Volunteer Staff
Paula Bender (Administration and Hospitality)
Paula has worked as an elementary teacher and reading inter-
vention specialist for many years in both Rocklin and Western
Placer Unified School Districts. She also worked for two years as
an employee benefits administrator. She and Chris Bender have
been married for over 21 years and have helped facilitate multiple
bible studies, home groups and have worked together in ministry.
Her attention to detail is of the utmost importance. It started with
becoming a "Spelling Bee" champion at an early age and then
entered into every aspect of her life. In addition, she is gifted in
making others feel comfortable as she demonstrates hospitality
day after day. Paula has a heart for the homeless and volunteers,
regularly to feed the homeless and those in need.
Chris Bender (Co-founder, Bible Teacher and Study Facilitator)
Chris began his work in ministry over 25 years ago as a youth leader for a
growing church. Over time he found that his love for God’s word expanded to
deeper teaching and leading studies. In the busyness of life, Chris struggled to
maintain the consistent study of scripture. Since his job had already required
a fair amount of driving (working in the world of insurance), Chris began to
listen to various audio bibles. In time, he made it a habit of going
through the bible (from Genesis to Revelation, in multiple translations)
4 times each year. This process continued well over a decade.
Then, after being introduced to The Narrow Path, Chris began to
add to those Biblical commentaries and topical studies from
Steve Gregg. Over the course of several years, Chris has completed
all of the verse by verse biblical commentaries. He has also
completed the majority of The Narrow Path’s topical commentaries,
debates, etc. and plans to listen to the remaining teachings.
Chris not only enjoys the teaching of Steve Gregg, but also reads books
and watches videos from teachers, scholars and apologists such as
N. T. Wright, Ravi Zacharias, Lee Strobel, A. W. Tozer, C. S. Lewis, Ted
Hildebrandt, Matthew Henry, Jeffrey A.D. Weima, Josh McDowell, Seth McDowell,
Ray Vander Laan, John Piper, Francis Chan, Scot McKnight, William Lane Craig,
David Feddes, Brennan Manning, and many others. As a biblical teacher,
Chris sees it as his responsibility to equip himself with biblical knowledge,
the reasons to defend our faith, knowledge of other religions, etc. Chris
believes that regular studying is very important so that he can effectively equip
others with sound, biblical teaching that, through the Holy Spirit can be applied at work, home and everywhere a believer goes. All the while, we should be looking more and more like Christ as we serve Him. And, when we share Christ, it should be done in both truth and love.
Chris and Paula Bender have been married for over 23 years and have one son, Caleb, who is a computer science major at William Jessup University. Chris and Dan Springmeyer are the founders of TLC Gathering and he is always looking for the Holy Spirit to lead everyone involved with TLC to wherever best gives glory to God.
Dan Springmeyer (Co-Founder) - Went to be with the LORD on 7/1/2018
Dan Springmeyer was a driving force in getting TLC Gathering put into place. He also coined the name "TLC" and felt that our focus in life should be to demonstrate Truth and Love in Christ with Tender Loving Care.
Dan met Chris Bender through the ministry of The Narrow Path. Steve Gregg’s ministry (www.thenarrowpath.com) not only includes a daily bible answer radio show, but The Narrow Path’s website includes thousands of hours of biblical commentary (including verse by verse and topical studies).
Steve has been awarded a doctorate from Trinity Theological Seminary (for the vast amount of research and teaching he has completed over the 40 + years of his ministry), though you’ll never hear him asking for you to call him "doctor". After many decades of ministry, Dan went to be with the LORD on Sunday, 7/1/2018. He and Chris Bender founded TLC Gathering and their desire continues to be that believers in Jesus Christ are strengthened when brought together. In addition, one of the primary goals of TLC is that believers don't stay where they are, but continue to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ through the giving of themselves as living sacrifices to their Lord.
From left to right: Chris Bender, Paula Bender, Dan Springmeyer and our friends from The Narrow Path: Dayna Gregg and Steve Gregg.
From Left to Right: Terry Collins, Ben Onichko, Steve Gregg (with The Narrow Path) and Chris Bender