Elders

Heather has been a member of BelPres since 1999. She and her husband Magnus have two children, Elise and Erik. Heather helped to start the KidREACH tutoring program at BelPres and was a leader there for thirteen years. She has been a leader of the BelPres Justice & Racial Reconciliation Team for 8 years. During her time at BelPres, she has helped out with VBA and Sunday School, and participated in Women at the Well, Mother’s Fellowship, and All-In groups. Heather loves learning and Bible study and is almost finished with a Master’s Degree in Justice and Advocacy from Fuller Seminary.

John has attended BelPres for 17+ years with his wife and son (student at UW). He has enjoyed serving at Jubilee Reach, on the Justice & Racial Reconciliation team, as an All-In coleader, worship host, parking host and communion server, plus side gigs with Congo Peace and the Israel Palestine team. His current jams include Common Hymnal and Jon Batiste. He greatly enjoyed the scene in "The Chosen" where Jesus pranks Simon with the miraculous catch of fish, and thanks Jesus and Jerry Seinfeld for teaching him to always look for the joke.

Annie and her family started attending BelPres in 2010. Her main area of involvement has been in the Kids and Students Department, where she has led numerous small groups and attended many youth retreats. Last year she completed a 6-year stent with the same group of girls, working with them from 7th grade through their senior year of high school, which was a very fun experience! Annie’s husband, Dale is involved in modern worship and her kids, Jake (a college grad as of 2023) and Rebekah (a current college student) both came up through BelPres Kids and Students. Outside of BelPres, Annie volunteers at Jubilee Reach, leads a Moms in Prayer group and has recently started working at Clyde Hill Elementary on a part time basis. Annie enjoys hanging out with Dale, time with friends, her morning cup of coffee, her evening sweet treat and whatever time she can get with her kids now that she is an empty nester.

Frank is originally from South Korea and came to the U.S. (Southern California) for college. He came to Seattle for his Ph.D. at the University of WA and decided to settle here. He currently works at Boeing as a Human Factors & Ergonomics Engineer, supporting the health and safety of manufacturing workers who build airplanes. Frank and his wife, Esther, started attending BelPres when they married in Dec 2016. They fell in love with the traditional service (especially the music), and how the church welcomes cultural diversity. Their son, Ezra, loves coming to Sunday school and learning about God with his friends. Frank currently serves on the greeting team. During his free time, he likes to explore nature, watch movies, and do some small house projects.

Zoraida has been attending BelPres with her family since 2016. She has volunteered at BelPres for several years, assisting in the childcare center and camps such as VBA and Adventure Day Camp. She has participated in the church's choir programs for many years, starting with Joysong and now singing in Bel Canto. In 2024, she went on the church’s mission trip to Guatemala. In her free time, she enjoys doing art, reading, and crafts. Additionally, she likes doing outdoor activities with her family, such as hiking and camping.

Mary Kay and her husband have lived and attended church in the Seattle area for over 20 years. They began attending BelPres in 2019 following a short-term move to northern California for career opportunities. They have found a shared theological fit within BelPres and especially appreciate the church’s outreach focus, cultural diversity, and musical-filled worship services. Mary Kay’s service within BelPres has included teaching Sunday school, being a VBA leader, co-leading an All-In group, and co-leading the Mom’s Fellowship group. She retired from a 40-year career as an obstetrical/gynecological nurse practitioner, where she had the opportunity to serve in various leadership roles within clinics, hospitals, and non-profit organizations. Mary Kay and her husband have three daughters and three granddaughters. She enjoys spending her spare time with each of them. Mary Kay’s further interests include skiing, biking, hiking, crafting, travel, and reading.

Charlie spent his formative years in San Diego, California where he was active in his faith community (Laurel Bible Chapel), Youth for Christ, and Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. Charlie met the love of his life, Margie, while attending San Diego State. They have been married for nearly 54 years and have two grown children and three young grandchildren. Charlie and Margie were involved in church leadership at both Pasadena Covenant Church and Pine Lake Covenant Church, after which God led them to BelPres. At BelPres, Charlie has served as a deacon, member of the Nominating Committee, and facilitator of a support group for parents of LGBTQ children. Charlie is currently semi-retired (still doing part-time contract work for a local company). During his free time, Charlie enjoys woodturning and various home DYI projects, while he and Margie enjoy travel, classical music, and theater.

Drew and his wife Kari, and their sons Jake and Nick, have been part of the BelPres community since 2008. Drew is deeply involved in Bible study groups and leads an all-in group. Since the fall of Afghanistan, he and Kari were called to support arriving refugee families, participating in a mission trip to Lesbos and Samos, and serving on a BelPres Good Neighbor Team. Drew's professional journey spans over three decades at Boeing, where he began as an aeronautical engineer, transitioned to marketing as a financial analyst, and eventually led the marketing team in Europe before retiring a few years ago. His passion lies in solving problems, planning, and developing long-term strategy. Drew is actively engaged in his community. He serves on Bellevue’s Transportation Commission, Hopelink’s Finance Committee, and the board of Samena.

Karen has been a member of BelPres since 2012. She has loved Jesus as far back as she can remember, and her youth group was instrumental in strengthening her faith and confidence. Earlier in life, Karen and her husband Larry lived in Kinshasa, Congo for 3 years building houses for Habitat for Humanity. Years later, they have 2 children, both married, one new grandson, and they still love worldwide travel. At BelPres Karen has been a Women at the Well table leader for 8 years and had been a youth leader for 7 years. A 2017 sermon with the assigned homework to pray how to care for your neighbors started Karen hosting monthly dinners for their neighbors. The neighborhood has been transformed with this simple act of showing Jesus' love. At the first glimpse of Spring, Karen can be found spending way too much time gardening and making excuses not to go indoors.

Bob started attending BelPres in early 2021and became a member a couple years

later. He regularly attends Sunday MorningBible Study, is a lay teacher for the class

and is responsible for scheduling the layteachers. He volunteers at Jubilee Reach in

the Groceries for Family program and has beena teacher in their ESL program. He has

also been a co-leader of an All In group. Bobhad a 40 year business career and was

the CEO for 3 different companies in the lasthalf of his career. After retiring from

business, he was an adjunct professor for 6years at Seattle University in their MBA

program. Bob and his wife Jeanette live inBellevue and both enjoy playing golf.

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I am originally from Rwanda and marriedto Alexandre. We’re blessed with two handsome boys. I moved here in 2022 fromNorth Dakota and have been a member of BelPres/New Hope since then. I have beena deacon for threeyears and I serve as a women’s leader at New Hope. I love caring for people andusing all that I have to serve God with every opportunity I get.

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Kristin and her husband Andrew started attending BelPres in 2010.  They became members in 2022.  As a couple, they have taught Sunday School for several years. They have three children - Molly, Charlie, and Owen - who are actively involved in BelPres Kids and Student Ministries.  Kristin has also served as a VBA leader and is currently a Care Minister.  Over the years she has participated in Women at the Well, Mother's Fellowship, Eastside Academy birthday baking, and an All-In group. When she's not driving kids to swim practice, or cheering at soccer, basketball, and baseball games, Kristin teaches 5th grade in the IssaquahSchool District.

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Josh was born and raised here inKirkland/Bellevue, growing up in a family of three boys with twin youngerbrothers. He came to Christ while attending Central Washington University,where he earned his degree in Financial Planning and Accounting as well asplayed linebacker on the football team. In 2020, he started attending BelPresand since then he has served on several short-term mission trips which weremainly to Greece where he served with Muslim refugees Athens and on the islandof Lesvos and currently volunteers on Sunday nights as a 6th grade boys leaderin the youth ministry. He currently works at Sound Capital as a Capital Advisorwhere he assists residential builders with construction financing. In his freetime he enjoys hanging out with his friends/family, running, working out,playing sports, card games, and trying out new things.

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Andrew Kim is a high school student at Lakeside School. He is the eldest of four siblings. He experiences the presence and love of God most deeply in the creation of the great outdoors where he hikes, runs, rows, and bikes. He loves to travel the world, but also likes looking for cool places around his Seattle hometown. He appreciates big books on any subject and is always looking for recommendations. He loves music and sang in BelPres youth choirs and currently plays the trombone. You can find him most Sundays at the 11am Sanctuary service in the balcony singing with his grandpa.