Leadership

Leadership

Pastors

Pastor Gail Song Bantum

Gail Song Bantum

Lead Pastor

Pastor Aaron Cho, a Korean American man, smiles at the camera

Aaron Cho

Lead Associate Pastor
Ex-Officio Elder

Pastor Brenda Salter McNeil, a Black woman, smiles at the camera

Brenda Salter McNeil

Associate Pastor
Preaching & Reconciliation

Matt Hornbeck, a white man, smiles at the camera

Matt Hornbeck

Associate Pastor

Worship and Arts

Pastor Katey Hage, a white woman, smiles at the camera

Katey Hage

Associate Pastor
Family Ministry

Dr. Brian Bantum, a Black man, smiles at the camera

Brian Bantum

Theologian in Residence

Staff

Jaylin Chacon

Director of Community Life & Systems

Alton Green

Technical Director

Terry Kelly, a Black man, smiles at the camera

Terry Kelly

Sr. Director
Operations, HR, & Finance

Brandi Miller

Chief Storyteller

Grace Wilkinson

Youth Director

Carrie Yu

Office Administrator

Elders

Donnie Griffin, a Black man, smiles at the camera.

Donnie Y. Griffin

Elder | Chair

Nourisha Wells, a Black woman, smiles at the camera

Nourisha Wells

Elder | Vice Chair

Sam Kim, a Korean-American man, smiles at the camera.

Sam Kim

Elder | Secretary

Sonja Lowe, a white woman, smiles at the camera

Sonja Lowe

Elder | Treasurer

Tre Wyatt, a Black man, smiles at the camera

Tré Wyatt

Elder

Jun L. Young

Elder

Hannah Joseph

Elder

Francxs Placide

Elder

Pastor Gail Song Bantum, a Korean American woman, smiles at the camera

Gail Song Bantum

Elder

A white woman smiles

Kathryn Sciba

Elder | Treasurer
Sabbatical

Deacons

Jim Caldwell, a white man, smiles at the camera

Jim Caldwell

Deacon | Co-Chair

Eunice Soh, a Korean-American woman, smiles at the camera.

Eunice Soh

Deacon | Co-Chair

Sara Caldwell, a white woman, smiles at the camera

Sara Caldwell

Deacon

Garrett Chan

Deacon

Kevin-Hale

Kevin Hale

Deacon 

Randall Ajimine

Deacon

Ineliz Soto-Fuller, a Puerto Rican woman, smiles at the camera

Ineliz Soto-Fuller

Deacon

The Bridge Care Center

Cami Freeman, a white/Korean-American woman, smiles at the camera

Cami Freeman

Director
The Bridge Care Center

Carrie Yu

Associate Director of Operations
The Bridge Care Center

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Pastor Gail Song Bantum

Gail Song Bantum

Lead Pastor
Elder
[email protected]

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Pastor Gail is the primary visionary, spiritual developer, and culture curator as lead pastor of Quest Church. As a second generation Korean-American, formed in the Korean immigrant and Black Pentecostal traditions, Pastor Gail seeks to cultivate advocacy, liberation, and belonging for the marginalized within the life of the church. She is particularly passionate about empowering emerging leaders and is a highly sought after speaker, preacher, and consultant. She serves on the board of WomanPreach! Inc. and is the co-author of Choosing Us: Marriage and Mutual Flourishing in a World of Difference.

Pastor Gail is an ordained minister and received her M.Div. from Duke Divinity School. She and her husband, Dr. Brian Bantum, have three adult children and reside in Seattle, WA.

Pastor Aaron Cho, a Korean American man, smiles at the camera

Aaron Cho

Lead Associate Pastor, Community Life
Elder
[email protected]

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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.

Pastor Brenda Salter McNeil, a Black woman, smiles at the camera

Brenda Salter McNeil

Associate Pastor, Preaching & Reconciliation
[email protected]

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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.

Matt Hornbeck, a white man, smiles at the camera

Matt Hornbeck

Director, Worship
matt[email protected]

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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.

Pastor Katey Hage, a white woman, smiles at the camera

Katey Hage

Associate Pastor, Quest Kids & Family Ministry
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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.

Dr. Brian Bantum, a Black man, smiles at the camera

Brian Bantum

Theologian in Residence
[email protected]

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 adult children 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).

Jaylin Chacon

Jaylin Chacon

Office Administrator 
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Alton Green

Technical Director
[email protected]

Terry Kelly, a Black man, smiles at the camera

Terry Kelly

Senior Director, Operations
[email protected]

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.

Brandi Miller

Chief Storyteller
[email protected]

Emmanuel Avila

Facilities Maintenance Technician
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Donnie Griffin, a Black man, smiles at the camera.

Donnie Y. Griffin

Lay Advisor
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Donnie has enjoyed a 33-year career as an executive in business, government and non-profit organizations. His 20-year management tenure with US WEST Communications, included positions as Managing Director of Community Affairs & Corporate Communications and General Manager of the 911 Public Safety Group. In government, he served as Agency Chief Deputy Director for the Oregon Department of Human Services, a 10,000-employee organization with a $4 billion annual budget. He also was the Tribal Administrator for Social Services, Education and Tribal Eldership Programs for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians in Banning, CA. He is a co-founder of the annual Seattle Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast and the non-profit Choose 180 Program, a Seattle area faith-based inspired partnership with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to divert low level juvenile offenders away from the criminal justice system. And he has served on the Edmonds Diversity Commission and Boards of Directors for the Edmonds Center for the Arts and Communities of Color Coalition for Snohomish County. Donnie recently founded the Lift Every Voice Legacy group (LEVL), inspiring Beloved Community values as envisioned by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. throughout South Snohomish County, and chairs the Board of Directors of DADS, a South Seattle-based fatherhood enrichment program. In previous years, Donnie served on the Evangelical Covenant Church denomination’s Boards of Directors for Ministries of Benevolence, Covenant Retirement Communities and the Covenant International Insurance Company. In addition to his Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Washington State University, he holds a Master’s degree in Management from Antioch University (Seattle) and is a graduate of the Master Class for Leadership Educators Program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government – Center for Public Leadership. Donnie and his wife, Ross, live in Edmonds, WA.

Sonja Lowe, a white woman, smiles at the camera

Sonja Lowe

Elder, Treasurer
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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!).

Tre Wyatt, a Black man, smiles at the camera

Tre Wyatt

Elder, Chair
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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.

Pastor Gail Song Bantum, a Korean American woman, smiles at the camera

Gail Song Bantum

Lead Pastor
Elder
[email protected]

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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.

A white woman smiles

Kathryn Sciba

Elder
[email protected]

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.

Jim Caldwell, a white man, smiles at the camera

Jim Caldwell

Deacon
[email protected]

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.

Eunice Soh, a Korean-American woman, smiles at the camera.

Eunice Soh

Deacon
[email protected]

 

Eunice began attending and joined the Quest family in 2007. She got connected to Quest through it’s support of the Burmese refugee community in the greater Seattle area. Since then, she has been involved with various ministries at Quest and particularly with the Worship, Glocal, and Hosting ministries. Outside of Quest, she is a full-time PhD candidate (go Huskies!) and a family nurse practitioner working in community health. In her time off, you can find her hosting picnics and dinner shindigs, hiking with her pup, jamming with friends, or off gallivanting around the world.

Ineliz Soto-Fuller, a Puerto Rican woman, smiles at the camera

Ineliz Soto-Fuller

Deacon
[email protected]

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.

Cami Freeman, a white/Korean-American woman, smiles at the camera

Cami Freeman

Associate Director, Programs
The Bridge Care Center
[email protected]

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.

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