Meet the RGR Team
Ali Hasan
Ali is an ordained Covenant Transitional Pastor in the Pacific Southwest Conference (PSWC). He has 28+ years of pastoral experience in the local church. He also serves on the Executive Board of PSWC. Before his current role, Ali was employed as an engineer (33 years) at Lockheed Martin and is a certified Lean Six-Sigma Black Belt practitioner. He earned degrees in Biblical & Theological Studies from San Jose Christian College (now William Jessup University), and Western Seminary in San Jose (via the 10-year trek). Ali has a heartfelt desire to see the local church become all that God intended, by encouraging churches to keep Christ as the center of all that it does. He has a special passion to support and encourage pastors in their 21st century role as shepherds. He believes pastors who are committed to their personal health and growth will be deeply rooted in Christ and will thrive with resilience—regardless of the season.
Art Greco
Art Greco is a retired (but VERY active and involved) Covenant pastor. He served in youth ministry for 10 years before becoming a church planter, eventually finding himself as a leadPastor in what might be termed “turn-around” settings in Colorado and Northern CA. Art also served ECC Director of Prayer and Evangelism in the then “Department of Church Growth andEvangelism” (now called, “Start and Strengthen Churches”). Many know Art as the“quintessential relational leader.” His greatest joy in ministry, though, comes when he can (1)encourage a pastor to realize the joy that awaits those who refuse to give up, and (2) journey with anyone who desires to explore the depths and benefits of increasing yieldedness to the leadings of The Holy Spirit.Art married Brenda Bell in 1978 and they have 3 adult children. For fun, Art loves playing with his grandchildren, rooting for the Warriors, Broncos, and Dodgers, and playing as much golf ash-is aching back and surgically replaced knee and shoulder will allow. Art’s life mission statement is “To live in such a way that people quit lying, quit hiding, and quit dying.”
Barbara Ettinger
Rev. Barbara Ettinger serves as the Associate Superintendent in the East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, where she focuses on leader formation and development of pastors from Maine to Virginia. She brings a rich array of ministry and life experience to all she does. Barbara has served as the national manager of theological formation and as a missionary to college students with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. She also has served in parish ministry, church planting, women’s ministry, and as a retreat and conference speaker and preacher. Barbara is a certified Mastery Coach Trainer with Creative Results Management and is a sought-after coach, speaker, and trainer. She enthusiastically welcomes any opportunity to walk alongside pastors who are redefining or discovering their vocational identity or who find themselves at new junctures in their life and ministry. Barbara holds a master’s degree in Communication from the University of Michigan and earned her seminary degree from Bethel Seminary. She presently is enrolled at Fuller in a DMin in Leader Formation. Barbara and her husband Jeff have two adult sons who live in far-flung places across the globe, giving the Ettingers a great excuse to travel when there isn’t a worldwide pandemic going on.
Beth Severson
Over the course of her career, Dr. Beth Seversen has served in a wide variety of ministry contexts, including churches, parachurch organizations, and academic institutions, and has experience in academic administration, denominational leadership, and local church staff ministry and church-planting. Having a MDiv (emphasis in New Testament) and a PhD in Intercultural Studies, Beth has taught theological and ministry education at undergraduate and graduate levels. She has experience coaching pastors using GROW and Appreciative Inquiry leadership coaching models. Beth is the former Associate Professor of Youth and Christian Ministries Studies at North Park University in Chicago and fomer Director of Evangelism for the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Much of Beth’s focus is on equipping the Church to reach and retain the emerging generation of young adults in a post-Christian, pluralistic, and multiethnic society and cultivate a new generation of pastoral leaders. Beth is the author of Not Done Yet: Reaching and Keeping Unchurched Emerging Adults (IVP, 2020) and is the President of the Academy for Evangelism in Theological Education. Beth is also a certified Intercultural Development Inventory trainer and ispassionate about equipping, training, supporting and learning from church leaders across the mosaic. “For me, this is an essential part of the deep love for Christ Jesus, the local church, and disciple-making that permeates the integration of my pastoral and academic callings. I long for God to usher more of His kingdom in me, the Church, and on earth.”
Beth joyfully leads a College Life Group at Montecito Covenant Church. She loves hanging out with her husband Mark, her young adult daughters and sons-in-laws, and their friends. When you can’t find her, she’s probably curled up with a good book.
Brian H. Rhen
Brian currently serves as the Co-Lead Pastor at Arvada Covenant Church in Arvada, CO, after many years as an associate pastor in the PSWC. He has been shaped by a Western PA, Irish Catholic upbringing, a recovery background, a Protestant spiritual renewal, an imperfect marriage of almost three decades, the death of one of his five children, a pastoral career, much failure and some success. Schooled in a Bachelors of Science (Management) and a Master of Divinity (Counseling), he is passionate about blending psychology, neuroscience, coaching, and spiritual direction to help guide individuals along their best pathway in life with God. Having benefited from pastoral peer support much, he is excited to be a part of the RGR to help other pastors in similar ways.
Bronwyn Murphy
A graduate of UC Davis, Bronwyn moved to Davis over 20 years ago and just never left. She serves as a pastor at University Covenant Church and is passionate about creating accessible and inclusive ministries, connecting with as many humans as possible, advocating for the marginalized, and youth group dodgeball. Bronwyn finds so much joy in encouraging leaders (of all ages and experience levels) to identify and develop their God given strengths and passions for Kingdom good. She also holds a special education teaching credential and has worked with children and teens with disabilities and mental health support needs in both public schools and residential settings.
Bronwyn has been married to Jarrod since 2005 and they have three very active children in elementary and preschool as well as two rescue dogs who sleep the majority of the day. Her current life quests are to determine whether she is an Enneagram 2 or 7.
Dave Pabalate
Dave has been in ministry for over 20 years. He graduated from Sacramento State with a bachelor of psychology and a masters degree in marriage and family therapy from Brandman university. He has been married to his wife, Krista, for 18 years. They have 3 kids, ages 12,10, and 7. They have lived in Rocklin, CA for 12 years. He has been the worship pastor at a smaller church called Rock Harbor Covenant for about 10 years now. Although his title role is worship pastor, his passion lies in discipleship and spiritual direction. He is also an associate marriage and family therapist and owns and operates CrossFit Loomis during other hours of the day. He loves crossfit, walking with people, vacationing in Southern California, hangin’ with my family, and watching God do amazing things day after day through the lives of people. He is really excited to walk alongside pastors that may need a little encouragement as they walk through the trenches. He hopes to bring support and breath to those he would have that honor with.
Dave Kersten
Dave Kersten, retired Covenant pastor, most recently served as the Dean of North ParkTheological Seminary and Vice President for Church Relations for North Park University (2012-2022). Under Dave’s leadership, the Seminary saw significant expansion and growth, takingtheological education well beyond traditional models, including a distance cohort model(IGNITE) and the School of Restorative Arts, with two campuses within the Illinois Departmentof Corrections.Dave began serving the Covenant in 1979 and pastored four Covenant congregations inAlabama, Florida, Washington, and Minnesota before being elected to the position of ExecutiveMinister of the Ordered Ministry in 2001. In his 11 years as Executive Minister, Dave providedvision and leadership for the denomination, particularly regarding care and development forpastors. Dave Kersten has devoted himself to nurturing pastors’ vocational identity andcompetence and has extensive experience of walking with pastors through the challenges of lifeand ministry.Dave has been married to Sandra Kay for over 45 years and together they have raised threechildren. They enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren, especially at their home in Michigan, where Dave is the owner and operator of Keeper, a 1953 Chris Craft ExpressCruiser which has been in the Kersten family for three generations.
Dale Vallejo-Sanderson
The deep current that calls me to shepherd God’s people in pastoral ministry has led me to serve small country churches, as well as recovery of hurricane-struck church communities. I have served and planted a church through the rigors of megachurch explosive growth. I was then led to plant a new intentionally-paced community focused on seeking emotional and spiritual health together for our world.
The rich and complex diversity of life and ministry over these 48 years in Hawaii has deepened my gratitude for God’s love and hope for all people. God has convinced me that the nurture of our soul compels the health of our serving others with Him. I am grateful for the caring and inspiring colleagues, leaders, and sisters and brothers of our Evangelical Covenant family and beyond. I received my M.Div from Fuller Theological Seminary and transferred my ordination to Covenant in 2007.
Dale is grateful for his three sons, two daughters-in-law and the exuberance of fresh life with five grandchildren.
Donecia Norwood-Smith
Donecia is co-owner Influential LLC, a speaking coaching and consulting company with her husband, the Rev. Dr. Efrem Smith. She has a passion and ability to assist individuals, groups and corporations in cultivating ideas and making them a reality.
Donecia has over 20 years of experience working in advising and coaching both in secondary and higher education. She has served as an Advisor and College and Career Coordinator, helping young adults determine their career next steps. She is certified as a fitness and nutrition coach via Cleveland Clinic and former Zumba instructor. Her desire is to see people live life purposefully, and to thrive in mind, body, and spirit.
Donecia holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Master of Arts degree in Human Services with an emphasis in Family Life Education. She is a Trauma Healing Group Facilitator, an Associate Certified Coach and a COACH MODEL Skills for Leaders trainer.
Donecia is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. is committed to serving under resources communities. She resides in Sacramento, CA with her husband and is a mother of two adult daughters.
Doug Lee
Doug graduated from UC San Diego with a BA in Religious Studies and went on to Talbot School of Theology where he received his M.Div in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Doug and his wife, Angelina, have two beautiful daughters, Alexandra and Joanna, and a golden retriever named Stoli. Doug and his family have served in youth ministry, church planting, evangelism and outreach, as well as local and international missions. He is a raging extrovert (ENFP) and 7 on the Enneagram so he's all about having fun with different kinds of people. He is currently serving as the pastor of community and outreach at Life Covenant Church in Torrance and is looking forward to starting a chaplaincy internship at Cedar Sinai Medical Center in the fall of 2020. In his free time he enjoys crossfit, golf, skiing, traveling, cooking, movies, hanging out with my girls, listening to podcasts, and reading anything written by CS Lewis, NT Wright, or Eugene Peterson. Doug is passionate about helping and encouraging people toward health and vitality in all areas of life and is looking forward to serving his colleagues as we look to be more rooted, growing, and resilient together.
Efrem Smith
Efrem Smith was the founding pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church, a multi-ethnic church in Minneapolis, MN, He also co-founded and was President of The Sanctuary Community Development Corporation. Efrem served as the Superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, providing leadership to 160 churches within California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and Utah. He also served as the President and CEO of World Impact, an urban missions organization committed to empowering urban leaders and planting churches in under-resourced communities. Currently, he is the Co-lead Pastor of Midtown Church, a thriving and multi-ethnic community in Sacramento, California.
He is passionate about life transformation, racial righteousness, thriving churches, and community development.
Evelyn Johnson
Evelyn Johnson is an ordained minister and has served for forty-two years in local church (including at Peninsula Covenant Church, Redwood City), regional conference and denominational roles with the Evangelical Covenant Church (including serving as Executive Minister of the ECC Mission Priorities of Make and Deepen Disciples). During Evelyn’s tenure as Superintendent of the PSWC, the conference has become much more multi-ethnic and focused on ministries of compassion, mercy, and justice. She is passionate about visioning for the future and translating that vision to action for purpose of advancing Kingdom building ministry. Recently with Alan Forsman and Debbie Blue, Evelyn helped launch Crescendo, a ministry to unleash the missional potential of boomers and beyond. Evelyn resides in Chicago, Illinois, but continues to mentor and invest in PSWC pastors!
Gary Gaddini
Gary is an ordained Covenant pastor and currently serves with Transforming the Bay With Christ, a city Gospel network of over 500 churches in the San Francisco Bay Area. His role as Unify Director is to encourage and equip Lead Pastors to fulfill Jesus' prayer in John 17:21-23 and to become one. Gary is passionate about the transformative power of the Gospel and supporting pastors to fulfill the Great Commission.
Prior to joining TBC, Gary served at Peninsula Covenant Church in Redwood City for 24 years, beginning by overseeing Family Ministries and then serving as Lead Pastor for 19 years. Gary grew up in Novato, California and is grateful for his full-blooded Italian heritage. He and his wife, Anne, have been married for 31 years and have five awesome daughters ranging in age from 30 to 13.
J. Kevin Butcher
Kevin served as a lead pastor for 35 years in rural and urban settings before founding Rooted Ministries to help pastors, Christian leaders and churches be rooted in the love of God and equipped through mentoring and connection. Kevin is passionate about helping believers live in authentic community and find freedom from childhood wounds that often keep us trapped and unable to experience true freedom in Christ.
Outside of his love for Carla, his wife and best friend, Kevin is most passionate about God's love. He has authored two books, Choose and Choose Again: The Brave Act of Returning to God’s Love and Free: Rescued from Shame-Based Religion, Released into the Life-Giving Love of Jesus. Kevin’s desire is to help others leave the destructive path of striving and burnout and to saturate themselves in God’s powerful, lifegiving, healing love.
Jean Cheng Gorman
After graduating from Brown University, Jean began her career in elementary education but quickly moved into the field of psychology. Jean obtained her doctorate in psychology from New York University and has worked, as a California-state licensed psychologist, with adults and children in clinic, hospital and school settings. In 2009, Jean was called into vocational ministry while helping to launch a church plant in Modesto. Jean is Ordained to Word and Sacrament in the ECC and completed her Masters of Divinity at Fuller Seminary. Jean served the PSWC for nine years as the Director of Ministerial Health, and now serves pastors as a spiritual director and Director of Rooted.Growing.Resilient. TM . Jean works to grow a culture of health in ministry -- developing resources to invest in leaders and strengthen church systems, overseeing care for clergy and ministry spouses, and supporting churches through crises, conflicts and transition. Jean is passionate about seeing people discover God, be made whole and come alive in Christ. Jean has been married for 26 years to Michael and is mother to two young adult children, one teenager and a really big Great Dane.
Jeff Mitchell
Jeff is a pastor who has served the Covenant Church for about 40 years. He also ministers as a Spiritual Director and serves on the PSWC Spiritual Direction Network Team. In 2018, he stepped away from full-time pastoral ministry to focus on ministry with pastors, leaders and churches in transition.
Jeff is grateful and in awe of those who are answering the call to ministry. He is committed to doing all he can to affirm and encourage this current and next generation of shepherds. He believes as pastors seek to fulfill their spiritual destinies (RGR), the Church will always be well-served.
Katherine Schoen
Katherine is first a disciple of Jesus, following God’s call as an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church. She lives in the Central Valley of California (with her amazing…) and currently serves as the Lead Pastor of Hilmar Covenant Church with her amazing husband and wonderfully creative two young adult sons and teenage daughter. She earned a Masters of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary and has served within the church for the last sixteen years. Katherine loves connecting with others (there is always a new friend to make). She is passionate about helping others grow both as disciples and as leaders. As a strategic leader, Katherine enjoys when a plan comes together. She is excited to serve her colleagues as a RGR coach because it is an opportunity to strengthen each other and the body of Christ.
Jim Sequeira
Ordained for over 20 years, Covenant pastor Jim Sequeira is a Native Hawaiian living inVancouver, Washington, where he serves as lead pastor at Cascade View Covenant Church.Jim has been involved with advancing justice, mercy, and racial righteousness at the local,conference, and denominational levels, including as a Journey to Mosaic facilitator. He has alove and passion for his own Hawaiian culture as well as that of Native Americans andother indigenous peoples and feels especially called in RGR to walk with other pastors of color.
Kapu aloha, the sacred call to show kindness, mercy, love and compassion, to others runs deep in Jim,who is affectionately known as “Uncle Jim” to many. Jim has been married to Glenna forthirty-five years, and they have two adult children and two grandchildren.
Kevin Budd
Kevin served as a small church pastor in the PSWC (Downey, CA and San Jose, CA), beginning with his seminary graduation in 1983 until his retirement from pastoral ministry in 2023. Along the way, Kevin has led his churches through numerous transitions, including helping to plant other churches. Kevin has been involved in Spiritual Direction with pastors, staff, and other seekers since 1989. Kevin first found spiritual direction and a contemplative understanding of walking with Jesus when the struggles of ministry brought him to a place “where it seemed that I needed to go deeper or die.” Kevin finds great meaning and joy in sitting with others and reflecting together on how and where God is at work in their lives. He looks forward to supporting pastors through RGR, especially helping others experience the presence of God in a more intentional and life-giving way. Kevin has been married for 47 years to Luann, “the love of my life,” and has five children and ten grandchildren.
Mark Novak
Mark is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University with a degree in Political Science. He received his Masters of Divinity from North Park Theological Seminary and was Ordained to Word and Sacrament in 1980. Mark has served in various church settings; as a youth pastor, church planter and revitalization pastor. He served as superintendent of the Pacific Northwest Conference from January 1999 thru July of 2012. He then served the Evangelical Covenant Church as the Executive Ministry for Develop Leaders from August 2012 thru August 2017. Mark served as Transitional Lead Pastor for Praise Covenant Church, Tacoma, WA October thru December 2017. Starting January 1, 2018 he served as the Transitional Executive Director at Cascades Camp and Conference Center, Yelm, Washington. He concluded his position on September 30, 2018. Currently he is an adjunct faculty member for North Park Theological Seminary working with the Ignite Program.
Mark is very passionate about building high trust cultures and environments of grace in the workplace and at home. He has a Certificate in High Trust Leadership from the Trust One Center.
He has been married to Marilyn for 44 years; they have 3 adult married children and 6 grandchildren. They enjoy living in Gig Harbor, Washington where views of Mt. Rainier rise above Puget Sound. Mark enjoys the sport of rowing, golf and simply being outside.
Melody Johnson
Melody is a Covenant pastor who has served the local church for years in various volunteer roles and paid ministry positions, including in youth ministry and other church staff roles. Most recently, she served as the Transitional Executive Director of Alpine Camp and Conference Center and Secretary for the PSWC Executive Board. She has a Business Management degree from Woodbury University and spent many years training and working in the business world helping individuals and businesses flourish.
Melody is an IGNITE graduate and lifelong learner. She is currently completing certificate programs in Spiritual Direction and Transitional Ministry. She has a passion for youth, the marginalized, and outreach. She loves to explore creative ways to share the love and hope of Jesus with the world. Melody’s greatest joy comes when journeying with others as they discover who God has created them to be.
Melody resides in Simi Valley, CA with her husband Steve, young adult daughter, and their two dogs. In her free time she loves reading, baking, downhill skiing, family dog walks, having coffee with others, and travelling when and wherever possible.
Nancy Lewis
Nancy Lewis is a spiritual director and retired Covenant pastor who has served in ministry for over 30 years. Nancy feels that helping others to find God in their lives and discern His movement is a privileged space to enter into with someone. She finds the Enneagram very helpful in understanding more of who God created us to be and how to reclaim, and live into, His desire for us. Nancy particularly experiences God's presence easily in nature and enjoys gardening and being near water. Her gentle wisdom and strong leadership have made her an example to many, and is particularly open to walking alongside other women pastors.
Randy Young
Randy, a pastor since 1978, served in small churches (<35 worshipers), medium size churches (200), and very large churches (1600+) in various roles, including lead pastor, associate pastor (student ministries, singles, long range planning) and as a transitional pastor. He has learned many good but painful lessons from numerous mistakes along the way. He has come alongside numerous churches experiencing conflict.
In addition to teaching at Fuller Theological Seminary for 15 years, Randy also served as the Director of Mentoring for M.Div. students in the cohort program at Fuller Seminary - Northern California and as the Associate Director for Church Relations. In his work with Fuller, he visited hundreds of churches in Northern California connecting with pastors. He has a good feel for current church trends in the face of contemporary culture and the need to be theologically grounded in ministry, loves leading worship, believes in the ministry of the laity, and understands the importance of relationships in ministry.
Randy has been married for 46 years to the love of his life, Claudia, a genuine Southern Belle. He has 3 children (2 adopted), 3 grandsons, occasionally plays at golf, and has coached high school varsity basketball for 20 years.
Ron Short
Uniquely gifted in the areas of executive leadership and team management, Ron’s extensive experience demonstrates an innate ability to clearly define organizational goals and objectives while still reinforcing a well defined and measured outcome. You will find that Ron is passionate about Jesus and the calling that Jesus alone has on our collective lives. Ron excels at navigating leaders, leadership teams and organizations through various levels of transition and by doing so helping Kingdom leaders to finish well.
Susan Cosio
Susan Cosio is an ordained Covenant pastor who has over 20 years of ministry experience as a pastor and hospital chaplain. She has also served in multiple leadership roles within the denomination. In this season, Susan is focused primarily on her work as a spiritual director, ministry coach, and contemplative retreat facilitator. She has a heart for coming alongside those who serve in ministry, and has expertise in resilience, compassion fatigue and burnout. As a coach and spiritual director, Susan is especially interested in vocational discernment, and works with women and men seeking to respond more fully to God’s call on their lives. She frequently reminds herself and others that ministry flows out of an intimate connection to Jesus. Susan is a graduate of UC Berkeley and Fuller Seminary. She married her high school sweetheart Gib 38 years ago, and they live in Davis, CA. They have three grown children and one precious grandchild.
Sumit Sen
Sumit Sen is the senior pastor of First Covenant Church, Eureka, CA. Sumit grew up in the bustling city of Kolkata in India before moving to the US in 1991. He has a B.A. in English and Philosophy from The University of South Dakota, a Master of Divinity from North Park Theological Seminary, a Master of Theology from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and a Master in Marriage and Family Therapy from Touro University Worldwide. Sumit served churches in Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin before moving to California in 2014, where he served as a staff pastor as well as Chair of the PSWC Ministerium. Sumit is very familiar with the joys and struggles that come with small-town churches. Sumit believes he has been privileged to work with men struggling with various addiction issues. He is well aware that the stress of ministry can lead to unhealthy habits and addictions, and therefore provides a confidential judgment-free zone for everyone he talks to.
Tom Eisenman
Tom is an ordained ECC pastor, spiritual director and president and founder of With You Ministries. After 35 years of pastoral church ministry, Tom shifted to focus on caring for, encouraging and supporting Christian leaders and persons in training for ministry. Tom has led “Deeper in Christ” and “Sabbath” retreats for ECC pastors, contemplative and Mindful Self-Compassion retreats, as well as retreats using the Enneagram as a tool for improving organizational communication and work relationships.
Besides his graduate degrees from the University of Wisconsin and M.Div. from Fuller Seminary, Tom has a “Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction” from San Francisco Seminary, Certification to teach the Enneagram from the Jerome Wagner Training Institute, and a Mindful Self-Compassion certificate from the University of California, San Diego. Tom trains spiritual directors and has written five books for InterVarsity Press. He is currently writing a book empathetic listening.
Tom and Judie have been married 57 years and enjoy friendship with their four adult children and two grandsons.For challenge and enjoyment, Tom paints, builds fine furniture, plays piano and drums in worship, boogie boards off the San Diego coast, and gets lost for several months a year in Fantasy Football.
Wayne Carlson
Wayne is an ordained Covenant minister and has served in a variety of roles, including youth and camping ministries, local church pastorate, Director of Church Planting for the PSWC, and more recently, a transition pastor in four northern California Covenant churches. He is a graduate of North Park University and Fuller Theological Seminary. He finds joy in walking alongside others (including the local church) in discovering their God-given gifts and empowering them to deploy those gifts to advance God’s mission in the world. He is married to Judy (50 years) - together, they raised three sons and now find great delight in loving on their 5 grandchildren. Wayne enjoys working with wood, including running a a six-foot chainsaw with two of his sons in a wood-slabbing business!
Wayne considers it a humble privilege to serve God’s kingdom as a pastor and leader, and looks forward supporting and encouraging other pastors as they pursue and live out God’s call on their lives.