Pastor Gail is passionate about calling individuals, groups, and organizations to become all that God says they are through the lens of leadership development and discipleship. As a second-generation, Korean-American, formed in the Korean immigrant and Black Pentecostal traditions, she seeks to faithfully embody advocacy and justice surrounding intersections of race and gender within the life of the church. Having served in pastoral ministry for over 20 years, Pastor Gail is particularly passionate about empowering leaders and has recently launched two mentoring cohorts specifically for WoC leaders and pastors. She also partners with The RISE Together Mentoring Network out of Union Theological Seminary in NYC. Pastor Gail is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Covenant Church and served as the former president of The Covenant Asian Pastors Assoc. (CAPA). She received her M.Div. from Duke Divinity School and her Bachelor of Music degree from The Eastman School of Music. Pastor Gail, her husband Dr. Brian Bantum, and their three sons reside in Seattle.
Aaron joined the Quest staff in 2012, relocating to the Seattle area from Pasadena, California. In many ways, his journey to Quest serves as a homecoming of sorts, having been born and raised in the great Northwest (represent 253). After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Whitman College, he spent a year teaching English and serving at a church in South Korea. It was there he found his call for pastoral ministry and pursued further educational debt, aka a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary (little did he know he would meet Judith, his future wife, at Fuller). Through his experience growing up and serving in the Korean immigrant church and also serving as a pastor in a predominantly African-American, multiethnic/multicultural church, he strongly values racial reconciliation and the myriad of ways in which people connect with and worship the living God. He loves engaging life through sports, eating amazing food from every culture, reading, and beating his wife in Monopoly Deal.
Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil is a powerful, prophetic preacher and thought-leader in the field of reconciliation. She is an associate professor of Reconciliation Studies and the director of the Reconciliation minor program at Seattle Pacific University. Brenda is an author, speaker, and consultant with over 25 years of experience in the field of racial, ethnic, and gender reconciliation (Igniting a Reconciliation Movement). Brenda earned her B.A. from Rutgers University, her M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and her D.Min. from the formerly named Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, now Palmer Theological Seminary. Brenda was recently named by Christianity Today as one of the 50 women to watch for in her work shaping the church and culture. Brenda and her husband Dr. J. Derek McNeil have two children and reside in Seattle. She served as Quest’s transitional pastor from October 2018 – June 2019 during the lead pastor transition.
Rev. Dr. Liz Mosbo VerHage serves Quest Church by overseeing our commitments to reconciliation, justice and compassion, global presence, and helping lead The Bridge Care Center’s mission with homeless and economically struggling men and women in Ballard. She is passionate about equipping the church to love God and love others holistically as a necessary and life-giving part of discipleship – through education, authentic relationships, intentional ministry, and advocacy. Her experience includes community organizing, consulting, racial reconciliation, writing and curriculum development, serving in leadership roles in national church programs, nonprofit administration, and preaching/teaching in various church and academic contexts.
Pastor Liz is ordained by the ECC, completed graduate degrees in Theology and Community Development from North Park Seminary, and earned her Doctorate in Theology and Ethics from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. She serves in various leadership/consultant roles within the ECC, is on the Seattle Pacific Seminary Advisory Board, is a proud partner within Evangelicals4Justice, and is an adjunct professor in urban ministry and theology with several graduate schools. Liz and her husband, Peter, love exploring new neighborhoods, spending time with friends, and enjoying Thai food with their two young children in Seattle, where they relocated in 2013 after 15 years of ministry in Chicago, IL.
Katey is the Quest Kids & Family pastor at Quest Church. Katey brings an intense passion for children, and experience in our own Quest Kids, to her position. She and her husband, Corey, and their three children live in Magnolia.
Ruby is the assistant pastor of Amplify Youth and College-Aged Ministries at Quest. She is a licensed pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church, working towards her M.Div from North Park Theological Seminary and has her B.S. in Psychology and Sociology. Originally from Connecticut, Ruby has served in youth and college ministries in both the Pacific Northwest Conference and on the east coast for over 17 years. She is deeply passionate about helping people see who they are in Christ through teaching, connecting, serving, leadership development, and discipleship. Ruby is also active in various levels of denominational leadership. She serves as a conference coach for the ECC, on the Youth Commission for the Pacific Northwest Conference, district pastor, frequently writes youth curriculum, and serves on the council for CHIC 2018. These experiences have developed in her a hunger to see those on the margins and who are oppressed find greater access to be seen, heard, and to be cared for. When she’s not hanging out with her students and families, she loves traveling, listening to music, working on her master’s degree, exploring the great outdoors, and hanging out with friends. As a second-generation, Indian-American, woman pastor, she sees it as a great privilege and gift to serve the church.
Brian Bantum
Theologian in Residence
Dr. Brian serves Quest as part of the preaching team and as theologian in residence, teaching, offering theological resources, and serving as a sounding board in planning processes. Dr. Brian, Pastor Gail, and their three boys have been part of Quest since 2009 when they moved from Durham, NC and visited Quest their first Sunday in Seattle. For 10 years, Dr. Brian taught theology at Seattle Pacific University and Seminary. In 2019, he was named the Neil F. And Ila A. Fisher Chair of Theology at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL. Most of his time is spent teaching, reading, and writing in his Seattle office and making dinner for the family (with occasional bike rides in between).
Pam Christensen
Associate Director, Quest Kids & Family Ministry, Family Care, & Ability Inclusion Accessibility Coordinator
Pam an associate director for Quest Kids & Family at Quest, as well as the accessibility coordinator. She has a passion for early childhood ministry as well as ministry to children and families with special needs. In her free time, Pam loves to read, study history, go on road trips, and play outside with her family and their dogs. She and her husband, Eric, have two boys and live in Shoreline.
Matt and his wife, Roxy, moved to Seattle from Flagstaff, Arizona. Before joining the Quest community in 2008, he was an Associate Pastor for 8 years at Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Flagstaff.
Community, justice, compassion, and worship – these are the main areas of ministry God has placed on Matt’s heart. As the Worship Director, Matt desires for Quest to be a place where God is active and present within all expressions of worship.
In 2010, Matt and Roxy founded Quiet, a non-profit arts community dedicated to art and social change through dialogue. In the last few years, they have had the opportunity to produce over 50 projects.
Jin has been with Quest since the beginning and was the first staff member in 2001. Since then, he’s been serving on the worship team as guitarist, doing anything computer related, and doing whatever else needs to be done. He is a 1.5 generation Korean-American and has grown-up in the Seattle area for most of his life. He is passionate about music, his daugher, and a few other hobbies. He is a graduate of the University of Washington’s business school, with double degrees in Information Systems and Marketing with a minor in Asian American Studies. He currently owns his own consulting company doing all aspects of IT and brings those skills to the Quest staff.
Maggie has been attending Quest since relocating to Seattle from South Korea in 2011. She taught English as a Foreign Language for five years before making the switch over to administration and communications. Before taking on her current role, Maggie worked as the office manager and volunteer coordinator for The Bridge Care Center, Quest’s homeless outreach ministry. In her free time, Maggie is a freelance copyeditor at Pen & Key Editing. She lives in Interbay with her husband and son.
Jalle Gebisa
Associate Director, Quest Kids & Family Ministry, Early Childhood
Jalle is the early childhood associate director of Quest Kids and Family Ministry (Quest Kids), our ministry focusing on infants through kindergartners. She is excited to serve and learn from the families, children, and volunteers who serve so faithfully. She has called Quest her church home since 2012. Jalle received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Purdue University. As a transplant from the flatlands of the Midwest, she enjoys the sunny days to go camping, hiking, and exploring. She has found that the rainy days offer up the perfect excuse to curl up with a good book or bake while listening to great music – some of her favorite pastimes.
Terry Kelly
Director, Operations
A Chicago native, Terry moved to Seattle in January 2007 for an internship at City Church (now Churchome) in Kirkland, WA; a background in ministry and early childhood education at Chicago Christian Academy led him to discern further his call into ministry. What happened next in his professional development was unexpected: In 2008, Terry, during a temporary assignment in Kirkland, was extended the opportunity to join the accounts payable department, leading to a flourishing career in finance and accounting. Leaving the corporate sector to journey alongside Quest Church—a consultant with 8+ years of experience in accounting, payroll, staff development, and business infrastructure relating to system and process development—Terry complements the team, bringing a wealth of knowledge and giftings to aid in the continual development of Quest. In support of better and sustainable opportunities that create equitable access to resources and capital for untapped communities, Terry has a passion for creating spaces for inclusiveness, compassion, and justice. He is also currently working with Luther’s Table to create a youth mentorship program in Renton, Washington.
Joanie Komura
Manager, Finance & Human Resources
Joanie, a fourth generation Japanese-American, was born and raised in Seattle. She attended the University of Washington and worked at the Seattle Times for many years. In 2001, she stepped into church at Quest and eventually came to the revelation of Jesus and was baptized at Quest. After volunteering for a couple years, she officially joined the staff in 2004. Along with her duties at Quest, she works as a freelance photographer and is an avid fan of Bon Jovi.
Matt Lewis
Director, Creative
Matt Lewis is the creative director at Quest Church. Matt studied Music and Theology at William Jessup University in Sacramento, CA. After graduating college he worked as a worship pastor in both Sacramento and Seattle for a total of 4 years. After college Matt began developing his love and talent for videography and graphic design. He is passionate about using creative arts to tell the Gospel story, and empowering the church to explore its creativity. He can often be seen with his favorite Miir mug, sipping some tea or carefully-brewed coffee.
Jonathan Moua
Associate Director, Worship
Jonathan grew up in Sacramento, CA where he spent the majority of his life. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in Worship Arts, Jonathan spent five life-changing weeks in Shanghai, China where he had the opportunity to lead worship at an international church. He has a master’s in Divinity from Seattle Pacific Seminary. Jonathan has attended Quest Church regularly since the beginning of 2016, and he is involved in the worship ministry. He likes to play board games with his friends and talk about life over a cup of coffee.
Tre Wyatt
Elder, Chair
Tre was born and raised in Stockton, California, and moved to Seattle after doing youth and college ministry in Dallas and North Carolina. Tre has been worshiping at Quest since 2005 and works in hospice care. He is passionate about seeing people find their call and talents in the church, good coffee, and the ongoing basketball domination of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Sonja Lowe
Elder, Treasurer
Sonja Lowe began attending Quest Church in March of 2010. She serves as a teacher for grade-school ages with Quest Kids and also as a C-Group leader. Sonja is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University’s theatre department and currently works at the Taproot Theatre Company in Greenwood, Seattle. She enjoys all forms of story-telling: books, plays, movies, and Scripture (especially Scripture stories retold by 3rd-5th graders!).
Kathryn Sciba
Elder
Kathryn has been attending Quest since 2008. She works in the field of wealth management and has a passion for helping people realize their unique impact. She thinks the diversity found at Quest has expanded the community’s capacity for compassion and ushered in a revival of the Spirit here. She prays that people may continue to experience just how wide and long and high and deep the love of Christ is through our church.
Aaron joined the Quest staff in 2012, relocating to the Seattle area from Pasadena, California. In many ways, his journey to Quest serves as a homecoming of sorts, having been born and raised in the great Northwest (represent 253). After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Whitman College, he spent a year teaching English and serving at a church in South Korea. It was there he found his call for pastoral ministry and pursued further educational debt, aka a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary (little did he know he would meet Judith, his future wife, at Fuller). Through his experience growing up and serving in the Korean immigrant church and also serving as a pastor in a predominantly African-American, multiethnic/multicultural church, he strongly values racial reconciliation and the myriad of ways in which people connect with and worship the living God. He loves engaging life through sports, eating amazing food from every culture, reading, and beating his wife in Monopoly Deal.
Rev. Dr. Liz Mosbo VerHage serves Quest Church by overseeing our commitments to reconciliation, justice and compassion, global presence, and helping lead The Bridge Care Center’s mission with homeless and economically struggling men and women in Ballard. She is passionate about equipping the church to love God and love others holistically as a necessary and life-giving part of discipleship – through education, authentic relationships, intentional ministry, and advocacy. Her experience includes community organizing, consulting, racial reconciliation, writing and curriculum development, serving in leadership roles in national church programs, nonprofit administration, and preaching/teaching in various church and academic contexts.
Pastor Liz is ordained by the ECC, completed graduate degrees in Theology and Community Development from North Park Seminary, and earned her Doctorate in Theology and Ethics from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. She serves in various leadership/consultant roles within the ECC, is on the Seattle Pacific Seminary Advisory Board, is a proud partner within Evangelicals4Justice, and is an adjunct professor in urban ministry and theology with several graduate schools. Liz and her husband, Peter, love exploring new neighborhoods, spending time with friends, and enjoying Thai food with their two young children in Seattle, where they relocated in 2013 after 15 years of ministry in Chicago, IL.
Pastor Gail is passionate about calling individuals, groups, and organizations to become all that God says they are through the lens of leadership development and discipleship. As a second-generation, Korean-American, formed in the Korean immigrant and Black Pentecostal traditions, she seeks to faithfully embody advocacy and justice surrounding intersections of race and gender within the life of the church. Having served in pastoral ministry for over 20 years, Pastor Gail is particularly passionate about empowering leaders and has recently launched two mentoring cohorts specifically for WoC leaders and pastors. She also partners with The RISE Together Mentoring Network out of Union Theological Seminary in NYC. Pastor Gail is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Covenant Church and served as the former president of The Covenant Asian Pastors Assoc. (CAPA). She received her M.Div. from Duke Divinity School and her Bachelor of Music degree from The Eastman School of Music. Pastor Gail, her husband Dr. Brian Bantum, and their three sons reside in Seattle.
Barbara Lundquist
Elder Emerita
Barbara became a member of Quest when Interbay Covenant merged with Quest in 2007. She was confirmed by Quest’s congregation as an elder the following year. She is a professor emerita of the University of Washington School of Music. She received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the National Black Music Caucus of MENC in 1981, was Stauffer Professor at San Diego State in 1988, gave The Springfield Music Lecture at Rhodes College in 1993, and was a visiting professor, lecturer, or clinician in other colleges and universities in the U.S. from 1972 to 2008, including the University of Pittsburgh’s Semester at Sea in 1995, 2000, 2002 and 2005. She was an educational consultant for USIS, U.S. Office of Education, UNESCO’s Conference on African Musics in African Music Education, and a member of the International Society of Music Education’s advisory panel on music of the world’s cultures. She has publications in the areas of multiethnic music education and music of the world’s cultures in music education.
Nourisha Wells
Deacon, Co-Chair
Nourisha is a Kansas City, MO., native who moved to Seattle in 2008. She found her way to Quest shortly after making the Pacific Northwest her home and has served on the AV, KidMin, dance, and communion teams. Nourisha is very active in the Seattle community, serving on several civic and community boards and spending her days managing a national, digital platform dedicated to helping under-represented youth go to college. A nature lover at heart, she spends her free time gardening, hiking, camping, and writing by the water. She is also an avid sports fan (Go Chiefs, Go Royals), travel junkie, a sci-fi and fantasy geek, and a lover of superheroes and superpowers.
Justin Clark
Deacon
Justin joined Quest Church way back in 2008 with his grad school study buddy and fellow Deacon Board member Erik Bishop. The college ministry was offering free pizza that first Sunday and the rest is history. Justin is a bridge engineer whose passions include diversifying the science and engineering field, public transportation, and the game of basketball (he misses the Sonics and longs for their return). In addition to his time hanging out with the 4- and 5-year-olds in KidMin, he and his wife, Beth, are part of a team facilitating C-Group in South Seattle near their home on Beacon Hill.
Erica Anderson
Deacon
Erica has been attending Quest since 2004. While not worshiping at Quest, she worships by teaching elementary school in the Renton School District. She also enjoys reading, running, baking, hiking, drinking hot beverages, watching football, singing in the gospel choir, and spending time with her large and friendly extended family.
Judith Hong Cho
Deacon
Judith is blessed to call Quest Church her home church since the summer of 2012. A born and bred Chicagoan, she enjoyed five sunshine-filled (a.k.a. less pasty) years in Southern California, where she met her amazing partner in life and ministry, before moving to this beautiful city of Seattle. She finds joy in engaging with people, hearing their stories, beating them in games, discovering new adventures locally or abroad and mostly, doing anything food related. She loves Quest and feels privileged to serve and grow alongside those who care deeply about learning to love God and love others in authentic and tangible ways. She is, and forever and always will be, a Chicago Bears fan.
Karen Miller
Deacon
Karen and her husband Kenny began attending Quest in 2014 after having served on the mission field in the Dominican Republic for two years. Before that call, Karen served for ten years in vocational youth ministry at a Covenant church in North Bend, WA. Together Karen and Kenny raised a blended family that now consists of six children and their families, including eight grandchildren and counting! Karen loves spending time with the Lord, gardening, going to the beach, getting creative, and being with her husband, family, and pup, Scout! She especially enjoys getting to know people of all ages. Karen is deeply devoted to serving the local church and currently leads Connections (Quest’s ministry for those age 50 and up), serves in many ways on Sundays, and especially loves her C-Group!
Ineliz Soto-Fuller
Deacon
Ineliz has been attending Quest since 2013. She and her husband Chris became interested in Quest after using the Q Café for their Seattle wedding reception, and Joanie was so wonderful, they just had to see what Quest was all about. Ineliz has been very thankful for the community and incredible support they have found at Quest and how their racial identities have been celebrated. Currently, she serves on the Worship Team with Chris. They live in Greenwood, and she works in admissions at Seattle Pacific University.
Erik Bishop
Deacon
Erik grew up in the woods of north Idaho. After being involved with a faith community through Intervarsity at the University of Idaho, he moved to Seattle for grad school at UW and was seeking a similar faith community (in particular, one that values diversity/reconciliation, social justice, and a close community to do life with). In 2008, God spoke to him while hiding out at a urinal to avoid awkward church greeting times and ultimately led Erik to Quest, where he found everything he was looking for and so much more! Over the years, Erik has had the opportunity to be involved in various Quest ministries including Life Together, C-Groups, Thailand team, Hosting, Communion, and KidMin—look for a tall, gangly, good-looking, bald guy, and you might find him (He wrote this)! Erik spends his days doing structural/earthquake engineering and enjoys eating delicious, cheap foods and traveling with the world with his wife, Victoria, and friends.
Jen Manlief
Director The Bridge Care Center
Jen moved to Seattle in 2016 to work with Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission in their recovery program for women and children; she began attending Quest that same year. She has a Bachelor of Science in Christian Ministry from Arizona Christian University, and she has used that knowledge over the years for outreach and discipleship in homeless and addiction ministries. Moving to Seattle meant achieving a lifelong dream of owning a pet hedgehog, and there are few things Jen enjoys more than a cup of coffee and a word or number puzzle.
Carrie Yu
Associate Director, Operations The Bridge Care Center
Carrie has lived in Seattle since 2001, when she moved here to obtain a MS (Toxicology) from the University of Washington. She been attending Quest with her husband, Daniel, and two kids, Ethan and Vivian, since December 2015 and started volunteering at The Bridge Care Center shortly after that. She enjoys organizing things, reading, and travel. She is a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and loves researching family history, especially the history of her ancestors who made Seattle their home in the late 1890s.
Cami Freeman
Associate Director, Programs The Bridge Care Center
Cami moved to Seattle with her family in 2015 and began attending Quest in 2017. After working in universities for the past decade (teaching, advising, and program coordinating), she joined the Quest staff in 2019 as the associate director of programs for The Bridge Care Center. She feels honored to be working alongside The BCC/Quest staff, among The BCC’s committed volunteers, and with their neighbors in Ballard. Cami spends the rest of her time on writing projects and chasing after her children.
Jennifer Adams
Outreach Manager, The Bridge Care Center
Jenn is one of the outreach managers for The Bridge Care Center. She is a big part of the homeless community in Ballard. Having lived in her van for five and a half years, she comes with on-the-street knowledge. Believing in people’s unseen potential and with 10 miles of patience, she is ready to help our community.
Josh Perme
Outreach Manager The Bridge Care Center
Josh is one of the outreach managers at The Bridge Care Center. He and his wife, Kara, moved to Seattle from Boulder, CO in late 2012. They’ve called Quest “home” ever since. Josh joined the staff of The Bridge Care Center in 2014. He has a B.A in English from Kansas State University and an M.Div in Christian Formation and Soul Care from Denver Seminary. Josh‘s passions include his beloved Kansas City Royals, pursuing issues of economic justice/policy, celebrating the image of God in people, and spending time with his lovely bride.
David Nguyen
Manager, Facilities
Jim Caldwell
Deacon
Erica has been attending Quest since 2004. While not worshiping at Quest, she worships by teaching elementary school in the Renton School District. She also enjoys reading, running, baking, hiking, drinking hot beverages, watching football, singing in the gospel choir, and spending time with her large and friendly extended family.