My name is Christian. With most of my time I get to pastor, teach, lead worship, and write. I pastor with an incredible team at Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon where me and my wife, Yinka, and daughter Ìfẹ́ live. From time to time, we get to partner with Practicing The Way - an organization that aims to re-envision discipleship for the modern church.
I’m a friend and follower of Jesus. My life’s aim is to love, trust, and follow Jesus and then help others do the same.
I’m passionate about seeing people apprentice under Jesus through practices that shape real life—especially prayer, Scripture, and song. I care deeply about music in the Church not only as a place of worship or encounter, but as a way of discipling and catechizing God’s people. I think music is meant to be both doxology and discipleship.
A few other things: I am half Ethiopian and was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. My wife is Nigerian-American. I spent most of my twenties pastoring college students and working on their spiritual formation at Northwest University and writing music with my band McKinneyDawson. Now, I’m in my thirties and enjoy travel, concerts, photography, and Marvel.
As far as education and experience, I hold a Master of Arts in Bible and Theology as well undergraduate degrees in Pastoral Ministries and Biblical studies. I was licensed, and eventually ordained, as a minister in 2013.
