service information
"Hear O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might."
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Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Sunday @ 4:45 p.m.
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In-Person
4161 Alma St., Palo Alto
(Congregation Etz Chayim)
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~8 min. walk from Caltrain's San Antonio Station
~5 min. drive to San Antonio Center (eateries)
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What to expect:
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Online Services
For Sparkers who need or prefer online attendance, a Zoom link is provided in the "Weekly" email. For security reasons, you will need to be subscribed to that email to join each week. Closed captioning option is enabled through Zoom's software.
charter & vision
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Our Charter Document addresses why we exist and how we behave. It includes a brief history, our mission, our values, our commitments, and the meaning behind our name. Our Vision & Strategic Plan Document addresses what we seek to accomplish and the necessary steps to achieving our aims. It includes our vision, and our strategic plan.
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Click the image to download.
our leadership
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(listed in first name alphabetical order)
AMY FRITZ
Board
Amy is retired after a career in Customer Research and Experience across multiple industries. She currently spends her time seeking out and stepping in to volunteer opportunities whenever she can. Amy is grateful to have been introduced to Spark at the very beginning and has been an active member of the community ever since. She holds a B.S. Degree in Human Development from U.C. Davis and an MBA from Santa Clara University. Amy lives in the South Bay.
CHRISTINE AKHTAR
Board
Christine has a B.S. and a M.A. in journalism and was a news reporter and morning anchor covering politics in Illinois before moving to the Bay Area. She is currently a development and events manager at a youth services nonprofit. At Spark, she has led efforts in refugee resettlement, hospitality, and volunteer coordination. Christine and her husband Omair love having conversations with their four kids about science, faith, social justice, and the arts.
DANIELLE PARISH
Lead Pastor
Danielle is a co-founding lead pastor of Spark. She has been a vocational pastor in small and large churches in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1999. She holds a M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary, is a certified Spiritual Director, and has completed graduate work at Jerusalem University College. She is the founder and tour leader of Come and Learn To Walk Israel-In-Depth Study Tours, and is published in the online journal, Jerusalem Perspective. She is the author of The Exodus Bible Study and a contributor to Rose Guide to Genesis, both published by Rose Publishing. Find out more at DanielleParish.com.
DARREN LEW
Board
Darren Lew has worked in software since 2002 and is currently an Engineering Director at Apple. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and an MBA, both from Duke University. While living in Asia, Darren spent a year volunteering with a non-profit organization, working with youth recovering from heroin addiction. Outside of work, you might find Darren on the basketball court or playing his violin. Darren is married to Ling and they have two children.
DEBBY CHANG
Executive Director
Debby holds a B.A. in Economics from Stanford University and has been a Director and Manager for multiple Silicon Valley tech companies including Google, Coursera and ServiceNow. Debby also has years of experience in compassion and children's ministries. She is married to Andrew and has one son, Alexander.
JEFF BERENS
Board
Jeff co-founded Culdesac, a startup building car-free neighborhoods. Previously, he worked at McKinsey & Company’s Public & Social Sector Practice advising on strategy and economic development. Jeff also spent five years in East Africa coordinating randomized controlled trials with Innovations for Poverty Action. He holds a BA in Economics from the University of Arizona and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management. Jeff and his wife, Annie, have been married since 2013 and live in Menlo Park. He enjoys outdoor family adventures, photography, reading books, and taking his two daughters to school by e-bike.
JUNIOR TAGATA
Worship Arts Director
Junior has been a music director for several churches over the last 25 years in addition to being a writer, producer, vocal coach and band director. He has released 3 CD projects, No Ordinary Man in 2001, la Vi'ia Oe in 2007 in his native language, Samoan, and Tree of Mercy in 2016. Junior was born in the South Pacific islands of American Samoa, and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. Junior is married to his beautiful and lovely wife Sharon Ameperosa and together they have 3 boys Ishmael, Anthony, and Tau.
KEVIN NEUNER
Founding Executor
Kevin holds a Double Bachelor's degree in Bible & Theology and Youth Ministry from San Jose Christian College (now William Jessup University), a Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, an M.B.A. with a concentration in Leadership & Organizational Health from the University of St. Mary, and hold certifications in HR Organizational Development and as a DEIB Specialist through AIHR. Kevin was a co-founding lead pastor of Spark and now serves as a communicator on the teaching team, Q... Group leader, Technical Director, one of the worship leaders, and on the teams that oversee the finances, operations, and general administration of Spark. Kevin is the founder and communicator for Via Media, a freelance leadership and organizational health consultant, and the Chief Operating Officer of Abode, the San Francisco Bay Area's largest social services agency working to end homelessness through housing and services. Learn more at KevinNeuner.com.
KRISTIN YOUNG
Pastor of Intergenerational Ministries
Kristin has worked in many roles including social worker, Bible teacher, writer and fine arts photographer. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame, M.A. in Social Welfare (MSW) with an emphasis in Management and Planning from the University of California, Berkeley and a M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary. Kristin is passionate about helping others find God’s beauty in the valley and learning at round tables. She and her college sweetheart, Bryant, have been married since 1998 and have six children. Learn more at KristinMYoung.com.
KWAME EASON
Board
Kwame has worked in Semiconductor Process and Equipment Development since 2000 and is currently an Engineering Director at Intel. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. Kwame has served in children's ministry from 2005 to 2014 and in youth ministry since 1995 through a local non-profit in EPA. Kwame is passionate about Gospel Justice, breaking cycles of poverty, and reflecting Christ's Kingdom today. He and his wife SueAnn have been married since 1998, have 2 adult children and live in East Palo Alto.
MARCUS RANDOLPH
Pastor
Marcus has served as a youth pastor and camp speaker for churches and ministries. He holds an A.A. from Chabot College, a B.A. from Menlo College, and a M.S. in Counseling Psychology from Notre Dame De Namur University. He now works as a wrestling coach for Menlo College. Marcus and Kendra have been married since 2006.
MARK AREVALO
Pastor
Mark has worked in vocational ministry with children and families since 2006. He holds a B.A. in Economics and International Relations from UC Davis and an M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary. Mark works as a content editor at a Silicon Valley tech firm and rarely misses an episode of "60 Minutes." He and his wife Stacy live in East Palo Alto.
OMAIR AKHTAR
Pastor
Omair holds a Ph.D. in Marketing and Psychology from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and is currently working as a consumer psychologist. He holds additional degrees in Speech Communication and Political Science and has taught various courses in public speaking. Omair has served in various teaching and leadership roles in his church communities. He and his wife Christine have four children and rarely miss Warriors games.
PAMALA SIMPSON
Board
Pamala is an Engineering Technical Program Manager for an Identity and Access Management company in the Bay Area. She holds a B.A. in Mathematics/Computer Science and a Master's Certificate in Program Management and PMP. Pamala has served in prayer ministries, children's ministries, and hospitality with various community organizations. Pamala and Gary have been married since 1980, have 3 adult children, and 2 adorable grandchildren.
STACY AREVALO
Board
Stacy has been teaching high school in East Palo Alto since 2006. She holds a B.A. in English from UCLA and an M.A. in Education from Stanford, and she finds joy in helping students discover the power of reading the word and the world. In 2016 Stacy spent five weeks in Greece working on the front lines of the refugee crisis. Stacy is an inaugural board member of Spark. She and her husband Mark live in East Palo Alto.
TOM ARRINGTON
Pastor
Tom works as a Chartered Financial Analyst for a national bank. He holds a B.A. in Economics from UCLA, an M.B.A. from San Francisco State, and an M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary. Tom is a San Francisco Peninsula native, and has been actively involved in various ministries and churches here for over two decades. Tom and Tami have been married since 1983, and they have two adult children.