MEET THE TEAM
EGC Staff
Sarah Blumenshine
Director, Intercultural Ministries
sblumenshine@egc.org
Originally from the Midwest, Sarah has called Michigan, Texas, Germany, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Massachusetts home. In some settings, she was the outsider; in others, she was welcomed in close-knit community. Sarah’s experiences fueled a love for people far from home and family. As Director of Intercultural Ministries, Sarah nurtures relationships with immigrant-led organizations and supports grassroots efforts. She works with churches that desire stronger connections to immigrant-led spaces, coaching them to engage with mutuality and self-awareness. Sarah lives north of Boston with her husband, Josh.
Jane Chun, MDiv
Director of Applied Research
jchun@egc.org
As a second-generation Korean American born and raised in New York City, Jane never dreamed of moving outside of New York until God called her to serve and be planted in the city of Boston. Not knowing what to expect, Jane left her career in NYC and moved to Boston with nothing but a couple of boxes of belongings and a willing heart. Since then, God has led her a long way.
Jane received her M.Div from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and worked in various capacities in non-profit development and research before her time at EGC. As the Director of Applied Research, Jane is passionate about the importance of excellent research as a critical tool to better inform the Church, equip churches and leaders, and empower what's next within the kingdom of God. Outside of research, Jane is a bivocational, next-generation minister at a Korean American church in Greater Boston. She also directs an organization that serves the next generation of the Korean Church of New England. Her prayer is that the emerging generation would encounter the life-changing Jesus who set her free. In her free time, she enjoys jazz on vinyl, coffee, interior design, and basketball.
Liza Cagua-McAllister
Systems Consultant
lcagua-mcallister@egc.org
Seeds of love for Boston lay dormant for Liza Cagua-McAllister upon first arrival in 1983, but they did bloom eventually and powerfully! Jesus captured her heart while she was at Harvard, and after several years in the private sector leading technology initiatives, she joined the urban ministry startup TechMission in 2002. There, she launched tech programs and co-directed a youth worker program, all in partnership with local churches. In 2006, Liza joined EGC as senior program director, then served as assistant director until 2020. Today, Liza focuses on developing EGC’s systems practice—the application of systems thinking and God-inspired discernment to enduring issues in the urban environment alongside Christian leaders working together towards social change. A member of Neighborhood Church of Dorchester, Liza learns about growing up in Jesus every day as a mom, daughter, soul sister, and the love of John's life.
Gregg Detwiler, Rev., DMin, MA
Consultant, Intercultural Ministries and Leadership Development
gdetwiler@egc.org
Before joining EGC in 2001, Gregg served as a church-planting pastor in Boston, a diaspora ministry and missions pastor in a suburban congregation, and a presbyter with the Assemblies of God. Today, Gregg consults with leaders and organizations in intercultural ministries, leadership development, and especially leadership health. Originally from Kansas, Gregg graduated from Evangel University and the AG Seminary. In 2001, he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree in Urban Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Seminary, focusing on diaspora ministry and missions. Gregg and his wife, Rita, have three adult children and one grandchild, and they serve as host parents for international students from China. The Detwilers enjoy taking day trips on their weekly sabbath day.
Katelyn Hannan
Development Manager
khannan@egc.org
Katelyn desires to see God’s shalom in Boston as it is in heaven. She is passionate about encouraging Christians to develop cultural humility as part of discipleship. She is from Huntington, West Virginia, where she attended Marshall University and earned a B.A. in Communication Studies and minors in Greek and Religious Studies. She and her husband, David, studied at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where she earned an M.A. in Religion, with a concentration in Intercultural Studies. Katelyn and David live in Dorchester, Massachusetts, where they attend Neighborhood Church. She also works at Gordon-Conwell’s Boston Campus for Urban Ministerial Education as the #MyFaith Youth Ministry Grant Administrator. Katelyn is an Enneagram One who enjoys being outside, organizing, dancing, and eating ice cream.
Jaronzie Harris
Director, Black Church Vitality Project
jharris@egc.org
Jaronzie Harris is a native of Durham, North Carolina, with deepening roots in Boston. She is a graduate of Emerson College’s Theatre Education program and a current student at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where she is pursuing a Master of Divinity. She is a teacher, playwright, musician, and burgeoning gardener. Her passion and primary body of interest lie in using arts-based methodologies to build models of Christian education and spiritual formation with young people in Afro-diasporic communities.
Sandy Jackson
Office Volunteer
“EGC is my family,” Sandy says. “They have always had a place for me.” Sandy’s relationship with EGC started in the 1970s when she attended an EGC children’s program. In the 1990s, when seizures left her unable to continue her banking job, she began volunteering at EGC. For the past 25 years, she has been a loving presence, helping out in the office and doing what needs to be done. Her most significant contribution, however, is her joyful testimony of God’s goodness in the face of suffering, inspiring us all to keep our eyes on Jesus.
Megan Lietz, MDiv, STM
Founding Director, Race & Christian Community Initiative
mlietz@egc.org
Raised in a rural, white community, Megan never imagined living in the city or working toward racial reconciliation. But God has led her to immerse herself in diverse urban contexts, and she has come to call these communities her own. Megan comes alongside white evangelicals to explore race-related issues from a biblical perspective and walks with them to do the self-work needed for holistic transformation. Her experience lies in discipling white evangelicals through learning and action communities, as well as teaching, training, and coaching.
She holds a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell’s Campus for Urban Ministerial Education and a Master of Sacred Theology from Boston University, where she studied power dynamics in multiracial congregations.
When not at work, Megan serves at Abundant Life Church in Cambridge and enjoys cooking, reading, outdoor exercise, and spending time with her husband and two children in the Codman Square neighborhood of Dorchester, where they live.
Amy Malkemes, MSS, MLSP
Development Director
amalkemes@egc.org
At a very young age, Amy knew two things about her inner passions: she felt called to the city of Boston, and she wanted to help people. This passion grew stronger at Gordon College, where she pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work. It was there that she was first introduced to and experienced the love that Emmanuel Gospel Center has for those struggling with housing insecurity on the streets of Boston.
Amy continued her education at Bryn Mawr College, where she developed skills in nonprofit management and grant writing. She completed an intensive program, earning a Master of Social Service and a Master of Law and Social Policy, while living in West Kensington, Philadelphia, and serving as a youth leader at a missionary-based church. Amy has worked for several non-profits in the greater Boston area over her 25-year career in fundraising, including EGC partners BMA TenPoint, Vision New England, and the Boston Project Ministries.
Outside of work, Amy is a proud wife, Auntie, and Dog Mom. She also serves in hospitality as a member of Calvary Christian Church in Lynnfield. She has a passion for baking and missions and has served in India, Israel, and the Dominican Republic.
Jessica Mason, MA, MDiv
Senior Researcher
jmason@egc.org
Jessica loves to work at the intersection of multiple fields. Her professional experience includes behavioral neuroscience, pastoral ministry, nonprofit leadership, spiritual direction, mobile app development, church revitalization, scientific and developmental editing, systems theory, and applied research. As a “lateral thinker,” Jessica loves to learn and make connections between different fields and insights. EGC has graciously found a way to harness that energy for peaceful purposes! Jessica is one of EGC’s senior researchers and also serves as a thought partner and creative producer for other leaders at EGC. Originally from Canada, Jessica lives in Dorchester with her husband, and they attend Granite City Church in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Caleb McCoy
Content Director
CMccoy@egc.org
Born and raised in Boston, Caleb brings a homegrown passion for the city. As EGC’s Content Director, Caleb works to define and control communication between EGC and its constituents. Caleb graduated from Eastern Nazarene College, where he majored in business management. Having been raised in a musical and ministry-oriented family, Caleb enjoys recording his own original music—a mix of hip-hop, gospel, and R&B.
Elijah Mickelson, MDiv
Director of Communications
emickelson@egc.org
Elijah Mickelson, filmmaker and pastor, is passionate about the intersection of culture and faith. An MDiv graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, ordained since 2006, he has served in pastoral and communication roles in diverse urban environments for the last 14 years. Elijah is also the founder of the Filmmaker Collaborative.
He has directed projects such as Cry Out, Voices of Human Trafficking, and Boston’s Civic Leader Summit. However, his proudest achievements include filming an underwater music video with his two brothers and being the first to fly a drone inside Boston City Hall (with the Mayor’s permission). Elijah and his wife, Stacie, have two beautiful daughters, Eden and Anna.
Stacie Mickelson, MA
Executive Director
smickelson@egc.org
Stacie Mickelson is passionate about helping churches and leaders wrestle with difficult questions. She holds a degree in Women's and Gender Studies from the University of Massachusetts and a Master of Arts in International Development and Social Change from Clark University. With her husband, Elijah, Stacie lives in Jamaica Plain, where they are teaching their daughters, Eden and Anna, to climb things, love Jesus, and roar like lions.
Rudy Mitchell, MDiv
Senior Researcher, Applied Research & Consulting
rmitchell@egc.org
Rudy Mitchell has been researching Boston’s neighborhoods, churches, people groups, and community issues since 1976. A graduate of Cornell University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, earning an MDiv in 1974, Rudy served many years as an adjunct professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Boston. He enjoys studying the history of Boston and its churches, producing numerous research studies and projects for EGC, including The Boston Church Directory, New England’s Book of Acts, Christianity in Boston, and much more. Rudy and his wife, Sara, have two adult children and three grandchildren. They live in Boston, where he raises amazing tomatoes.
Saranya Sathananthan
Researcher in Residence
ssathananthan@egc.org
Saranya brings her passion for community building to the various roles she has held at EGC. As a Researcher in Residence, she now explores how churches can optimize their spaces for missional impact, community vitality, and long-term sustainability. She hopes to ignite new possibilities for houses of worship in the city and strengthen the ties between faith, service, and urban development through the power of collaboration.
Saranya finds joy in being a resident of Dorchester, where she hosts people in her home, enjoys the local spots, and participates in community life in the neighborhood. She relishes in the diverse tapestry of people, cultures, and cuisines, celebrating the beauty and richness they bring to her life daily.
Christina Thomas
Admin Manager
cthomas@egc.org
Christina was born and raised in New York City, and though she loves where she grew up, she has developed a huge heart for the city of Boston (something she would never admit to native New Yorkers). She has a degree in civil engineering from Cornell University but felt called to pursue full-time ministry right after graduation. She has had the honor of ministering to students at Cornell, MIT, Harvard, and Tufts. She is now incredibly excited to apply some of her problem-solving prowess to help EGC move forward in its mission and vision of bringing God's shalom to communities in Boston. In her free time, you'll most likely find Christina hanging out at a local coffee shop, attempting to reach genius level on the daily NYT Spelling Bee, capturing beautiful images on her Nikon, or creating content for the friendship podcast she co-hosts, "Beans & Bros."
Andrew Tsou
Culture & Collaboration Initiatives, Applied Research & Consulting
atsou@egc.org
When not working in supply chain and engineering roles with a local defense contractor, Andrew works part-time with the Community & Culture team at EGC to nurture a culture that helps EGC achieve its organizational mission. He enjoys cross-functional collaboration and making sense of the “big picture” in pursuit of common goals. He enjoys hiking in the mountains, playing guitar, and writing in his spare time.
Hanno van der Bijl, MDiv
Managing Editor, Applied Research & Consulting
hvanderbijl@egc.org
Hanno helps shape and create research-story content, providing editorial oversight of a range of communications materials. After graduating with a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 2010, he taught English as a foreign language in Boston and worked as an editor and reporter in Alabama. Hanno and his wife, Lauren, have three children.
Dana Wade, MA
Senior Grants Manager
dwade@egc.org
Dana Wade has served on EGC’s Development Team since 2002, assisting with fundraising, special events, and communications. She served on EGC’s Board for about eight years prior to joining the staff. Dana previously worked at John Hancock Financial Services for 20 years, mainly in the Community Relations department, where she developed a deep appreciation for the vital work non-profit organizations do. Dana’s collection of Coke cans from around the world attests to her love for traveling. She also enjoys reading, doing puzzles, and hanging out with friends.
Ruth Wong, MEd
Director, Boston Education Collaborative
rwong@egc.org
A former high school physics teacher, Ruth directs the Boston Education Collaborative to support, convene, and mobilize churches and leaders as they seek to empower underserved urban students with the education they need for transformation—in their lives and in their communities. Passionate about creating learning communities for churches and leaders across racial, socio-economic, and denominational lines, Ruth collaborates with the Boston Public Schools to foster partnerships between schools and faith-based institutions. Ruth teaches at an engineering program at MIT every summer for high school students. She enjoys watching sports, reconnecting with her Asian roots, and traveling with her husband, Regan.
Michael Zouzoua
Director of Finance
mzouzoua@egc.org
Michael is a Christian, a seasoned non-profit executive with over 20 years of experience in financial management, particularly in the non-profit sector. A native of the Ivory Coast, West Africa, he has two children: one is a professional basketball player, and the other serves in the U.S. Navy. Michael is a graduate of Northeastern University.
What drew Michael to EGC is the close resemblance between the organization's work and his personal story. Five days after he was born, his father passed away. His community saw this as a bad omen, and he and his mother were shunned. Without a place or a country to escape to, he faced the harsh reality of growing up homeless. Had it not been for the help he received from an elderly man who was a total stranger, he would not be here today. Because of that experience, he has devoted himself to helping and making a difference in people’s lives. The charitable work of non-profit organizations has been part of his DNA.
Emeritus
Jeff Bass
Senior Advisor
jmbass617@gmail.com
Jeff loves helping Christian leaders turn their ministry visions into reality, a process he likes to call “landing planes.” He holds a degree in civil engineering from Princeton University and began his career as a consultant for Arthur D. Little, Inc. But, in 1987, he left to become the administrative manager of Ruggles Baptist Church. While at Ruggles, Jeff joined the EGC board, and in 1991, he was invited to join the staff as an assistant director to Doug Hall. In 1999, Jeff became EGC’s executive director and served for 25 years. Jeff is an avid tennis and paddle tennis player. He and his wife, Ellen, built a house on Mission Hill in 1986, where they raised their two boys, and now they enjoy visiting their three mercurial grandchildren whenever they can.
Dr. Doug and Judy Hall
Consultants in Living System Ministry
judyhallboston@gmail.com
For 50 years, Doug and Judy Hall served as leaders of EGC, retiring in 2014. They also taught urban ministry classes for four decades at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, starting in 1973. The wisdom the Halls gained through their extensive urban ministry experience is presented in their 2010 book, The Cat and the Toaster: Living System Ministry in a Technological Age. Because the Halls are passionate about the potential of Christianity to grow in every city as a living system, they often meet for private consultations with leaders wanting to learn more. The Halls have two adult children and three grandchildren.