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Leadership

Brad Smith
pastor
brad@sjcrc.org

I was born and raised in Michigan and came out to California for the first time in 1997 to work at Mount Hermon, a camp in Santa Cruz. I graduated Calvin College with a Biblical Studies and Business majors (note: two separate degrees; no plans for a future in televangelism). I studied for three years at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA and one year at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, MI.

I have been serving as pastor at San Jose CRC since 2007. I'm passionate about the grace of God uniquely revealed in the Bible through Jesus Christ, and I'm passionate about community renewal, both in the church and the city. If I could vacation only one place for the rest of my life, I would be completely content to do so in the Sierra. My wife, Karen, and I have been married since 2002 and are having an adventure in family with two kids.


Erin Wood
missional youth leader
erin@sjcrc.org

I grew up all over the bay area, spending time in the south bay, east bay and the peninsula.  I left the bay area to go to college at Azusa Pacific University, where I got my bachelor’s degree in Youth Ministry.  During my time in Azusa, I led a Young Life team at a local high school and went on two missions trips to Japan.  Then, I spent about a year and a half in San Diego, where I was on Young Life staff and taught eighth grade math and science.  I am excited to be back in the Bay Area serving the youth in San Jose, with SJCRC.

Rachel Vander Veen
kid’s life director
rachel@sanjosecrc.org

I currently serve as the City of San José Housing Department’s Administrative Officer and have been in that position for five years now.  I began with the City in 1999 as the Housing Department’s Budget Analyst in the Administration Division just one month after graduating from Calvin College (Grand Rapids, Michigan), with a BA in Economics and minors in Mathematics and Psychology.  I then moved on to the Policy Division for two years and the Executive Office for an additional two years.  This led me back to the place I began, as the current manager of the Administration Division.  I always strive to balance my career with my young family – Husband Scott, seven-year-old Geoffrey, four-year-old Aaron, and nine-month-old Alexis.  In my spare time I enjoy volunteering at my church where I lead the Kid’s Life program and serve wherever I am needed.  Something you may not know about me is that I am a “PK” – preacher’s kid.  And this has a lot to do with another interesting fact – I have lived in seven states including: Washington, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey, Indiana, and California (in that order).

Agnes Lien
office administrator

Heather Gilmore
secretary/tech
secretary@sjcrc.org