Chris Brady - Lead Pastor
I am the lead pastor at The Journey. I believe that everyone needs to hear about the depth of Gods love demonstrated through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus in a way that is easily understandable and applicable to their lives so that they can develop into what God has created them to be.
BASIC STUFF: In June 2006, I moved from NYC to San Francisco to start this church. I had lived in NYC for 20 years. In 1986, I drove a U-Haul overnight from upstate NY to NYC to be an actor. I had just graduated as a pre-med student so you can imagine how thrilled my parents were with my career change. I worked as an actor and director for many years before I was called to ministry and served as a teaching pastor at a church in NYC called The Journey.
BIRTH DATE: July 2nd, 1964
EDUCATION: B.S. in Biology, Graduate of The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre
INTERESTS AND FAVORITES
- PLACES: Caribbean Islands; Florence, Italy; NYC and San Francisco of course!
- WHAT'S ON MY iPOD: I grew up on Heavy Metal but now I listen mostly to alternative rock: U2, Oasis, Coldplay, Guster, Weezer, Death Cab for Cuties, The Shins, The Strokes, White Stripes, Metallica, Jet, Wolfmother, Red Hot Chili Peppers and REM to name a few.
- BOOKS: The Bible, fantasy novels (the more volumes the better), science fiction and John Maxwell leadership books
- WHAT DO YOU TiVo/DVR: The Simpson’s, The Office, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, Futurama, Judge Judy (I know… I know…), Star Trek: The Next Generation and most nature and science programs.
- SPORT TEAMS: I like sports but do not follow any particular team.
- MOVIES: The Dark Knight, Juno, The Lord of The Rings trilogy, The Bourne Ultimatum, the Star Trek movies (EXCEPT Star Trek V), The Godfather, Alien, Aliens, Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind, The Matrix, American Beauty, Terminator (I & II), Mystic River, Gladiator, Monty Python: The Meaning of Life, The Jerk, Enemy of the State
- HOBBIES: playing guitar, computers, online video games, gardening
- DISLIKES: Waiting, crowds, injustice
- ODD FACT: Almost everything about me is odd though I seem to become less quirky with age.
- LIFE SCRIPTURE: "Jesus came and told his disciples, 'I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'" - Matthew 28:18-20
John Ellis - Director of Worship Arts
Having moved straight from the far east coast, I’m honored to now be a part of this developing ministry and to have the opportunity to serve others, helping to tell of the real truth and love that is Jesus Christ.
BASIC STUFF: As a kid I spent nearly nine years living overseas in Western Africa and Europe. We returned to the Washington D.C. area when I was fourteen and in the next decade I moved around several small cities and towns in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. My adult life leading has forever been splintered between creating music, serving in volunteer ministries, and working in the human services. Having never before been farther west than Tennessee, I hadn’t ever imagined that I would end up on the West Coast to serve on staff in ministry.
BIRTH DATE: May 14, 1981
EDUCATION: Regents Bachelor’s of Arts, Shepherd University
INTERESTS AND FAVORITES
- PLACES: Any number of cities throughout central Europe; the Appalachian trail, Washington D.C., and my personal fave, the quaint Shepherdstown, West-by-God Virginia!
- WHAT'S ON MY iPOD: Most of Led Zeppelin’s catalog, Muse’s Absolution, Pearl Jam, U2, and a lot of the 60’s and 70’s great singer-songwriters: Paul Simon, Neil Diamond, Leonard Cohen. At certain times…Enya, Daft Punk, Outkast, and a few singles from Boston when I’m driving. David Crowder, Blindside, and Derek Webb are my Christ-loving favorites.
- BOOKS: Some of my favorite authors on my shelf: A.W. Tozer, Lev Tolstoy, Philip Yancy, and John Eldridge. I also like Kurt Vonnegut, Frank Herbert, and Bill Bryson.
- WHAT DO YOU TiVo/DVR: Mostly music videos, the Daily Show, and Family Guy.
- MOVIES: Anything epic, sentimental, and set during wartime. The English Patient and Glory come to mind.
- HOBBIES: Song-writing, weightlifting, reading, and travel, whether intercontinental or day trip.
- DISLIKES: The Dutch language, car mechanics, 80’s metal hair bands, the iniquities of popular culture.
- ODD FACT: One Halloween I dressed as the ‘Soy Bomb’ guy from Dylan’s performance at the 1998 Grammys.
- LIFE SCRIPTURE:“Go to now, ye that say, Today or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” - James 4:13-15.