Some of Our Team
Because of Jesus, we have been adopted into God's family (Romans 8). God is the perfect dad and we are his children. He loves us. He's in charge. And we bear his name. The Bible teaches that one of the ways God orders his household is to give responsibility to some of the elder brothers to care for, protect and guide the family as ones among them. Below you'll see some of our team who get to lead in this way as elders.
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Abe MeysenburgAfter living in the Midwest for most of their lives, Abe and his wife Jenn moved to Tacoma in the summer of 1999. They love the Northwest (40 degrees and rainy beats subzero any day!), and especially Tacoma. In 2001, after working as a Starbucks manager for a few years, Abe helped start The Sound Community Church, which then became a part of Soma Communities in May 2007. Abe leads a Missional Community and the 6th Ave Expression of Soma, and he oversees the work we do all across Soma to bring the gospel to bear on marriages, raising children and counseling. He and Jenn have four children, who always keep them busy, and sometimes keep them up at night: Abigail, Julia, Luke, and Noah. abe [at] somacommunities.org |
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Caesar KalinowskiCaesar is a spiritual entrepreneur and an avid storyteller. His background includes communications, media production, working with youth, and extensive travel in international missions. He has worked in over 15 countries around the world including Sierra Leone, Sudan, Nigeria, Burma, India and the Czech Republic. Before moving to Tacoma in 2004 to help launch Soma, Caesar and his wife owned and operated several businesses in and around the Chicagoland area. At any given moment Caesar is starting a new Missional Community and handing over another to a new leader. He's one of the elders in the Hilltop Expression, leads the charge for international missions and helps oversee a lot of the structures and systems we need to keep a big family organized. He has been married to Tina, his high school sweetheart for over 25 years; they have three children: Caesar, Christin and Justine. caesar [at] somacommunities.org | twitter |
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Jeff VandersteltJeff is a leader of leaders and a coach and trainer for church planters. His background includes music, business management, working with youth, training youth workers in North America and Europe and starting new churches. Jeff moved to Tacoma from Chicago with his wife Jayne to begin planting Soma. Jeff leads a Missional Community and the Downtown Expression, and he serves all of Soma in the areas of vision and teaching. Jeff is also on the Board of Acts 29, a church planting network. Jeff and Jayne have been married over 15 years and have 3 kids: Haylee, Caleb and Maggie. He loves watching movies that make you reconsider your worldview about what really matters. |
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Jeff WallJeff sells drugs for a living (it's all legal, he's a pharmacist). He's a Washington State grad, business owner, and one of those guys who seems to know everyone in town. He is truly a pastor and shepherd in our family. jeffw [at] somacommunities.org |
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Justin KuravackalJustin is a jack-of-all-trades ("...and master of none," he says). In just 8 years as a teacher, he taught either art, reading, history, economics, computer science or computer literacy to students at every grade-level from preschool to high school and got to train teachers as well. He has worked in educational new media at the Museum of Glass and has run a small web design firm. Justin leads a Missional Community and is an elder in the Westbeach Expression of Soma. He also oversees communications, technology and training for all of Soma. He and his wife, Kate, moved back to her hometown of Tacoma in 2004 after living in Caracas, Venezuela. They have 2 amazing kids: Zoe and Nathan. justin [at] somacommunities.org | twitter |
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Ken MeslerKen is a warrior with a soft heart for Jesus. His background includes 8 years of active duty as a U.S. Army paratrooper with tours in Panama and Iraq. He currently works as a security specialist. Ken leads a Missional Community and is an elder in the Southcenter Expression of Soma. He is married to Jennifer, "an answer to prayer and perfect helper." His son KC lives nearby, and his daughter Jami, son-in-law Matt and grandson Jared live in Tennessee. ken [at] somacommunities.org |
