MINISTRY VISION
Luke 14:12-14
12Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
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To restore dignity and relieve hunger through SHARED MEALS.
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To intentionally LISTEN TO THE STORIES of those who are experiencing homelessness, while looking for opportunities to affirm assets and motivation.
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To ASK those who are homeless about current goals and PRAY FOR EVERY NEED we can.
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To meet critical needs of shelter and clothing through RELATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS.
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To increase our ADVOCACY, AWARENESS, UNDERSTANDING, and LOVE for the homeless in Salem.
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To invite all who join us to SERVANTHOOD and leadership.
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To say NO to VIOLENCE, and YES to making PEACE as a COMMUNITY.
a banquet of love & acceptance for those who need it most
Church@thePark believes that a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace culture enhances our ability to fulfill our mission.
We strive for equality and justice in the way people are treated and the opportunities they have to succeed by working to address racism, unequal treatment and other barriers to inclusion. We strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds (including communities of color, the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, and people with disabilities) to apply and join us in our work. We welcome your resumes even if there is not a position currently available that fits your interest and experience.
LEARN MORE
ABOUT OUR
HISTORY
BUSINESS OFFICE & HR DEPARTMENT: (503) 979-7105
SHELTER INQUIRIES: (971) 375-7491
CCS MICRO SHELTER LOCATION: (503) 507-2144
VILLAGE OF HOPE MICRO SHELTER LOCATION: (503) 507-4992
SAFE PARKING: (503) 979-7054
Josh
[ he / him / his ]
Pastor & Chief Operations Officer
Josh has served youth and families through providing after school opportunities, workforce development and safe family environments across the state. Seeing the unsheltered individuals in our city has motivated him to develop new dignifying, low barrier jobs, and shelters. Reach out to Josh for more about our shelter sites and job opportunities.
DJ
[ he / him / his ]
Founding Pastor &
Chief Executive Officer
Overseer of a beautiful mess. Champion for the vision, partnerships and training of leaders who seek mutual transformations. DJ seeks to develop new leaders, partnerships and resources to free those experiencing homelessness from the bondage of scarcity and invite everyone into a community of abundance.
Sam
[ she / her / hers ]
Housing & Chief
Development Officer
After growing up in Salem and obtaining her MSW at Eastern Washington University, Sam spent 10 years in Spokane developing programs to support people experiencing homelessness. She recently moved back to Oregon with her family and is supporting our case management, outreach, grants and business management teams.
OUR TEAM
John
[ he / him / his ]
Pastor of Community Development
As a Salem native, John finds deep reward in serving our city and inviting all our neighbors to imagine an environment of belonging rooted in kinship and radical mutuality. In his role with Church@thePark, he supports staff development, community partnerships, and outreach initiatives.
Sterling
[ he / him / his ]
Storyteller &
Spiritual Care
Sterling, a University of Oregon graduate with over 15 years experience in Peace Building among marginalized groups, is a Year 2019 Oregon Literary Arts Fellow, year 2020 PEN America Writing for Justice Fellow and an award winning author who believes storytelling is the most beautiful way to dissolve stigma and raise empathy.
Cory
[ he / him / his ]
Communications Curator & Associate Pastor
Cory's role at C@P is to care for people and care for words as a pastoral presence for guests and staff and as a writer. He previously worked as a pastor, teacher, and as a manager for a treatment court program and a program for adjudicated youth.
Andy
[ he / him / his ]
Finance Director
Andy has been involved in faith-based ministries since his days at the University of Oregon, and has spent 30 years working in student ministries. He and his family recently moved to Salem and Andy is looking forward to bringing a mindset of service and stewardship to his role in helping Church@thePark serve and care for unsheltered neighbors in our city.
Melissa
[ she / her / hers ]
Human Resources
Director
Melissa grew up in the Willamette Valley and earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Willamette University. She spent many years working with domestic violence survivors before starting a family and being a stay at home mom and teaching piano lessons. After returning to work, she found her passion in HR and is excited to be working with Church@thePark. Melissa values caring and advocating for our employees who work so diligently to serve our participants and community.
Krystal
[ she / her / hers ]
Executive
Assistant
Krystal is a graduate of Portland State University, where she earned her bachelors degree in Communication Studies. Offering administrative support for our teams and projects, Krystal enjoys building meaningful relationships with those around her and is passionate about helping Church@thePark serve our unhoused neighbors.
Helena
[ she / her / hers ]
Human Resources
Manager
After graduating from Corban University in 2018, Helena hopped into the Salem non-profit sector in human resources, gaining her HR SHRM-CP certification in 2021. Fueled by the desire to create compassionate and inclusive spaces for those unsheltered in our city, Helena joined the C@P team in early 2022. Helena is passionate about caring for Church@thePark's employees well, many of which are those we serve.
Maria
[ she / her / hers ]
Shelter Director
Maria comes to use from Los Angeles, California where she previously worked with individuals with intellectual disabilities. She loves working in the midst of chaos and bringing a sense of unity and peace. Maria is happy to be an empathetic listener to those who need it most.
Elene
[ she / her / hers ]
Project Coordinator
With a background in advocacy and her previous experience working for CASA, Elene is the Shelter Manager for Church@thePark. She continues her passion in social services through being a listening ear and helping to create a safe environment for our guests to shelter and feel accepted.
Matt
[ he / him / his ]
Data & Navigation
Services Director
Matt graduated from Western Oregon University with a Bachelor's in Psychology. He has experience in both case management and program development. Matt is committed to supporting and strengthening the outreach, case management, and health navigation teams at Church@thePark in order to effectively serve those who are most vulnerable in our community.
Roy
[ he / him / his ]
Young Adult Shelter
Manager
A former restaurateur, Roy recently moved to Salem from Los Angeles and is passionate about empathy and efficacy - striving to create an understanding, compassionate, transitional environment for the houseless population in our city.
Thomas
[ he / him / his ]
Safety Team
Manager
Thomas was born and raised in Beaverton, Oregon. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the United States Army and served for nearly six years, but due to injuries sustained during his enlistment, he was medically retired. Thomas returned to the Pacific Northwest where he entered into the world of safety and security. After spending the last few years working for traditional private security companies, he found himself becoming more and more dissatisfied with the role of private security in the community and wanted to do things differently. Thomas packed up his life and moved from Portland to start a new chapter with C@P where he is using his skills to develop C@P's person-centered and trauma informed safety team. Thomas is excited to lead the C@P Safety Team and make a positive impact within the safety and security community in Salem.
Erin
[ she / her / hers ]
Navigation
Services Manager
Erin graduated from Excelsior College in Albany, New York, where she received her Bachelor degree in Health Management. She also has two Graduate Certificates in HealthCare Compliance and Health Informatics. Erin comes to Church@thePark after many years working with developmental disabilities service non-profit organizations in Salem. Erin has a passion for service to others and hopes to help individuals access community resource assistance.
Cheyenne
[ she / her / hers ]
Shelter Operations
Assistant Manager
Cheyenne is a graduate of the University of Oregon, where she earned her bachelor’s of education in Family and Human Services. She is passionate about inviting our unhoused neighbors into meaningful relationships of inclusion and mutual transformation by welcoming all guests and partners of Church@thePark to the banquet of belonging.
Jennifer
[ she / her / hers ]
Village of Hope
Shelter Manager
Jennifer has lived experience which helps her relate to the community we serve. Her passion is in social service work and she has a strong desire to practice empathy and understanding with every person she meets. She was previously in Linn County as a Peer Support supporting individuals who were struggling with their Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and being unhoused. Jennifer strongly believes it is an honor to be able to walk alongside individuals in their own journey.
Christopher
[ he / him / his]
CCS Shelter
Manager
Coming from New England, the land of champions, Chris brings an intent to help create safe and trusting spaces for families. In 2013 he obtained a Bachelor's in Psychology and began his career working as a Case Manager serving families through a community mental health clinic. Fast forward to 2019 Chris has continued his mission here in Oregon where he hopes to have a positive impact on the community of Salem. "All together now!" -The Beatles
Ray
[ he / him / his ]
Organizational Development Consultant
As a leadership coach and DEI consultant, Ray's vision is to see communities where every identity belongs and thrives. He is an active member of local community boards, a facilitator/speaker on DEI concepts and leadership development, and a mentor for the next generation of leaders. Ray holds a bachelor’s degree from Willamette University, focusing on Sociology and American Ethnic Studies, and a master’s in Business from George Fox University.