Church Staff |
Gabe Gilliam — Teaching Pastor, (408) 867-1000, x240 |
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| Gabe joined the SFC staff as the Teaching Pastor in early 2012. A passion for God's Word and its creative application to our daily lives is a driving force for Gabe in ministry. Gabe completed his MDIV degree while studying at Gordon-Conwell seminary and is currently enjoying Doctoral work at Fuller Seminary. When it comes to preaching, Gabe finds great meaning in the story of the boy who shares his lunch with Jesus from John chapter 6. Ultimately, Jesus' miracle of multiplying the boy's humble offering into sustenance for large crowds, serves as a perfect metaphor for the role Gabe sees for himself and for the Spirit in his humble offering of preaching. |
| Gabe married his college sweetheart, Casey, in 2003 and together they have a young daughter and baby boy due in May. In addition to their growing human clan, they are accompanied by a canine named Bauer who still assumes he is human. Gabe and Casey love to travel, play with their children and root for Texas sports teams despite the anger it might evoke from Silicon Valley residents. |
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Arvin Engelson — Pastor of Care Ministries, (408) 867-1000, x231 |
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| Arvin Engelson has served Saratoga
Federated Church since 1978. For many years he
was Pastor for Congregational Care, where he cultivated
mutual care ministries and specialized in pastoral
counseling. Recently, because of his unique combination
of skills and experience, Arvin was named as SFC's
Pastor for Community Care. In this role, Arvin
will lead our congregation's compassionate engagements
with human needs in the Bay Area in an outwardly
focused ministry. |
| Arvin and his wife Dale grew up
in Santa Barbara, California, and have been married
for 32 years. They have three daughters. Parish
ministry is a second career for Arvin. Before joining
SFC, he was a counselor at a public college in
Maryland and a private college in Massachusetts.
Arvin did his masters work at Gordon-Conwell in
Massachusetts and his doctoral work at Princeton. |
| When asked to identify a guiding
text of scripture Arvin cited Micah
6:8: "This is what
Yahweh asks of you: only this, to act justly, to
love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God." |
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Tim Galleher — Pastor of Youth and Family Ministries, (408) 867-1000, x234
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| Tim joined the SFC pastoral staff
in January, 1996 as Associate Pastor of Student
Ministries. Today he provides oversight to Student
ministries. Tim's passion is for our students to
have an intimate personal relationship with Jesus
Christ. The mission/vision statement of our ministry
to students is the following: |
| "Our ministry exists to
reach students, to connect them with Christians,
to help them grow in their faith, to challenge
them to serve others using their God-given gifts,
and to honor God with their daily lives." |
| God has blessed this ministry and
we are seeing so many students come to know the
Lord and live for Him. |
| Tim and his wife Cara were married
in 1989. They have three children. As a family
they love going on adventures and having fun. |
| The Gallehers came to SFC after
15 years of ministry in Glendale, California through
the Glendale YMCA and Glendale Presbyterian Church.
Tim received his MDIV from Fuller Theological Seminary
in Pasadena. The theme verses for Tim's ministry
are Matthew
22:37-40 (The Great Commandment) and Matthew
28:19-20 (The Great Commission). |
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Bill Allison — Pastor of Worship Ministries, (408) 867-1000, x247 |
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| Bill Allison joined the staff at
Saratoga Federated in January, 2008, and is delighted
to lead in the areas of worship and congregational
life. Bill is passionate about impacting the world
for Christ through music and the creative arts.
His life goal of encouraging people to be true
worshippers is reflected in some of his favorite
scripture verses, John
4:23 &
24: "But an hour is
coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall
worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such
people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God
is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship
in spirit and truth." |
| Bill has been
privileged to enjoy past seasons of ministry in
Los Gatos, CA for 20 years, Bremerton, WA for 3 ½ years,
and Reedley, CA for 3 years, before coming to SFC.
His broad background in music of widely varied
styles, musical theater, involvement with arts
in the community, travel, and love for people have
enriched both his artistic and spiritual life.
He is partnered in life and ministry with his wife,
Diane. Two sons, Chris and Will, complete the Allison
family. |
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Sally Bryant — Pastor of Adult Ministries, (408) 867-1000, x233 |
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| Sally joined the staff in June 2008
bringing a passion to link education with those
intentional practices designed to bring us closer
to God. While the Silicon Valley lifestyle can
encumber the one who seeks a more contemplative
approach to a Christian walk, Sally believes it
remains a key component of one desiring to be more
like Christ. Consequently, she looks forward to
developing programs to affirm and support people
in the most exciting journey ever taken: the journey
to become more like Christ. |
| Her love of education has been expressed
through her pursuit of a Masters Degree in Educational
Administration and a Doctoral Degree in Education
with an emphasis on Organization and Leadership.
She served for eleven years as an instructor and
dean at two Christian colleges. From there her
journey took her to the corporate world of high
tech where she was responsible for managing a global
training program and directing marketing communications.
She sees all of these experiences as preparation
for being a part of staff at SFC and the unique
calling available to her in this position. |
| The words of Jeremiah
29:11: "For I know
the plans I have for you,"
declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and
not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future," come
to her mind as she considers those she seeks to
serve. It affirms the goodness of God she has come
to know in her own life. It is her prayer that
many will continue living in the light of that
goodness and on into the future designed uniquely
for each individual. |
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Jerry Bruce — Sr. Director of Administration, (408) 867-1000, x249 |
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| Jerry has been a member of SFC since 1972. He has served SFC as a Deacon, Trustee, Elder, Treasurer, Sunday School Teacher and small group leader. Jerry has been on staff since 2001. Prior to joining SFC staff, Jerry's career included being an auditor, controller, treasurer, CFO and consultant at various high tech firms in the area. Jerry has been married to Mary Jane since 1980 and they have three children — Joshua, Shannon and David, and a daughter-in-law Lacey. Jerry enjoys applying his gift of helps here at SFC and at The King's Academy where their children attended middle and senior high school. |
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| Marguerite McAfee finds great joy in serving and equipping others to serve in the body of Christ. Her life verse is Romans 12:1: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." |
| Her work in the corporate world, as well as her partnerships with non-profit and for-profit organizations that promote education and leadership development, both locally and in the wider world, are experiences that provide a rich framework for her current role as Director of Community Life at Saratoga Federated. In addition, she continues to be an integral part of the worship ministry team. |
| Marguerite lives in Saratoga with her husband and two daughters. |
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Ruthie Koch — Interim Director of Children's Ministry, (408) 867-3456 |
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Ruthie joined our staff as the Interim Director of Children's Ministry in November of 2011. She and her husband Jim have been members at SFC for over 30 years and have enjoyed leading the summer college group, singing, leading worship and teaching in their years here. They have two sons, Daniel and Jonathan and a daughter-in-law, Jaffrey. Before serving at SFC, Ruthie has served three different Christian schools teaching several different grade levels as well as music and drama. |
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Grief Ministry Coordinator
(408)996-0142 |
Ministry Assistant & Staff Wedding Coordinator
(408)867-3041 |
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Director of Small Group Ministry |
Ministry Assistant
(408)867-1000 x246 |
Ministry Assistant
(408)867-1000 x238 |
Accounting Manager
(408)867-1000, x241 |
Diane Hartsell
Production Assistant |
Assistant to Senior Pastor & Children's Ministry
Assistant
(408) 867-1000, ext. 240 |
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High School Staff
(408) 761-9364 |
Director of Small Group Ministry
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Communications Coordinator
(408)867-1000, x250 |
Ministry Assistant
(408)867-1000 x239 |
Gary Dugan
Accompanist |
Accountant
(408)867-1000 x257 |
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Assistant Director, Accompanist |
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Copyright © 2012 by Saratoga Federated Church,
Saratoga, California. All rights reserved. |
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