Meet Our Cohort Leaders

These leaders facilitate the way people find community at Sideris and serve our city.

 NORTH BALLARD

TuesdayS @ 6pm

Scott & Claire Nellesen

Where are you from & how long have you been in Seattle?
We are from the Chicago suburbs and have been in Seattle since 2010.

How did Sideris become home for you?
We heard about Sideris from friends. After several months of looking for a new church, we both felt called to become members at Sideris because of its commitment to the Word, engagement in Seattle, and intentionality in relationships.

Why is considering in community important?
What I know about faith and God's Word is so much deeper because of conversations with others. Without other's perspectives there's so many important things we’d never be challenged to think about, and so many important things we'd never be challenged to do.

What is your favorite restaurant or coffee shop in your neighborhood?
Rosellini's bakery - order the kouign-amann!

LINCTON SPRINGS (NORTHGATE)

Tuesdays @ 6:30pm

Mukee & Lina Chung

Where are you from & how long have you been in Seattle? Lina was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, and has been living in Seattle since 2007 when she attended college at UW. Mukee was born in Seoul, South Korea. My family moved to Seattle when I was 10 years old and I have been living here since then.

How did Sideris become home for you? After some time in the spiritual wilderness, Lina and I decided it was time to consider Jesus. We tried a few different churches and landed at Sideris where we felt welcomed and easily connected.

Why is considering in community important? "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:23-25

What is your favorite restaurant or coffee shop in your neighborhood? We live on Mercer Island, but in South Seattle, we like Tammy's Deli & Bakery.

NORTH FREMONT

TuesdayS @ 6:45pm

Allie & Dave Evanger

Where are you from & how long have you been in Seattle? Allie and Dave were both born and raised in the Seattle area and met in 2009 when Dave was promoting the Consider Concert. We dated while studying nursing (Allie) and theology (Dave) in Denver. We got married and then moved back to Seattle in 2013.

How did Sideris become home for you? Well we were a part of the launch team and helped lead from it’s inception ;)

What is your favorite restaurant or coffee shop in your neighborhood? We love to frequent Uneeda Burger and Pecado Bueno on Fremont Ave.

WALLINGFORD (VAN HERK)

TUESDAYS @ 7pm

Tom & Grace van Herk

Where are you from & how long have you been in Seattle? Tom is from the Netherlands but spent the majority of his adult life (~11 years) in Switzerland, where he met Grace. Grace grew up on Whidbey Island (30 minutes North of Seattle) and after spending 6 years in Switzerland, moved back with Tom and (now) 3-year-old son Jonathan in March 2020.

How did Sideris become home for you? We wanted to find a church near our place that felt like home and was full of people with whom we could become close friends. We appreciate that it is a fun church that doesn't take itself too seriously but does take the Gospel and loving others seriously. We like that people at Sideris have very diverse backgrounds!

Why is considering in community important? We have all been imparted insights into scripture and into God's heart through the Holy Spirit, and when we can share and reflect on these experiences together, we all have a richer image of who God is, and this helps us draw closer to Him.

What is your favorite restaurant or coffee shop in your neighborhood? Ah, we don't get out much these days, haha, but we really do love Frelard Tamales on Latona. Always a crowd-pleaser, always delicious.

Ty-Lene Cook

Where are you from & how long have you been in Seattle? Malaysia; I moved to Seattle in 2021 due to the pandemic.

How did Sideris become home for you? I moved into an apartment down the street and googled “churches”. I didn’t own a car. So I needed something walkable ;)

Why is considering in community important? I know I cannot do this Christian life alone. So I love hearing the wisdom of others and praying together.

What is your favorite restaurant or coffee shop in your neighborhood? I love Thai and Malaysian food wherever I can find it! But seriously, Young-Bin makes the best dumplings!

GREEN LAKE

Wednesdays @ 5:30pm

TANGLETOWN

WednesdayS @ 7pm

Amanda Campbell

Where are you from & how long have you been in Seattle? I grew up in Woodinville, went to college in California but have spent the better part of the last decade on the East Coast. I returned to Seattle about 2 years ago.

How did Sideris become home for you? I have a sister who no longer shares my last name, but she’s pretty involved and invited me to check out Sideris. I’ve got to admit that she was right… I loved it.

Why is considering in community important? My profession is as a lawyer and so I find justice and the discovery of truth to be very important to life and society. I’ve found that true truth is best discovered through a community that presses into the revealed truth of Christ in the Scriptures.

Abi Lutes

Where are you from & how long have you been in Seattle? I was born and raised in the midwest and am originally from Ohio. I moved out here 5 years ago to work for Amazon. Though I'm no longer at Amazon, I love Seattle and it has become home!

How did Sideris become home for you?  I like to say it happened by accident (thought the Lord knew what he was doing). A close friend of mine was looking for a new church and wanted to visit and invited me because "it's in your neighborhood". I was so struck that first Sunday and then kept visiting and eventually made Sideris home.

Why is considering in community important? We are not meant to do life alone. Community is so special because it is not only a way that you can feel God's love for you and serve those around you, but a way for others to teach you about God. You learn new ways of seeing and being with God through the unique lenses of your brothers and sisters. We are all unique and we get a fuller picture of God when we get to glimpse Him through one another.

What is your favorite restaurant or coffee shop in your neighborhood? I'm hesitant to reveal this because I like never having to wait for a table... but Blue Star Cafe in Wallingford! Try the scone!

SHORELINE

Thursdays @ 6:30pm

Joseph & Brianna Cox

Where are you from & how long have you been in Seattle? Joseph: I grew up in Katy TX and moved to the Seattle area in 2016.

Brianna: I am from Lynnwood Washington, just north of Seattle, but never technically lived in a Seattle zip code until we got married in 2019.

How did Sideris become home for you? Joseph: I found Sideris shortly after moving to the Wallingford area and doing a Google search for churches nearby. I originally thought it said Sliders Church and I went partially because I wondered why it was named after small hamburgers! I loved the passion for God's word and the welcoming community and after a few weeks I began calling it my church home.

Brianna: I started attending Sideris while we were dating. I also appreciated the engaging community and depth of teaching.

Why is considering in community important? We have found that discussing God in community has been really helpful for spiritual growth.  It gives us an opportunity to learn from one another and helps us develop a more complete picture of what God's word is saying.  It's also very encouraging to hear how God is moving in each other's lives and gives us an opportunity to encourage and build up one another in Christ.

PHINNEY RIDGE

THURSDAYS @ 6:45pm

Ryan & Christiana Farrell

Where are you from & how long have you been in Seattle? I (Ryan) was born and raised in Denver, CO and my wife Christy grew up in Albuquerque, NM. We met at the University of Colorado-Boulder and kinda fell in love (fun story, ask us). Upon completion of my physics degree, I attended Denver Seminary and then worked at a church in downtown Denver. Christy and I spent 7 years living downtown where our daughters Lucy and Penny were both born (now we have three girls, as Viviana was born here in Seattle).

How did Sideris become home for you? During our time in Denver, God grew within us a desire to work to put new churches in the urban centers of the country. Dave & Allie were close friends of ours in Denver, and we even led a community group together. The Evangers had always “suggested” that we think about joining them in Seattle to help them lead a “church-sized” community group...
Well, eventually, we caved!

Why is considering in community important? This is something we are VERY passionate about and if you really want to know my answer email me at ryan@siderischurch.com and we can talk about it over a cup of coffee or a glass of beer!

Meet Our Cohort Leaders

These leaders facilitate how people find community at Sideris and serve our city.

KIRKLAND

THURSDAYS @ 7:30pm

Ben & Caitlyn Thompson

Where are you from & how long have you been in Seattle?
My wife Caitlin and I both grew up in Oregon before coming to Seattle Pacific University for college. We’ve both been to a few other places but the Pacific Northwest will always feel like home.

How did Sideris become home for you?
When we moved back to Seattle in 2016 a friend invited us to check out Sideris. We felt welcomed right away and were impressed with the vision and mission of the church. It immediately felt like home and we love helping others find a home in the city as well.

Why is considering in community important?
My greatest growth as a Christian has always come in community, as I've learned from others, and been able to serve others as well. Taking the time to consider the gospel requires me to check my assumptions, while also providing encouragement during difficult times.

What is your favorite restaurant or coffee shop in your neighborhood?
Ask us in when you see us at church!

Kurt & Augusta DeVries

Where are you from & how long have you been in Seattle? We’ve been in the Seattle area since 2013 and were married shortly after in 2014 by Pastor Dave. (Time really flies). Kurt hails from Spokane and landed in Seattle after his time at WWU. Augusta is a Wisconsinite: once a Badger, always a Badger, and moved here from the Denver area for a boy (Kurt), and the rest is history.

How did Sideris become home for you? The Lord had his hand on us from the moment we met, and we truly believe He led us to help plant Sideris for His glory. We’ve always felt welcome by and trusted in the people around us, but home came from the nudge to return over and over - and now they are stuck with us.

Why is considering in community important? We were never meant to wrestle with some of life’s most important questions alone. The times we’ve tried were lonely and unfulfilling, and the highs were fleeting. Sideris is a safe, welcoming space to ask questions and grow in faith and knowledge of Christ and God’s plan to redeem His people - even us. In community, we get to share in that good news and learn from others’ walks with God. As transplants to this area, we love helping people find a new forever family through the community of Christ.