love dearly. Pastor Leonard is so thankful to his Savior Jesus Christ for allowing him to serve the body of Christ here at Calvary Chapel Spring Creek, Nevada with his wife.

Associate Pastor Tony Pruessing

Tony Pruessing is the Associate Pastor at Calvary Chapel Spring Creek.

Tony, while serving in the worship ministry at Calvary Chapel Reno Sparks, received the call of God to come to Spring Creek while Founding Pastor John Sutherland was being sent out by the Lord. Tony came to Spring Creek in 2006, shortly after Pastor John had established the ministry. Tony led the worship ministry, and the technical ministry for the church. Later, he would teach home fellowships and lead the Jr. High / High School youth group, as well as occasional counseling as the Lord led. On June 17th, 2018 Tony was ordained as assistant Pastor and continued his duties within the ministry, while still working a full-time job.

In January of 2025, Pastor John Sutherland retired, passing the ministry to Pastor Leonard Sanchez, and Pastor Tony came on staff full-time as Associate Pastor, serving under Pastor Leonard.

Pastor Tony is extremely humbled and grateful to the Lord for allowing him to a serve the people of Spring Creek along with his wife Chris. They have a daughter and a son, along with 4 wonderful grandchildren that they enjoy spending time with.

Founding Pastor John Sutherland

Calvary Chapel Spring Creek Senior Pastor John Sutherland came to the Lord in 1983, and His wife Elsie about the same time. He has been married to Elsie the love of his life for 51 years. They were married on February 6th, 1972.

After attending UNLV, the University of Nevada Las Vegas , he went into the corporate world, and managed various major companies and corporations in Nevada.

As he grew in his walk with the Lord, he felt that if he was ever to be charged with being a Christian there "might not be enough evidence" to convict him!

One day, while at Pastor Michael's Calvary Chapel in Las Vegas, the Holy Spirit spoke to John and asked for permission to remake and remold him.

John affirmed with YES, and with that began a seven-year trial to remake and remold him.

It was a very difficult trial, but John was so very close to the Lord throughout the trial that if he was asked about it, he would say, that it was the most wonderful period of his life, because of that closeness to the Father.

John and Elsie left Las Vegas, for Reno in 1972. They attended Calvary Chapel Reno-Sparks, and were involved in various ministries, and served as an Elder, Vice President, and held various other positions there. The Lord spoke to John one day and said to him "Elko, Elko" all day long.

John went home after church and used his computer to search for the term "Calvary Chapel in Elko". No listing was found, so John asked the Lord if He wanted him to start a Calvary Chapel in Elko. The Holy Spirit confirmed it and the rest is history. The church was incorporated on October 20th, 2005.

He frequently mentions his sincere belief about how thankful he is to the Lord for the great blessing it has been for him to serve here in the Elko/Spring Creek area all these years.