Jeff Bass
Executive Director

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, where he continues to help EGC and those we serve to land planes. 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.

Sarah Blumenshine
Director, Intercultural Ministries

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.

Liza Cagua-McAllister
Systems Consultant

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 at Harvard, and after several years in the private sector leading technology initiatives, she joined 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

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, one grandchild and serve as host parents for international students from China. The Detwilers enjoy taking day trips on their weekly sabbath day.

Hanna Garcia
Development Manager

Coming from the California coastline to the shores of New England, Hanna is learning how to place down roots wherever the Lord leads her. After spending her summers working alongside urban non-profit leaders across the globe and graduating from Gordon College with a degree in Christian Ministries, she is wholly convinced of the creativity of God through the expression of the Global Church. As the Development Manager, Hanna enjoys telling the story of generosity at EGC. Hanna resides in Jamaica Plain, where you can typically find her at a local coffee shop with friends who have become like family.

Katelyn Hannan
Administrator, Race & Christian Community Initiative

Katelyn 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, concentrating in Intercultural Studies. Katelyn and David live in Dorchester, MA, 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 ice cream.

Jaronzie Harris
Networking & Research Associate for the Black Church Vitality Project

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.

Megan Lietz, MDiv, STM
Founding Director, Race & Christian Community Initiative

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, 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.

Devon McCarley
Director of Internal Systems

Devon McCarley comes to EGC with a passionate call to marketplace ministry. She desires to continually cultivate a space of learning and development for those called outside of the four walls of the Church, bridging the gap between faith and work in our churches and communities. Devon graduated from Cazenovia College and received her MBA from Medaille College in Buffalo, New York — her hometown. After graduating from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree, she journeyed back to her Operational roots, working for various city government agencies. However, in 2021, she joined the EGC leadership team, overseeing the organization’s financial and administrative work. Devon works to develop and implement systems and structures that foster organizational effectiveness. Despite her church and marketplace ministry journey, she desires to be known as a woman who loves God. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, laughing, traveling, and charcoal drawing. Overall, Devon is thankful for every day God gives and lives by the motto: “But seek first the Kingdom of God, and He will take care of the rest.”

Caleb McCoy
Marketing Manager

Born and raised in Boston, Caleb brings a homegrown passion for the city. As EGC’s Marketing Manager, 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

Filmmaker and pastor, Elijah Mickelson 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
Director of Applied Research, Consulting & Initiatives

Stacie Mickelson is passionate about helping churches and leaders wrestle with difficult questions. She has a degree in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Massachusetts and a M.A. in International Development and Social Change from Clark University. With her husband, Elijah, Stacie lives in Jamaica Plain where they are teaching their daughter Eden to climb things, love Jesus, and roar like a lion.

Rudy Mitchell, MDiv
Senior Researcher, Applied Research & Consulting

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’s South End, where he raises amazing tomatoes.

Wanda Nazario
Office Manager

A lifelong resident of Boston’s South End, Wanda grew up watching her mother work with their neighbors, including Doug and Judy Hall, to help build the Villa Victoria neighborhood, home to EGC since 1971. When she heard of an opening at the Emmanuel Gospel Center, she saw this as an opportunity to reconnect with God and is now excited to see where this journey will take her. Along with her quiet spirit, Wanda brings seasoned administrative skills. “I support everyone with the same care and respect,” she explains, whether it’s office technology, scheduling, preparing for meetings, events, accounting tasks, greeting guests, and more. “I love the way everything we do is connected in some way with God, and the community”, she says. With a passion for helping those in need, Wanda also enjoys volunteering with local organizations for the homeless.

Saranya Sathananthan
Researcher in Residence

Saranya brings her passion for community building to the many roles she's held at EGC. Now, as a Researcher in Residence, she explores how churches can optimize their spaces for missional impact, community vitality, and long-term sustainability. Her hope is 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: hosting people in her home, enjoying the local spots, and participating 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.

Melaku Teka
HR Coordinator

Melaku never imagined he would be so deeply attached to Boston when he arrived in America from Ethiopia as an unassuming teenage boy to attend high school. Within days of settling into his Watertown home in the city’s suburbs, Melaku remembers following the Freedom Trail and basking in the rich historical and cultural heritage the city boasts in the American lore. Soon after, he set out for western Massachusetts to start his first year at Deerfield Academy. After graduating from Davidson College in 2011, Melaku returned to his adopted city to join SunLife Financials’ HR department to kick off his career. He Joined EGC in July 2023 as Human Resources Coordinator to oversee the department’s day-to-day functions. He is a member of Emmanuel Disciples Church based in Cambridge where he serves on the leadership team.

Andrew Tsou
Culture & Collaboration Initiatives, Applied Research & Consulting

When not working in supply chain 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.

Dana Wade, MA
Senior Grants Manager

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

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.

Dr. Doug & Judy Hall
Consultants in Living System Ministry

For 50 years, Doug and Judy Hall served as leaders of EGC until their retirement 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.