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Craig Linquist, Founder
Craig Linquist grew up in the Central African Republic, where his family served as missionaries for over 60 years. After his father’s passing, he returned to the U.S., earning a degree in Agricultural Development from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He later answered the call to ministry, serving as an assistant pastor at Calvary Chapel San Jose before moving to Uganda in 2004 with his wife, Loren, and their three sons.
For 14 years, Craig planted churches, established schools, and led medical and vocational training initiatives in Uganda. In 2018, he returned to California to care for family and now serves as Assistant Pastor and Missions Pastor at Godspeak Calvary Chapel. Though stateside, Craig remains actively involved in the work he helped build in Uganda through
ShineOn. Life Verse: Proverbs 3:3, 5-6
Garrett Backstrom, Co-Founder
Garrett Backstrom is the co-founder of ShineOn and a passionate advocate for global missions. With a background in filmmaking and a heart for serving, he has dedicated himself to storytelling that inspires change. Garrett’s journey in missions began through Godspeak Calvary Chapel, where he has actively served for the past four years, working alongside Craig Linquist. His firsthand experiences in Uganda and Mexico deepened his calling to serve orphans and combat child trafficking. Through ShineOn, he is committed to providing resources and opportunities that uplift vulnerable communities. A graduate of Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television, Garrett has spent over 14 years in the entertainment industry, acting in and producing various projects. He is currently producing a feature film inspired by the life of Christian icon George Müller, combining his passion for filmmaking with his commitment to faith-based impact. As the Creative Director at Godspeak, Garrett uses his media expertise to amplify ministry efforts, but his ultimate mission is to bring hope and transformation through storytelling and hands-on service.
Jonathan McCormick,
Co-Founder
In addition to being a co-founder, Jonathan serves as our Treasurer. He has attended Godspeak Calvary Chapel since 2020. A certified CPA, Jonathan owns and runs Hillhurst Tax Consultants. After a life-changing mission trip to Uganda in 2023, he returned twice the same year, deeply moved by the resilience and warmth of the people. His experiences sparked a passion to serve, give, and help build lasting change through ShineOn’s work.
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