Christel Arslanian - Journey Kidz Director & College Director
Hi, my name is Christel and I get the pleasure of leading and overseeing the children's ministry of our church, as the Journey Kidz Director. I love working with children of all ages and also leading the amazing volunteers I serve alongside with. In addition to Journey Kidz, I also am the College Director at The Journey! That involves leading our College Growth Group leaders, planning fun events, outreach and seeing that the students in our church are growing in their faith and sharing God's love at campuses all over the NY Metro area. I'm passionate in seeing others become followers of Jesus and encouraging them in their faith and walk with Him.
Contact me if you would like more information on Journey Kidz (programming or volunteering), our College ministry, or serving with the Super Service Monday Team!
BASIC STUFF:
I grew up in Brockport NY, a small town outside of Rochester NY, where going to the grocery store meant seeing at least 5 people you knew. After visiting NYC in high school, I decided to come here for college, and in 2004 my freshmen year of college I found The Journey. It was the summer before my senior year I figured out that God was calling me into Ministry and that the plans I had for myself had totally changed. I came on PT at The Journey working with Journey Kidz, and in the summer of 2008 I came on FT!
Visit me on facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/christelarslanian
BIRTHDAY: January 22, 1986
EDUCATION: BS in Advertising Communications with an Art concentration at St. John's University in Queens NY.
Interests and Favorites
- Places: Rochester & NYC. I'm simple :)
- What's on your iPod: Hillsong United, Bethany Dillon, Chris Tomlin, Shawn McDonald, One Republic, The Fray, Muse, Marc Broussard, Ernie Halter, Michael Buble....
- Books: The B-I-B-L-E! Screwtape Letters, Love Languages of God, Blue Like Jazz, Purpose Driven Life, Leadership & Discipleship books.
- What do you TiVo: The Office, Project Runway, anything on TLC or the History Channel.
- Sport Teams: Let's go Buff-a-loooo! As an alumni, I root for the RedStorm!
- Movies: Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Little Manhattan, Lord of the Rings, Home Alone 1&2 (you can never get enough of kevin!), Disney classics...
- Hobbies: Artsy stuff, meeting new people, going to coffee shops with great friends, parks in NYC, Wegmans, movies, exploring new places, camping & road trips, encouraging/mentoring others...
- Dislikes: Crowded Subways, materialism, the smell of fish and gas prices.
- Odd Facts: Both of my parents were born outside of the US - my mom in Germany and my dad in Lebanon (where he lived for over 20 years). I have yet to make it to either country...
- Life Scripture: "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" - Galatians 5:6
Wayne Burton - Jersey City Pastor of Worship Arts
Hi, I am Wayne Burton, Jersey City Pastor of Worship Arts. I am responsible for anything music, arts, or production related to our Jersey city campus. I also am the Music Director at The Journey. I help prepare our music each week and oversee all of our great musicians here at The Journey.
BASIC STUFF:
My Wife Erin and I were married on June 2, 2007. I grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, and my wife grew up in Brockport, NY. We’re basically this hodgepodge of North meets South, so in our house there’s always sweet tea and, um, whatever else they eat in Upstate NY. We moved to New York in May of 2008.
I am passionate about people having a deep and full relationship with Christ. I believe that God is a creative God and I want to use my life to display His creativity through music and the arts. I love being around many different cultures and feel more at home when I am not in a culture of my own. Erin and I have spent time in overseas missions and I’ve been blessed to spend time in Hong Kong & Indonesia.
I play Piano, Trombone, and 5 chords on the guitar. I’m working right now on the Accordion, and the pursuit of different sounding instruments. I’ve also lived in Nashville, Rhode Island, and North Carolina.
BIRTHDAY: August 25
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Music, Belmont University
Interests and Favorites
- Places: Smokey Mountains, Hong Kong, Beavertail State Park, anywhere with water.
- What's on your iPod: David Crowder, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Tim Hughes, Stavesacre, Boston, Delirous, Jill Phillips, Andy Gullahorn, William Schuman (classical), Phillip Glass, Vivaldi, and only about 3 country songs.
- Books: Bible, The Air I Breathe, Developing the Leader Within you, any book by Nelson Searcy
- What do you TiVo: Deadliest Catch, 24, College Football, Seinfield, Simpsons
- Sport Teams: University of Tennessee Football/Basketball; Boston Redsox….yep
- Movies: Tommy Boy, Bourne Series, Road to Perdition, Swingers, Christmas Vacation, Gladiator, Blood Dimond
- Hobbies: I like to be outdoors: Fishing, Mountain Biking (just starting), Camping/Hiking, the idea of me snowboarding
- Dislikes: Driving across Kansas, loud chewing noises, chewed gum on a plate
- Odd Facts: I love the sound of big loud electric fans
- Life Scripture: Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Caroline Mandler - Executive Assistant & Office Manager
My name is Caroline and I am the Executive Assistant to Pastor Kerrick and the Office Manager. I am fortunate to work in a lot of different areas, including Growth Groups and at the Sunday services. I am passionate about serving wherever I am needed, and love seeing people grow more connected to God and friends at the Journey.
BASIC STUFF:
I am originally from New Canaan, CT, just 1 hour outside of the city. After attending college in Washington, DC, I came back to New York to work for an Off-Broadway theater. I started attending the Journey in December of 2006, served on the Vocal team for a year, and joined the full-time staff in May of 2008!
Visit me on Facebook at: http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=5302810&ref=ts
BIRTHDAY: August 8, 1983
EDUCATION: The George Washington University: BA Dramatic Literature, Minor in Art History
Interests and Favorites
- Places: Martha's Vineyard, Barcelona, London, Berlin, Washington, DC, New Canaan, CT and of course NYC!
- What's on your iPod: Lots.
- Books: Romeo & Juliet, the Bible, Blue Like Jazz, The Glass Menagerie
- What do you TiVo: Gray's Anatomy, anything on Bravo
- Sport Teams: Not so much
- Movies: The Sound of Music, Love Actually, Almost Famous
- Hobbies: Traveling, dancing, art, coffee, Scrabble
- Dislikes: Tomatoes
- Odd Facts: I have moved 6 times in the last 2 years
- Life Scripture: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 5-6
Elliott Sneed - Journey-Brooklyn Pastor
My name is Elliott and I'm the Journey Brooklyn pastor. I also help lead the Journey Leadership Experience here at the Journey. I love to see new things started from scratch, and the process of people taking next steps to grow spiritually as they take the risks. I am passionate about building relationships with people that are far from God, and I also enjoy strategizing about how the church can be most effective in accomplishing God's mission.
Contact me if you would like to know more about: Journey-Brooklyn location, Journey Leadership Experience.
BASIC STUFF:
Originally, I am from Louisiana and Texas, where I met and married Heather Ruth, the love of my life! We have been married for 12 wonderful years. Heather Ruth and I were able to pastor and start two churches over the past seven years. We have two children, our 5-year-old daughter Abigail and our 3-year-old son Micah. They are the joy of our lives! We are excited to be a part of a growing church life The Journey – especially being a part of launching a new site in Brooklyn and seeing it reach its full redemptive potential.
Visit me on Facebook at:http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1032712468
BIRTHDAY: August 13, 1973
EDUCATION: Texas State University – B.A. in English & History; Southwestern Seminary - Master of Divinity
Interests and Favorites
- Places: Brooklyn (we already love it), Texas, Boston, and NYC!
- What's on your iPod: Little bit of everything.
- Books: Books on leadership and strategy, historical fiction
- What do you TiVo: 30 Rock, King of Queens, Seinfeld, Law & Order SVU
- Sport Teams: Go Giants! I am also partial to the Buffalo Bills.
- Movies: Almost anything with Will Ferrell or Steve Martin, almost all westerns, and yes, really good science-fiction movies
- Hobbies: I enjoy hanging out with my wife and kids, NFL football, good restaurants, tech stuff, and movies
- Dislikes: I hate being too hot, small rooms, all spam email
- Odd Facts: I once performed a dramatic short in front of 3000 people. It went well!
- Life Scripture: "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-22
Dawn Thompson - Director of Events
My name is Dawn and I'm the Events Director for The Journey. I am fortunate to work in a lot of different areas, which include the Sunday services, Super Service Thursday and Mission (Community Service) Groups. I am passionate about seeing people grow in their walk with God and serving those in need in our city and around the world.
Contact me if you would like to know more about Mission (Community Service) Groups, Volunteering on Sunday or at The Journey Office.
BASIC STUFF:
Originally, I’m from Burleson, Texas and moved to NYC in July of 2006. I came to NYC for the first time after high school and knew that one day, I’d live here. I currently live in Astoria with my roommate, Sarah, and my cat, Winberg. My older brother Eric, and his wife Tina, live in Texas, as well as my Mom and Dad, who happen to be the best parents EVER!
Visit me on Facebook at: http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=810714591&ref=profile
BIRTHDAY: October 9
EDUCATION: Hardin-Simmons University: BBA in International Business, Minor in Church Ministry with an emphasis on Missions
Interests and Favorites
- Places: My Mom & Dad's house in Texas, Astoria, Hong Kong, Kenya, South Africa
- What's on your iPod: Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Jason Morant, Joshua Radin, Paul Simon
- Books: The Bible, Cry the Beloved Country, The Good Earth
- What do you TiVo: The Office, 30 Rock, Chuck
- Sport Teams: The Dallas Mavericks
- Movies: Tommy Boy, Elf, Out of Africa, Enchanted, The Lion King
- Hobbies: Traveling, Reading, Baking
- Dislikes: Onions & Mayonnaise
- Odd Facts: I have moved over 20 times
- Life Scripture: "In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:6