CEF Ventura County
Meet the staff and local committee members who guide and support the chapter.
Local Director
Olu has been happily married to his wife, Deanna, since 2016 and they have two beautiful little girls, Evelyn and Elaine. Olu started volunteering with CEF South Bay back in 2011 while he worked full time in the electronic field. However, Olu has always felt the Lord calling him into full time ministry. In 2019, Olu became the Local Director for the CEF Ventura County Chapter. Olu’s goal is to facilitate a healthy relationship between CEF® and its local community. He works alongside the volunteers, churches, and committee members to help cultivate a thriving ministry. Olu has been involved in different aspects of ministry for many years from speaking, mentoring, teacher training, and telling Bible stories to little children. He is also an Associate Pastor for children and youth at a church in his local community. If you want to know how you or your church can get involved with CEF® Ventura County Chapter, please email Olu at olu@cefventura.org or call / text (805) 603-5829.
Staff
Meet the staff members who equip local teams, support clubs, and care for the ministry across Ventura County.
Area Coordinator (Camarillo/Ventura)
Anita Cyr is the Camarillo/Ventura Area Coordinator. She has been serving with CEF since 2014. She is happily married with 2 adult children and 4 grandchildren. She is thrilled to be a part of this effective ministry that is so fruitful for the kingdom of God in reaching children and their families for Christ!
Area Coordinator (Conejo Valley/Simi Valley)
Ann is the newest member of this team. She loves the Lord! She is married to her husband, Steve, of 38 years and has two married sons and two grandchildren. She was first introduced to CEF and Good News Club through her church where she serves in Women’s Ministry, as a mentor mom for Biblical Motherhood, and ministers to married couples with Steve.
Administrative Assistant
Deanna Pedersen has been involved with CEF since attending CYIA summer camp as a student back in 2020. She got married in November 2025. She has always been passionate about serving the children around the community and finding ways to serve the Lord.
Committee
Volunteer committee members help keep the chapter spiritually strong, responsibly governed, and focused on reaching children.
Chairman
Deacon Harold Sanders Sr., leads and serves in different ministries. His niece who attended the Pleasant Valley school invited him to serve as a volunteer in the Good News Club and to Host a 5-Day Summer Club over seven years ago and he is still hosting a club to this day.
Secretary
Carole has been part of the CEF committee team since 2019. She has been a blessing in making sure that our minutes are properly documented. She is involved in many other ministries as she has a heart of serving people and giving all the glory to God.
Treasurer
Kurt has been an active member of the committee since 2022. Kurt and his wife love serving children and are currently serving at their local church. He has a gift for accounting and supporting CEF Ventura with their bookkeeping has been a blessing to our organization.
Member
Dan has been a long-time member of the CEF Ventura committee. Dan retired from being in the educational system for more than 30 years. He currently serves as an elder in his local church and also volunteers sharing the gospel with children.
Member
Jim Waitkus loves the Lord. He has a desire to see children hear about the Savior and His love for them. Jim retired as a business man, overseeing a team of people and engineers in the Hollywood industry. His journey to faith has been life transforming and the joy he has brought to CEF Ventura is a result of his love for Jesus.
Member
Pastor Craig is the Missions and Assistant Pastor at GodSpeak Calvary Church. He has a heart for missions and very passionate about the next generation needing to hear the Gospel. His heart and leadership skills are evident of a gifted man. Serving on the CEF Ventura committee is a great honor.
