Topher Matson

I was blessed to be born and raised in Northern California in a loving Christian home. I love laughing, oldies music, vintage cars and anything lovingly restored. As a kid, I was fortunate to attend Family Camp and later Ponderosa Lodge. I didn’t know it then, but the generosity of donors made it possible.

During college, I served three summers (04/05/07) at Day Camp. Some of you might know me as Spiff. It was then that God shared with me that He would one day bring me back to serve year-round at Mount Hermon, but during a tough season. It was a thrilling thought after witnessing camp ministry from the inside, but a little puzzling too. I was studying Business Strategy at Point Loma Nazarene University and I thought my ministry trajectory would be to dive into a business career and make money for the Lord.

Soon after, I was blessed to marry Kelly, a college friend and Ponderosa Lodge counselor (07/08). The market crash of 08 meant we had to take work where we could get it, and God took us on many interesting little adventures before landing us in Auburn, CA where we purchased a home.

After years of praying that we could start a family, we became the parents of one, then two rambunctious boys. Parenting brings with it a whole new set of burdens. As we reflected on how to trust God with these cares and impact the world for the next generation, a new staff role became available at Mount Hermon. We were able to sell our home and move into Mount Hermon staff housing in May 2018. It’s a fun God story, so I won’t spoil it here.

God continues to speak, lead and provide for Mount Hermon in exhilarating ways. He has given me a heart for His people and camp ministry as a whole. I am blessed to connect folks to the needs of this place so God’s work here can continue “till he returns or calls us home.”

If we haven’t met, I hope we can soon. I would love to hear your Mount Hermon God story and answer any of your questions. It’s incredible to think of all God has accomplished since 1906 when a faithful few said “yes” to his calling. We live in a lost and hurting world that desperately needs a place to meet their Savior and reconnect with each other. I wonder what God will do in our generation if we say “yes” to Him today!

J.R. Loofbourrow

J.R. grew up in Delaware, Ohio coming to the west coast to attend Westmont College in 1978. J.R. and his wife Laurie have three grown sons, each married and one granddaughter; Georgia Rose Loofbourrow. After a 15-year career in the financial services industry in Southern California, J.R. answered the Lord’s call to serve on Mount Hermon’s Advancement Team in 1997. J.R. shares: “I love serving at Mount Hermon and believe it to be a high calling. Far too often donors never get beyond transactional giving. I help them prayerfully consider making transformational gifts, which the Lord often uses to grow their faith and change the world!”

Andrew Summers

Andrew grew up on the beautiful central coast in Arroyo Grande, CA. He first attended Mount Hermon as an 8-year-old camper at Redwood Camp and went on to attend Ponderosa Lodge in High School. After serving four summers on Summer Staff he became an intern and started full-time with the Advancement Team in 2012. Andrew and his beautiful wife, Elizabeth, live at Mount Hermon with their children Ruthie and Sammy.

Emily Kraft

I was born in sunny Southern California where I grew up attending Calvary Church of Santa Ana. As a student, I attended numerous summers and winters of camp at Hume Lake. During the summer of 2018, I was the Program Assistant at Camp Hammer where I ended up meeting my husband (who just so happened to be the great-grandson of the beloved Roy Kraft). It was the following year that he connected me to people at Mount Hermon and I ended up spending the summer of 2019 working in the Accounting office. I had my long awaited virtual graduation from Vanguard University in 2020 and by February of 2021, I was happily married to my husband, Jed, and moved up to Santa Cruz. We enjoy rock climbing, spending time at the beach and hunting for the best breakfast burrito in California. It was later that year in May that I would find myself on the Advancement Team here at Mount Hermon!

Kyla Fewell

Hi, I’m Kyla!

I was born in San Jose, Costa Rica and my parents promptly whisked me away to the Central Valley of California. We eventually landed in Oakdale, California where my parents and two younger brothers reside. Throughout High School I spent some summers at Hume Lake and was even a counselor for a week or two alongside my high school sweetheart, James Fewell.

In August of 2017 I moved to Pasadena, California to attend an extension site of Moody Bible Institute where I earned my B.S. in Ministry Leadership. The four years spent in Pasadena were incredibly formative and I’m endlessly thankful for the people that taught, cared for, and invested into James and me during that time of life. In May of 2020 my high school sweetheart became my husband! James and I spend our days hiking (more me than him), surfing and enjoying the beach (more him than me), reading, spending time with friends, watching rom-coms, and trying new restaurants and foods together.

After our first anniversary we felt God calling us out of Southern California and leading us to Santa Cruz. We became heavily involved in our local church and are so grateful for our community that continues to challenge, support, and love us. As of August 2022 I have the honor of being a part of the Advancement Team here at Mount Hermon!

Kerry Phibbs

I started this journey called “life” in Angleton, Texas, the second of three girls with some of the most wonderful parents in the world. After living in Texas, Colorado, and Oregon my folks finally settled in the East Bay just days before I started high school. In my final year at San Jose State, I moved to Santa Cruz in Dec. 1980.

I love living in my sweet cabin under the redwoods in Mount Hermon. My son Renzo lives in Oklahoma along with all of my immediate family. I visit as much as I can. I am definitely a California girl with an Oklahoma heart.

God took me on a long, incredibly circuitous path that brought me to Mount Hermon and I began my work life here in January 1998. I love being a part of the Advancement team and working with our truly remarkable donors, Associates, campers and friends.

I am passionate about Jesus, my family, my friends, cooking, reading, riding my bike, and growing into the woman God created me to be. Without a doubt, my life story in great part will be defined by my time and life at Mount Hermon.