Pastors Forrest & Christina Beiser

Raised in a minister’s home in Santa Cruz, California, Forrest graduated Bethany University (formerly Glad Tidings Bible Institute – founded/housed here in SF on our current campus).  It was there that he met Christina, his wife. He then continued his education at Wheaton Graduate School near Chicago.  Christina, a San Francisco native, spent 2 ½ years at Bethany before transferring to Fresno State. In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, Christina uses her gifts at GT in coordination of small groups, counseling, & organizing fund raising for under resourced groups and people.

After Forrest and Christina served on the staff of Vallejo’s Church on the Hill, they invested 6 ½ years as foreign missionaries in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), West Africa. They primarily supported refugees displaced by the Liberian Civil War.  During this time they were also instrumental in planting 5 churches, training new believers, establishing relief ministries, as well as founding a Christian School.

In 1994 Forrest and Christina moved home to San Francisco.

Their favorites:

• Just being in SF [they call it the most beautiful city in the world]

• Walks on SF’s great beaches or Golden Gate Park

• Discovering new restaurants for great food

• Movies [both of us love PBS “period movies”]

• Time with family and friends.

Forrest & Christina have a style that is open, caring, & passionate. In their work in SF they are committed to:
• Calling people to life

• Sharing the message that GOD loves you no matter what

• A pursuit of GOD that leads us into our best life

• Establishing an enduring, powerful, & encouraging church

Together GT is learning how to find relevant ways to make a difference in SF by living the “life to the fullest” Jesus spoke about in John 10:10.

 

WORSHIP

LEADERS & MINISTER OF FINE ARTS

Katie & Tim Gavigan

PASTORS TIM & KATIE GAVIGAN

Tim and Katie were both born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Catholic families.  Tim had trouble reconciling life’s realities with the God of his upbringing, and so turned to other world religions, hoping to find a spiritual match for the longing in his soul. It wasn’t until his mid-twenties that he slowly became convinced that the God of the Bible was the fulfillment of all his heart’s longings. It was during this time that he met Katie, who was also looking to make God a more central part of her life.

Tim joined the Glad Tidings staff in 2001. Tim and Katie can’t imagine living anywhere else in the United States. Tim loves all San Francisco trivia (ask him and he’ll tell you where the oldest buildings in the City are located!). He especially loves the Presidio, cherry blossoms, and Victorian architecture. Katie loves the year-round flowers, the sunny days, and the Bay Area’s breathtaking views.  He and Katie never cease to be thankful for the diversity of culture, lifestyle, and cuisine (Thai food, anyone?) that the Fillmore, Hayes Valley, Pacific Heights, and yes, the Tenderloin has to offer.

They are so thrilled about the quality of relationships that are forming within the Glad Tidings community, and passionately convinced that through these relationships, San Franciscans will get a glimpse of the truth that God has designed each one of them for a life of purpose, meaning, and hope. Their imaginations are bursting with wonder at what San Francisco might begin to look like as more and more people begin to live in these life-giving relationships.

Katie and Tim love to wrestle out life’s most important questions with people who are looking to live the fullest kind of lives. Together we keep finding that people are most fulfilled when they live their lives for God’s purposes – to see His dreams come true for the world.

Some of Tim and Katie’s favorites:

• Store: Borders Books, World Market

• Movie: International-themed, Pride and Prejudice

• Food: Tawan’s (Thai), Rotee (Indian)

• SF District: North Beach, Noe Valley

 

STUDENT MINISTRIES

PASTORS ANDREA AND ISAIAH BEISER

Son of pastors Forrest and Christina, Isaiah was raised in a healthy home and watched his parents work in Africa and San Francisco.  Isaiah was not born in west Africa but was raised there. During Isaiah’s third year in high school, he received a calling from God to be a youth pastor and to follow God with all of his heart. After finishing high school in California, Isaiah began attending Central Bible College in Missouri in order to become a youth minister. He met Andrea at CBC.

Andrea and Isaiah were married recently and their combined ministry [both trained at CBC] provides GT Youth with a powerful team.

Fresh off of the learning field, Isaiah and Andrea bring a current, relevant, and real message of Jesus to San Francisco’s youth. They love to hang out with youth and build relationships with them. Here are some of their favorite things to do:

• Food: anything and everything!

• San Francisco Spot: Westfield/Union Square

• Activities: movies, playing soccer and basketball, skiing, shopping, music, whatever youth are up to!

• Favorite “chill” Spots: Dome of Westfield, Catacombs, Ocean beach, Stonestown

Isaiah’s dream is that San Francisco’s youth come to know the love of Jesus, and his purpose for their lives. He hopes that GT would be the epicenter for a great and powerful youth movement, and a place that youth will always want to come too.

CHURCH FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT

VIRGINIA EIDMAN

Virginia and Walter were raised on or near Native American

Reservations here in Northern California. They have 3 children.

The Eidmans have worked alongside the Beisers since the 1990s and agreed

to follow the Beisers to GT where for the past 12 years and have

worked in many arenas from fund raising to construction. They have been a tremendous

help on many levels in our growth.

Virginia is a recent graduate of Glad Tidings Bible Institute [she encourages everyone

to take a class on Tuesday nights!] She believes that God is looking for ordinary people

who are willing to be available to help make a difference in San Francisco. “It is our heart’s

desire that everyone in San Francisco would know just how much God really loves them.”

Their Favorites:

• Missions Trips to anywhere in the world.
• Playing Tourist Guide in San Francisco when friends come to town.
• Eating Chinese food.
• Sailing on the San Francisco Bay.

 

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

CRYSTAL MARTINEZ

CRYSTAL is a native Californian and a great asset to the GT Leadership Team.  Her plans and vision are reshaping the entire Children’s Department at GT.  She brings to GT a fresh vision is to train children to follow JESUS as their friend and learn to live for him on every level.

She is the wife of Kevin and the mother of 4 of her own children.

The entire family attended GT during Kevin’s time in residency at a local hospital.  After this they moved down to LA.  A year later they felt, specifically, that GOD wanted them back at GT and so they relocated by to San Francisco.

God is putting the right people in place for GT’s forward movement.  GET READY!  The children are in for major upgrades as the multiplication of GT continues.

 

ASHLEY BLANCO

Ashley is very privaleged to serve at GT in the capacity of elementary school aged coordnator. She also serves as a girl’s case manager in Bay view/Hunters Point. Ashley is a San Francisco native and has been a member of GT sense August 2009. She holds  BA is in Psychology from Howard University and a Masters in Urban Education fro Brown University. Ashley aims to transmit the love she has for Christ through relationship building with GT Powerkidz and their families.

SENIOR ADULT MINISTRIES

PASTOR CATHERINE AVENEL

Catherine was born in Canada and raised in a large family who remain close to this day. As an adult she moved to the warmer climate of California and began raising her 2 boys. Although she began helping at GT in 2000, she later join the GT Leadership Team.

She has played an active role in Senior’s Ministry. The primary component of this is a weekly study at a local Senior Care Facility.

This is currently expanding to another facility due to the success she is experiencing.

She also helps with Visitation Work and discipleship at GT, and teaches at the adult level training believers in their faith. She is a great Bible communicator and has an active role in walking people through their painful pasts and into full life in Christ.

 

PASTOR MIKE FONDANOVA/Sunday Services and Administration

A Southern California native and graduate of UC Santa Barbara, Mike left his career in finance to pursue a life-long call to the ministry.  He has become a valuable asset to Pastor Forrest’s restructure of our administration process.

He also helps lead Energize, our Junior High ministry.

Mike is a servant and loves to worship.

He enjoys walking in The City, movies, friends and family.

 

Enrique Rosales

 

PASTOR ENRIQUE ROSALES

City Lights and Staff Coodinator

Enrique moved to the USA  from El Salvador 8 years ago.  No matter how difficult the challenge, Enrique’s attitude is ‘let me try’.  As a result, he has quickly become irreplaceable in our ongoing facility upgrades and modification projects.He also helps lead PowerKids, our children’s community. He has a soft heart and enjoys working outside. He enjoys swimming, the TV series “Westwing,”  and on his days off loves to drive along the local coastlines.

 

 

 

JOSHUA AZUCENA/Energize [Junior High]

A native San Franciscan Joshua comes to GT from a Bible School Training Center in El Salvador.  He’s excited about the growth in the youth and children’s departments and spends his days keeping GT moving forward. He loves to laugh, can be seen often at GT connecting with youth, and has a heart to see people find their chief delight in GOD. His favorite foods: Carne Asada, Pupusas. His favorite San Francisco Spot: The Golden Gate Bridge.

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KEN HODGES/inVision [College and Beyond]

Ken has lived in San Francisco for a total of 5 years.  He has gone from working in shipyards to feeling called to full-time ministry.  Ken has been at GT since 2008 and an intern since 2010.  He is excited about making people feel welcome at GT and loves getting to know them!

 

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LISA HOLCOMB/

UnderGround [Senior High]

Born in Staten Island, NY. Lisa came out to San Francisco for art school nearly 10 years ago. Throughout her time here she has been given passion for the arts and ministry. Lisa has been as GT for six years and loves working with children, has a heart for college-aged students and missions.

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VALONNA FOWLER/City Lights [Adult Group]

Raised in the Midwest, Valonna answered God’s call to San Francisco in 2006, where she “stumbled” into GT.  Since becoming an intern in 2010, she has fallen more in love with the people of this city and GT, enjoying working with women’s and youth ministries.

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MARY DORAN

UnderGround [Senior High]

Mary moved to SF in 2006 and immediately made GT her home church.  She loves meeting people from all over the world and quickly developed a heart for relationships and community.  Since becoming an intern in 2010, she has realized that her heart was being prepared for ministry and serving.  Mary can’t imagine being anywhere else and is excited to be a part of what is happening at GT!

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AMANDA WEISS

UnderGround [Senior High]

Amanda grew up around the Midwest, and moved around a lot. She moved to San Francisco in 2008 and immediately found GT and loves it here. She is excited about serving at GT in any way that she can. She loves dancing, talking, and in general just having fun!