DANNY CLINTON
Danny was born, raised, and adores living in the Pacific Northwest. He enjoys the copious amounts of rain, coffee shops, and especially the eclectic people of our area. He has a passion for traveling the lesser-known parts of the world and enjoys talking to people of all backgrounds about Jesus. Danny has been in full-time, vocational ministry for over 22 years, and currently carries the role of Kessid’s primary Story Teller.
Danny, along with a few close friends, started Kessid from a desire to live out their lives within a community of people who were willing, regardless of their station or the spiritual place they found themselves in, to ask the honest, ugly, beautiful questions that only Christ could answer. He feels that a community such as this would most clearly represent the heart of Jesus, and so allow for experiencing a deeper connection that only comes from the richness of relationships built around God’s steadfast “Kessid (Chesed)” love. One of Danny’s greatest desires is that once his life has been poured out, this community we call Kessid Church can be passed on to the next generation for them to continue the legacy of spreading the Gospel to our neighbors, our nation, and the rest of the world.
Danny has been married to the love of his life, Erin, for almost 24 years. They have three children, Gabriel, Taylor, and Eléna. He considers them to be his most precious people and those who have taught him more than anyone about the undeserved love and amazing grace of Jesus Christ. It’s his honor to be called her husband, and their father.
Email: dannyc@kessidchurch.com
Tel: 360-597-4015
TOM LOVELACE
Pastor Tom has extensive ministry experience with many years of pastoral and eldership roles in leadership, finance and staff development. He is currently serving as Elder and Executive Pastor here at Kessid. His duties include overseeing the Staff, church finances, Elder Board, and Project Manager of our Downtown Project.
In conjunction with serving in ministry, he also has 40 years of business experience. He currently owns and operates a very successful national business franchise, being the largest franchisee in the system, which includes over 80 locations across the United States.
Pastor Tom has been married to his wife, Lisa, for 40 years. He has two children, four grandsons, and two granddaughters. His passion is to serve using the gifts God has given him in leadership, management, and finance. He upholds the values of accountability, transparency and stewardship of God’s resources.
Email: toml@kessidchurch.com
Tel: 360-597-4015
CHRIS POTTER
Chris is one of the founding Pastors of Kessid Church. He is married to his best friend Rebecca and they have two passionate, energetic, and full-hearted sons, Micah and Owen. The fastest way to Chris’ heart is with good coffee, nerdy sports conversations (Go Timbers, Blazers, Seahawks, and Mariners!), or great books and podcasts that lead to growth and deeper connection. He has been in full-time ministry here in the PNW for the last 15+ years and loves exploring all that this area has to offer. Chris graduated from Multnomah University for his Pastoral training, holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Concordia University, and is also a practicing Therapist. His passion in ministry is to help others find their story in God’s grand narrative and in doing so deepen their connection with Jesus, each other, and their purpose.
Email: chrisp@kessidchurch.com
Tel: 360-597-4015
KEITH WALTHER
Keith is locally born, raised and is one of the original Prairie High School Falcons. He is an avid sports enthusiast, superhero fan, and loves board and card games. His love for working with kids started when he was 11 and continues to be huge blessing and focus in his life. Building a strong foundation of Jesus with kids and youth is his passion. He and his wife Lisa have been married for 30 years and have two amazing sons, Corbin and Curtis. Play is such a passion in Keith’s life, and he loves to show the love of Jesus through play, smiles, games, toys, being present, conversations, LEGO and service.
Email: keithw@kessidchurch.com
Tel: 360-597-4015
JOE BORELIS
Joe has lived and grown up all over the West Coast, but he found himself settling in the Pacific Northwest after falling in love with it. He and his wife, Rachel, have two beautiful daughters, Rory and Haven. Joe loves the Seattle Seahawks, comedies, video games, authentic Mexican street tacos, CS Lewis, and anything by Jon Foreman.
Joe has a BS of Science in Biblical Studies and Theology, and Youth Ministry, as well as a MAAT in Applied Theology with a Concentration in Pastoral Leadership from Multnomah University. He has been serving in youth ministry for over a decade and is excited about building a relational ministry that invites teenagers to experience the love of Jesus in their lives through community and shared experiences. He is passionate about youth ministry, as it was in high school where he first encountered the love of Jesus which radically changed his life.
Email: joeb@kessidchurch.com
Tel: 360-597-4015
BERNADEAN SCHELSKE
Bernadean has been with Kessid since the start, and loves serving as our Women’s Ministry Director. She is an avid outdoors woman and enjoys hiking, hunting, and fishing. She is married to her wonderful husband, Gary, and together they enjoy playing with their grandchildren and raising horses, dogs, chickens and a even pair of tortoises. Bernadean thrives by watching women’s lives change through the hard work of authentic relationship, and the awesome love of Jesus Christ.
Email: berns@kessidchurch.com
Tel: 360-597-4015
DAVE CLINTON
Dave was born and raised in Vancouver WA. He married his high school sweetheart, Diane. They have three children, Tyler, Travis, and Tessa, which now have made them Papa and Nana of six grandkids, Coen, Evan, Capri, Josephine, Maylee, Myles, and Tyce. Dave loves to stay active with hiking and mountain bike riding. He found a love for singing over 20 years ago that led him to become a worship pastor. He describes leading worship as not just singing, but a way of life. He believes singing from your soul and directing it towards your Father in heaven is something that shouldn’t be explained, but rather something to be experienced.
Email: davec@kessidchurch.com
Tel: 360-597-4015
CHANDRA GEISEN
Chandra was born in San Diego but has lived in the Pacific Northwest since the age of four. She has been married to her best friend, Kawika for 20 years (officially over half of her life), and together they have five beautiful children: Kaiahna, Makani, Makoa, Makawe, and Kawena. Writing music, enjoying aesthetically beautiful spaces with the people she loves, nurturing indoor plans, sipping on good HOT coffee, and crafting her next tattoo are just a few of her favorite things. God’s creation, and anything the sun or moon touches, is her favorite work of art and loves how He is the ultimate Creative.
Chandra’s interest in music began at a very young age. Her earliest memory is the awe and wonder of the movie, “The Sound of Music.” That interest quickly turned into a passion as she began her journey within the worship ministry at her then local church over 25 years ago. During her time in ministry, she attended and graduated from Bethel Music College.
She’s developed a burning in her heart for people of all walks of life and loves to help others discover their identity in Christ. Worship isn’t just music to Chandra. It is the inexplicable, yet familiar chord that heals, inspires, unifies, and professes our love and adoration for God.
Email: chandrag@kessidchurch.com
Tel: 360-597-4015
KIP GALLIENNE
Kip was born, raised, and spent most of his life in Southern California, where he served in a variety of volunteer ministry opportunities. In 1996, God called him to full-time ministry, during which time he served in pastoral care and counseling at Saddleback Church. Life’s twists and turns led him to go on to work as a psychologist in the California correctional system, retiring in 2019 and moving to the Pacific Northwest to be near his son, daughter, and grandchildren. Kip thought his life was only going to be filled with all the joys and adventures of being a Dad, and Grandpa to his four precious grandkids, but God had other plans! God, by His grace, wisdom, and incredible sense of humor, brought him on staff at Kessid Church, where he is able to fulfill a passion for connecting people with their loving Savior and equipping them to serve in ministry. Kip has been a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ for over fifty years, but believes that the timeline of his life experiences, which have been up, down, and sideways, are a testimony to God’s faithfulness and grace, and a testimony to a Savior Who loves to redeem and restore!
Email: kipg@kessidchurch.com
Tel: 360-597-4015
ALYSSA ATHEY
Alyssa developed her relationship with Jesus at a young age. She began attending Kessid just a few weeks after it launched and has been part of the church ever since, coming on staff in 2016. She loves getting to serve others and Christ through her work.
Alyssa is a graduate of Washington State University (Go Cougs!), which is where she met her husband, Kevin, after she caught a reference he made from “The Office.” They were married in October 2015, and love living here in the Pacific NW with their daughter, Nora, and their dog, Samwise.
You’ll always find her wearing her Seahawks jersey on game-day and will never hear her say no to a cup of coffee.
Email: alyssaa@kessidchurch.com
Tel: 360-597-4015
MONTY WADE
Monty was born and raised in Southern California. She moved up to the Pacific Northwest with her family 13 years ago. Monty has been married to her wonderful husband, Ryan, for 21 years. They have four boys, Koby, Parker, Dominic, and Lincoln. She enjoys living in the Pacific Northwest especially during the fall so she can watch the leaves change color and fall off the trees, something she never experienced living in California. She also appreciates spending time with her family and friends, playing with her pets, and watching TV.
Email: montyw@kessidchurch.com
Tel: 360-597-4015
TRAVIS CLINTON
Travis was born and raised in Vancouver, WA and surrounding area. His love for video began at a young age when he saved up money to buy a camcorder for home movies. Ever since, Travis has had a strong passion for all things creative media and tech. He enjoys being able to work behind the scenes and help achieve the purpose of the church.
Travis met his wife Heidi at a church camp when they were both 16 years old. Together they have 3 kids, Capri, Josie and Tyce. In his free time, he likes to spend time with his family out in nature, playing video games, or working on his cars.
Email: travisc@kessidchurch.com
Tel: 360-597-4015
MELISSA EASTER
Melissa was born in raised in the PNW, and loves rainy fall days. She has been helping in youth ministry for 8 years now, and attending Kessid for 4 years. She was a previously a missionary with YWAM and traveled to countries like Germany, Belgium, France, and The Netherlands to share the gospel. Some of her favorite things are coffee, board games, and traveling. She loves spending time with kids, and one of her dreams is seeing the next generation fall in love with Jesus.
Email: melissae@kessidchurch.com
Tel: 360-597-4015
KAI GEISEN
Born and raised in the PNW, Kai enjoys spending her time outdoors, reading, enjoying a good cup of coffee, or learning about something new. Her family has always been involved in church and has grown up serving in various church ministries, from volunteering with kids to running a camera for services. She is excited to be part of the community here at Kessid!
Email: kaig@kessidchurch.com
Tel: 360-597-4015
MICHAEL CRANDALL
Michael was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. He was saved when he was 16 years old. Jesus radically changed his life and he has been serving Him ever since. Michael went to college for music in Tennessee, played in a couple of bands, and toured around a little bit until moving back to the PNW and started working in ministry. He has been working in full-time ministry for about 13 years. Michael has a passion to see people encounter the love and presence of Jesus and help develop who God has called them to be. In his free time, he loves going to concerts, getaways to the beach, or connecting with people over a coffee or happy hour.
Email: michaelc@kessidchurch.com
Tel: 360-597-4015
KOBY WADE
Koby was born in Anaheim, California, but didn’t live there long as his family moved to Washington when he was eight. He has spent most of his time in the PNW and loves the quiet and beautiful nature here. Koby has a rather large family consisting of only brothers and loves to watch sports and spend time with them. He has been a part of Kessid for 12 years now and has been volunteering in Kessid Kids for 11 years. He loves to come and hang out with the kids every Sunday. He has future plans of one day becoming a Children’s Pastor.
Email: kobyw@kessidchurch.com
Tel: 360-597-4015
ERIN CLINTON
Erin has served in vocational ministry for over 20 years and was on the founding team of Kessid Church. She currently serves behind the scenes on staff doing graphic/web/app design, content writing, and some admin. She is married to, who she thinks is the most hilarious person alive, Pastor Danny. They have been married for almost 25 years now and have three children, Gabriel, Taylor, and Eléna. She is not the typical pastor’s wife as she doesn’t drink soy lattes, run our Women’s/Children’s Ministry, and really doesn’t like any kind of running in general. She enjoys science fiction and playing board and video games. Her passion is to serve Jesus, just as He’s made her, quirkiness and all.
Email: erinc@kessidchurch.com
Tel: 360-597-4015