CityReach Church Swissvale Staff
|
Chris Ansell
Head Pastor Chris joined the CityReach team in 2016, but has been an actively involved resident of Swissvale for over 13 years. He and his wife, Sarah, quickly became invested in the fabric of the community when they bought their home here in 2006. Chris has previously served as the chair of the Swissvale Recreation Board and the Judge of Elections for District 9. Recently, he was elected to serve on the Swissvale Borough Council. "I never imagined having the opportunity to pastor a church in our very own neighborhood," Chris shares. "The thing I love most about my job at CityReach is that it combines my love of God and love of people with the opportunity to serve my community directly." Chris earned his Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He loves taking the theologically complex and making it relatable. Prior to his work at CityReach, he spent 10 years working as Director of University ministry at the University of Pittsburgh. Chris is married to Sarah and they have three children. |
|
Sarah Flowers
Worship Director Sarah joined the team in 2018. She has a passion to provide space for people to encounter God in worship. She completed her undergraduate degree at Waynesburg University. |
|
Dina Hartford
Children's Ministry Director Before joining the CityReach team in 2019, Dina felt called to this area where she grew up and prayed that God would provide her with an opportunity to serve. She has no doubt that ReachKids was God's answer to her prayer. As Children's Ministry Director, Dina plans fun ways for children to learn about Jesus! Together, she and the kids sing, dance, perform skits, and bring God's word to life! “We are learning that we are God's masterpiece and each of us has a purpose that He designed us to fulfill," Dina shares. "I love how enthusiastically the kids participate. Most importantly, I love how God places messages on my heart to share and then equips me with all that I need to make the teaching fun!” Professionally, Dina is a “teacher of teachers” according to her family. She works as an Educational Consultant for Early Intervention programs, providing behavior support services to students and families in their homes. Her background in early childhood development is just one of the ways she is uniquely gifted for this position. Dina is married to Keith and together they are parenting 3 teenagers and 2 dogs. Dina is grateful to her grandparents and parents for instilling a love for God in her early on in her life. |