Staff

Nate Andrews was born in Seattle and spent his formative childhood years in the University District. He grew up in a Christian family and worshipped in a small local church with a strong gift of hospitality, many families opening their homes to college students, especially those from abroad. When he was ten years old his father accepted a job teaching English in mainland China and the family embarked on a great adventure, one that brought them closer to one another and to the Lord. As a 'stranger and a sojourner' in a foreign land, Nate experienced firsthand the reality of the Gospel being for every nation, tribe, language and people.

Nate has been a member of Grace for over 20 years and, having met his wife Heather in community group, has a passion for seeing the body fed and supported through regular study, fellowship, prayer and service. It has been a blessing and a privilege to watch his boys grow up in a loving community, where the Gospel is preached and they are welcomed into the family of God on a weekly basis. When he has free time Nate can be found reading, writing, enjoying music, playing volleyball, and cheering on the Huskies.

Sara is a writer and nonprofit communications manager seeking a deeper faith in our complicated culture. Her family of origin is Roman Catholic and Jewish (her dad converted to Christianity in the 70s). Born and raised in the Midwest, Sara and her husband Drew have attended Grace since their first month as Seattleites in 2006 and love being a part of our community filled with such thoughtful, creative, and big-hearted people.

Instead of trying to work her own way towards a more perfect spiritual version of herself, Sara has found freedom in the simple truth that God loves us and co-labors with us, just as we are. She believes our common tendency to let fear overwhelm our calling can be undone by gospel truth, active prayer, community, and ordinary service. Sara has found a lot of life in spiritual direction, the examen, and other contemplative practices, and she considers it a joy to mentor young Christians navigating life in the city. She writes to bring courage to orphaned believers at sarabillups.com.

Eric and his wife Joy were born and raised in Texas. As a bit of an experiment, they moved to Seattle and quickly fell in love with the city and the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. They have planted roots here and are raising their three kids in Seattle’s Phinney Ridge neighborhood.

Eric and Joy found Grace not too long after moving to Seattle and consider it a big part of what grounds them here. For Eric, Grace represents a beautiful combination of a willingness to explore new ways God is working while still being deeply rooted in the historic teachings of the Gospel.

Eric has long had a passion for cities and loves the vibrancy and creativity they facilitate. It’s what drew him to Seattle. It’s what drives his professional work. It’s why he gets excited when the congregation prays for the welfare of the city. It’s also why he and his family work to be in the city and a part of their neighborhood. Conversely, it is the great wild places of the Pacific Northwest’s where Eric finds restoration and connection to the beauty of God.

Renee is a native of the Seattle area. For as long as she can remember, her heart’s desire has been to be with others in their spiritual walk - no matter where they find themselves. Her own spiritual life has been deepened by experiencing God’s unconditional love through seasons of trial and of joy. She started attending Grace in 1999, drawn by the message of God’s grace and love. She found Grace to be a safe place where she was not expected to hold herself together, but rather she found that God, and the church, would meet her in her pain. Today, her passion is connecting with people where they can find a safe place to heal and to grow in their desire to know God. Renee’s career path began with Harborview, where she worked as a nurse for 17 years, most of those years spent in the burn center. Today, she lives and works at The Layne, an urban retreat center, as host and spiritual director, along with her husband, Dan. When she is at rest, she loves reading, traveling, the sun, and time spent with family and friends. Renee and Dan have two wonderful adult sons.

becca.ifland@gmail.com

Rebecca is grateful to have been raised in a home that loved Jesus, and she grew into that love slowly and steadily. Growing up in a Bible belt in southern Manitoba (Canada), Rebecca loved the prairies and the deep, solid faithfulness of her extended family – it was a rich heritage. When she was in her third year of undergrad studies at Trinity Western University, her dad died unexpectedly. God's presence and nearness through it all were undeniable, but grief is a grim companion.

Rebecca and Orion were married in 2003, having fallen in love while both studying at Trinity Western. Orion is caring and inquisitive, a faithful partner and a profound rock in her life. They lived in Winnipeg for eight years where Rebecca dove into graduate school and Orion worked as a web programmer. They then began to welcome kids into their lives: Seth, Silas, Annalyn, and Theodore. The journey of parenthood has radically shaped her and caused her to rely on God in the mystery of the everyday. After moving to Seattle in 2012 they quickly found a home at Grace, serving in several ways: in Grace Kids, in hosting a Community Group, in music, and in mentoring engaged couples. Rebecca works as a freelance collaborative pianist and is immensely grateful to be part of Grace.

Tamarack grew up in a home with a Christian mother and atheist father. This was difficult, but allowed her to experience challenges to her beliefs and faith at an early age. She accepted Christ as a young child but it was during her senior year in high school when she more fully gave him her life. She was struggling and did not know where her life was going and realized that God was the only one she could turn to for purpose, support, and guidance. Life has been a difficult journey with periods of doubt and struggle, but God has been patient and faithful.

God led Tamarack to attend Northwest University where she majored in psychology with a second major in Biblical Literature. She then attended Boston University and earned a Masters in Social Work. God has given her a heart for serving the poor and marginalized. She worked at the YWCA for several years and now works at Treehouse.

Tamarack started attending Grace in 2009. She was drawn to the thoughtful worship and the focus on serving the city. It has been a pleasure for her to be a part of this loving community. During her time at Grace, she has served in the children’s ministry and as a community group host. She looks forward to the opportunity to walk more closely with people in their faith, build stronger relationships, and help meet people’s practical needs.

Darik was born and raised in the Seattle area and has been married to Jo for 30 years with three grown children. He has a daughter, Danielle, and son-in-law, Justin who have attended Grace Seattle with them since 2010.

He grew up in a family that taught him the love of Christ and was nurtured by the caring fellowship of believers in a loving church and Christian school. In his young adult years, though immersed in the message of grace from the gospel, he saw little need for relationships with other Christians and lived a life pursuing his academic and medical career and courting Jo. His crisis of belief occurred his senior year in college, engaged to Jo and accepted to UW medical school, and his parents' divorce that shattered his illusion of his perfect family. His faith was restored by the loving care of many including his wife, Jo and her parents and the body of the church who he had rejected. God has used their life together with his family and the church to sanctify them as they have experienced times of loss and confusion including the death of Jo's father. They also have experienced the unexpected joy of life together with the marriage of their children, a granddaughter and the fellowship of brothers and sisters at Grace Seattle.

He enjoys his life with his family and friends eating and drinking together at their home in Northgate, at restaurants, and on Lake Washington on their boat. They are UW Husky fans and love the Seattle Sounders FC.