Our Staff

Lead Pastor - Dave Lippman

Dave is a lover of Jesus, a friend, a leader, a listener, a tea-drinker, a song-writer, a spiritual director, and, of course, a pastor. Dave loves High Street Community Church and has been on staff since 2016 serving in a variety of roles, everything from office manager, to worship leader, to college/young adults lead, to preacher, to associate pastor, interim pastor, and is now the Lead Pastor! His favorite verse is Jeremiah 9:23-24 and is passionate about seeing God’s Word and His Holy Spirit integrated into our real-lives through sermons, meetings, prayer, teaching, and all of church life.

Dave is also a poet, an author, a loving husband, a father (finally!), and co-directs Soul-Care a nonprofit Spiritual Care ministry based at HSCC and Mount Hermon.

Worship Director - Joe Strock

Joe came on staff here at High Street as director of worship in 2016 but has been in ministry for over 35 years. You can meet him most Sundays leading the congregation in worship from the piano or guitar. 

Since giving his heart and life to Lord in High School and later hearing a mountain top call to Ministry in 1997 he has been serving the church as worship leader and pastor. He is very grateful for the opportunity to serve here at High Street, a congregation seasoned with grace and encouraging friends. Many of the songs we sing together are musical prayers calling us deeper into a life of knowing and loving Jesus. This is what we are leaning into corporately week after week. 

Joe enjoys the outdoors where he finds God by the ocean, on the mountains, in the stars and under the redwoods. He also has a keen interest in health and functional fitness--walking, running, weight training and working outside. Joe lives in Aptos with his amazing wife Tricia who is a Physician's Assistant and their beloved Micah who will be entering the University this fall.

Kid’s Director- Zoe Leones

Simply put, Zoe is bold! God has given him a vibrant sense of character, and it is front and center when he’s working with kids. As a new father himself, Zoe cares deeply about promoting expression, curiosity, and creativity in children. From 2017 to 2020, he both led and served in multiple children’s camp ministries; and from 2020 to 2024, he worked closely with students with moderate to severe autism. Now Jesus has called him, his wife Tessa, and their daughter Téa to High Street Community Church. Together, they are in a season of surrendering, and ultimately trust the Lord’s will, mission, and vision for their family and for High Street.

Zoe’s favorite Bible passage is Matthew 20:26-28. Ask him to rap it for you sometime. He just might.