Pastor

Rev. Dr. Liz Mosbo VerHage relocated to Seattle in 2013 from Chicago, IL, to join Quest’s staff and serve in the areas of local outreach, global presence, and compassion and justice ministries. She is passionate about helping the church love God and love others holistically - through thoughtful education, authentic relationships, and creative, intentional ministry. Her previous ministry experience includes pastoring, community organizing, leadership and administration, racial reconciliation trips, writing, and teaching in various church/school contexts. Liz received Theology and Community Development Degrees from North Park Seminary and earned a Doctorate in Theology and Ethics from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. She is also currently the chair of the ECC Denomination’s Christian Action Commission and an adjunct professor who helps direct the Seminary‘s urban ministry certificate program. In her free time she loves exploring neighborhoods, hanging with friends, and enjoying Thai food with her husband, Peter, and two children in the Ballard ‘hood. Liz can be reached at liz@seattlequest.org or on facebook.

Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil is a powerful, prophetic preacher and thought-leader in the field of reconciliation. She is an Associate Professor of Reconciliation Studies and the Director of the Reconciliation Minor’s program at SPU. Brenda is an author, speaker, consultant, and president of Salter McNeil and Associates, with over 25 years of experience in the field of racial, ethnic, and gender reconciliation. Brenda earned her B.A. from Rutgers University, M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and D.Min. from formerly named Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, now Palmer Theological Seminary. Brenda was recently named by Christianity Today as one of the 50 women to watch for in her work shaping the church and culture. Brenda and her husband Dr. J. Derek McNeil, have two children and reside in Seattle. Inquiries can be sent to teaching@seattlequest.org.

Aaron joined the Quest staff in 2012 relocating to the Seattle area from Pasadena, California. In many ways his journey to Quest serves as a homecoming of sorts being born and raised in the great Northwest (represent 253). After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Whitman College he spent a year teaching English and serving at a church in South Korea. It was there he found his call for pastoral ministry and pursued further educational debt aka Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary (little did he know he would meet Judith, his future wife, at Fuller). Through his experience growing up and serving in the Korean immigrant church and also serving as a pastor in a predominantly African-American, multi-ethnic/cultural church he strongly values racial reconciliation and the myriad of ways in which people connect with and worship the living God. He loves engaging life through sports, eating amazing food from every culture, reading, and beating his wife in Monopoly Deal. He can be reached at aaron@seattlequest.org.

Gail and her family relocated to the Seattle area in 2009 from Durham, North Carolina. Before joining the Quest staff in 2010, she led worship, conferences and taught seminars on leadership development in diverse and varied contexts for over 15 years. The realities of being a second generation Korean-American woman, 16 years in an interracial marriage and raising multi-ethnic children, have all continued to profoundly contribute to and inform her life of ministry. She is particularly passionate about the convergence between identity and worship, as well as mentoring and developing next generation leaders. Gail received her M.Div. from Duke Divinity School, and her Bachelor of Music from The Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. In her free time, she dreams of heaven being filled with Asian, Soul and Latin cuisines, Brazilian music, and vanilla iced coffee. Gail, her husband Brian, and their three sons currently reside in Magnolia. Gail can be reached at gail@seattlequest.org or you can stay connected through Facebook, Twitter

Ray joined Quest in June 2007 when Interbay Covenant Church, where he pastored beginning in November 2000, merged with Quest. Ray married his high school sweetheart, Joy, in 1967. They have a son and daughter and three grandsons. Ray received a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Washington and a Master of Divinity degree from North Park University. Prior to full-time pastoral ministry, Ray served as a bi-vocational pastor for 15 years while working in engineering at Boeing. Next to his family and faith, his passion includes Christian apologetics, conversation, ballroom dancing, and staying physically fit. He can be reached at ray@seattlequest.org.