City Church of San Francisco

Rev. Fred Harrell - Senior Pastor
The Rev. Fred O. Harrell is a native of Central Florida and is a graduate of the University of Florida (degree in economics) and Reformed Theological Seminary (graduate degree in theology and pastoral care). Before coming to San Francisco, he founded and led a university-based ministry designed to answer the questions of thoughtful seekers and to equip Christians for transformational ministries in and through the church. He and his wife, Terely, have been married since 1986, and they have four children.

Rev. Mike Hayes - Executive Pastor
The Rev. Michael Hayes is a native of California who moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1969. He and his wife Cathe have been married since 1974 and have two adult children, Meggin and Joshua. Mike is a graduate of California State University and Concordia Seminary. Before coming to San Francisco, he was involved in starting three churches in Northern California most recently Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Santa Rosa.

Rev. Frances Bragdon Nelson - Pastor of Congregational Care
Frances was born in Lima, Peru, but lived most of her adult life in New York City until mid 2006, when she came to City Church to serve as Pastor of Congregational Care (serving deacons, community groups, and pastoral counseling). She graduated from Covenant College (Lookout Mountain, GA) and Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia (MA Counseling). Her pre-SF life includes 20 years in marketing and communications in NYC; she also served as Fellowship Group Director at Redeemer Presbyterian Church. Frances married Douglas Nelson in 1997. He is a singer/songwriter who makes a living creating financial services reporting systems.

Rev. Scot Sherman - Teaching Pastor
Scot Sherman is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. He is a graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia (M.Div.), Princeton Theological Seminary (Th.M), and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Wales. Scot served on the staff of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, and was the organizing pastor of The Village Church in Greenwich Village. He was Senior Pastor Intown Community Church in Atlanta prior to coming to City Church. Scot is married to Catherine. They met and married in New York City in 1991 and have four sons - John, Benjamin, James, and David.

Karl Digerness - Director of Worship Arts
A native of Birmingham, AL, Karl received a degree in Music Education from Berry College in Rome, GA with an instrumental emphasis on trumpet. He then moved to Atlanta where he taught music for two years. Before joining the staff of City Church, Karl was Director of Worship for Grace Church, in the Atlanta area. While classically trained, Karl’s love for folk and other music forms brings a unique depth to the music of City Church. He and his wife, Wendi, have two sons.

Rachel Digerness - Director of Children's Ministries & Sunday Morning Ministries

Wendi Digerness - Nursery Director:
Wendi Digerness grew up in Atlanta, GA where you can only be outside, comfortably, for about three months a year. She enjoys being outside everyday with her two boys, Joe and Andy--and Karl on the weekends. They are thrilled to raise their kids in such an incredible place, and to be partnering with other parents in the nursery ministry.

Dan Gannon - Director of Student Ministries:

Anni Mingin - Director of Spiritual Formation
Anni is a graduate San Francisco Theological Seminary. Before entering SFTS, Anni served at Mendocino Presbyterian Church in Mendocino, a small village on the coast of northern California. Previous to that, Anni served at a Chinese Evangelical Church in Vancouver, Washington. Anni received her B.A. from Oak Hill Theological College in London, England. Her family lives in Washougal and Walla Walla, Washington where she has five nieces that she misses very much. Her favorite things to do is sit in a coffee shop, read a good book, hike the many great trails in Marin, spend time with friends and horseback ride.

David Starfas - Facilities & Children’s Sunday School Coordinator
A native of Ventura Ca. David moved to San Francisco in 2001 after graduating from the Kansas City Art Institute. He paints. He writes some. He and his wife Deborah got married in March 2006. When he is not painting or hanging out with his family David is cooking or experimenting around in the kitchen. After the accident the doctors told David that they hooked his heart up to his mouth and that if he stopped talking his heart would stop.

Paul Trudeau - Director of Mercy & Justice Ministries
Paul is the director of Mercy and Justice ministries, International missions, and prayer ministry. He is also a chaplain in County Jail where he pastors a weekly worship service for inmates. Paul grew up in Portland and New Orleans. He is a graduate of San Jose State (degree in art) and Reformed Theological Seminary (graduate degree in biblical studies). Before joining the staff at City Church Paul was on staff at Korean Presbyterian Church of Orlando, Florida and Korean Central Presbyterian Church in Vienna, Virginia. He is married to his wife Liz since 2003 and has a bulldog, Moses.

Melisa Blankenship - Administrative Assistant

Kirsten Oates - Director of People & Planning

Steven Starfas - Director of Communication & Media
A native of Ventura Ca. Steven moved to San Francisco in the summer of 1996 to pursue a Fine Art Degree from The San Francisco Art Institute. He and his wife Emily have been married since 1998 and have a daughter, Olive and a son Leo. Steven began working for City Church in January 2001 and continues to create his mixed media artwork.

Grace Hsiao

Matt Nault
Matthew B. Nault is a native of San Diego, CA. He moved to San Francisco in 2004 to be the team leader at USF with InterVarsity. Since then, he has increasingly fallen in love with the beauty, diversity, and global impact of the City and transitioned to City Church staff in 2007, where he ministers in the area of community groups. He graduated from the University of San Diego (degrees in Theology and Communications) and is finishing grad studies at Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div). He and his wife, Florence, have been married since 2005 and they have a son named Benjamin.

Maggie Rockers
Maggie Rockers joined our team in July as an intern with City Hope. A native to Chicagoland, Maggie has four brothers, one sister, and high hopes that this will be the year the Cub's win the World Series. She is a 2006 graduate from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology and has been living in the Bay Area for over a year. Maggie is excited to be a part of what the Lord is doing to bring healing into the brokenness of San Francisco through City Church and City Hope. She hopes to continue to be involved in this type of ministry after her year internship is over, but isn't sure about what that will look like quite yet!

Drew Yamamoto
A native of San Francisco Ca. Drew is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, where he majored and minored in East Asian and Asian American studies, respectively. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI, and has studied at San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, CA. An avid motorsports enthusiast, he is currently undertaking the restoration of a 41 year old roadster.

New Churches

Walnut Creek: Rev. Ken Brown
Ken was born in Ithaca, NY and was raised primarily in the Northeast. He earned a B.S. from Liberty University and an Masters of Divinity from Biblical Theological Seminary. Ken joined the City Church staff in 2003 and is working in Walnut Creek to establish a new congregation. He and his wife Amy have four children - Andrew (13), Emily (11), Kristin (8), and Annie (5). www.christcommunity-diablovalley.org

Berkeley: Rev. Bart Garrett
The Rev. Bart Garrett received a B.A. from Furman University and a Masters in Theology from the Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL. He moved with his wife, Katie, and their two girls, Caroline (4) and Clair (1), to Berkeley in July 2005, called by City Church to start a church in the East Bay. Prior to the move, Bart was on staff for four years with Perimeter Church in Atlanta, GA where he served as the Pastor of Young Adults and on Perimeter's teaching team. www.christchurchberkeley.org

Marin: Rev. Rod Miles
The Rev. Rod Miles was called by City Church to start a church in Marin, County. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of GA (BBA- Finance) and 2004 graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary (MDIV). Prior to attending seminary, Rod was a Senior Managing Director of Wachovia Securities, Inc in NYC and Atlanta where he spent 15 years in corporate banking and capital markets. Rod was active in church leadership Intown Church in Atlanta and served at Orangewood Church in Orlando prior to coming to the Bay Area. Rod and his wife Gwen were married in September 1991 and are the parents of 3 boys, Reid (9), Kevin (7) and Rick (6). www.gracemarin.org