Meet Our Pastors

  • Matt Amargo

    Lead Pastor / Congregational Pastor - North

    Matt was born and raised in a military family, and spent much of his life living abroad at different duty stations. He was born in Okinawa Japan, and bounced back and forth between San Diego and Japan until high school, when his parents felt the Lord calling them back to the Philippines to serve in ministry. Matt lived in the Philippines for 7 years, attending high school at International Christian Academy and earning a BA in Organizational Communication at the University of the Philippines in Manila. 


    Upon returning to San Diego in 2002, Matt began serving at San Diego Christian Fellowship - then known as Filipino-American Christian Fellowship - in the areas of worship and youth ministry. Matt attended Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrieta, graduating with a BA in Biblical Studies in 2005. Matt began working in the financial services field, progressing over a 7 year span in his firm to the role of operations manager. He continued to serve in SDCF as worship leader, youth and young adults leader and elder.


    Matt was called to be the full time congregational pastor of SDCF North in September 2013, and earned his Master of Arts in Theology from Bethel Seminary San Diego in 2019.  He and his wife Heather have an action packed boy named Caleb, a joyful girl named Madeline, and a rambunctious preschooler named Jonathan.  


    rightarrowVisit North Congregation

  • Steve Houston

    Congregational Pastor - South

    Steve is the last of four children and was taken to the Philippines when he was 4 months old by his missionary parents. His pre-school and grade school years were spent in the Visayas region of the Philippines. For high school Steve attended Faith Academy, a school for children of missionaries outside of Manila in Cainta. Rizal.


    Steve returned to the States and went to Biola University in La Mirada where he graduated with a degree in Intercultural Studies. His Master of Divinity was granted by Fuller Seminary in Pasadena California.


    Steve and Leslie married in 1989 and continued the Houston legacy by serving as missionaries in Leyte and Samar from 1992 to 2003. After returning to the States, they served among the Somali Bantu population of San Diego for five years. Steve has been with our church family since July 1, 2010. Steve and Leslie have two active and adventurous children, Havilah and Jameson.


    rightarrowVisit South Congregation

  • Rick Barreyro

    Congregational Pastor - The Filipino Congregation

    Rick Barreyro, Jr. is an Electronics and Communications Engineer who graduated from University of Santo Tomas in 1985. His U.S. Navy opportunity came in February 16, 1988. He completed Boot Camp at Recruit Training Command San Diego with flying colors, and later graduated top of his class at the Airman Apprenticeship School and meritoriously promoted to Petty Officer Third Class after attending Basic Hospital Corpsman “A” School. While stationed in San Diego from 1988-1995, God allowed him to serve as Deacon/Sunday School Coordinator at Bible Christian International Church. 


    He received military orders to Pearl Harbor Hawaii where he served as Mini-Church pastor for Hope Chapel Kapolei from 1995-1998. While in Hawaii, Rick attended Wayland Baptist University for his Theological Studies. Selected for Navy Instructor billet, he returned to San Diego, CA. He served as an Elder, Sunday School Coordinator, assisted in preaching for Love of Christ Fellowship (LOCF) from 1998-2002. God brought them to Okinawa, Japan from 2002-2008 where he served as an Elder, Council Chairman, Men’s group leader, and assisted in pulpit ministry for Hope Chapel Okinawa (HCO). Ultimately, he received his Ordination at HCO.


    God graciously returned the family back to San Diego. He served as an Elder, Chairman of the Board, and eventually as an Assistant Pastor for Love of Christ Fellowship until God led his family to San Diego Christian Fellowship in November 2013, where he became a Life Group Leader, an Elder, Chairman of the Board of Elders, Elder in Residence, and ultimately as a Congregational Pastor of SDCF TFC (The Filipino Congregation). He is a Certified Church Executive (CCE).


    He holds a Master’s Degree in Health Services Management from Webster University and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Healthcare Administrators (FAAMA). Additionally, he served as President and CEO of the AEPF USA, a non-profit organization based in San Diego, CA.


    He is blessed with his marriage of over 30 years with the former Rosalie Roy.  Rick and Sally are Certified Church Planters at Converge.  They have four children; Faith, 31; Sarah, 28; Leiana, 25; and Micah, 20.


    rightarrowVisit The Filipino Congregation

Pastoral Care

It's our joy to be able to pray with and minister to one another during this time. If you have a specific need during this time please reach out to our congregational pastors at

pastors@sdcfchurch.com.