Fellowship with Staff in Geneva

We will have a time of fellowship in Geneva with coffee, cocoa, and donuts during Equipping Time on August 28. We won’t have Immerse or Word on Sunday Adult Ed. that week, so let’s enjoy some time socializing and getting to know one another!

We would also like to use this time to celebrate and thank our outgoing staff members, Chris Nichols, Chris Thurton, Cameron & Sarah Smith, Susanna Hoke, and Hava Skovron. We will miss these wonderful coworkers and all that they bring to ministry at UPC, but we also celebrate what God is doing in each of their lives and our joy in launching them into their next season of ministry. We’re also excited to welcome two new staff members, Arden Edward and Anna Carlson.

Outgoing Staff:

Chris Nichols is retiring and looking forward to spending more time with family, especially the grandkids. We are making progress on hiring a new Executive Director of Ministry and have engaged experts to find the right person for this important role.

Sarah and Cameron Smith are taking what they learned at UPC and going to seminary at Regent College to further their ministry education.

Chris Thurton is discerning his next call to ministry after ten years in college ministry. Our new Associate Director of University Ministry, Arden Edward, started this week (See above).

Susanna Hoke will shift her weight to become the Campus Pastor at King’s Schools in Shoreline. Susanna isn’t going anywhere! She will continue in ministry at UPC in a volunteer capacity — continuing to facilitate Immerse on Sundays. We are excited for Susanna as she will have the opportunity to lean into the faith development of K-12 students more intensely, and she will continue in ministry at UPC, modeling how volunteers can and should participate fully in the ministry of the church.

Hava Skovron has accepted the role of Design Director at Crista Ministries. She will oversee design for all the CRISTA family of ministries, including King’s Schools, CRISTA Camps, CRISTA Media, and World Concern. We’re extremely proud of Hava in this natural move forward in her design career.

We are truly excited to launch each of these friends and coworkers into God’s hands as he forms and shapes them to do his work. And we eagerly anticipate those who God will send to UPC to lead, grow, and be formed as disciples as we work together in the upcoming seasons.

New Staff:

Arden Edward | Associate Director of University Ministries

Arden is originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, and graduated from Seattle Pacific University, where she majored in Exercise Science and played on the women’s soccer team. For the past seven years, Arden has served in various roles on the Fellowship of Christian Athletes staff team, most recently as the Seattle Collegiate Director. She is passionate about equipping college student leaders, discipleship, and good food! Arden and her Husband Chris live in Kirkland with their dog Koda and enjoy going on walks.

Anna Carlson | Ministry Coordinator for Youth Ministries

Anna  (pronounced Ah-na) learned about this role through the UPC young adult group. As the Youth Coordinator, she will organize volunteer teams to serve middle and high school students, plan programming and retreats/events, meet with youth for coffee or to attend their games, and work closely with Jill. Anna is outgoing and friendly, organized, has a vibrant faith, has experience leading and managing volunteer teams, has experience leading worship, and is excited about this new role!