NICKNAME: Taun, PT, Hoole, and Hooligan (among many).  

NERDY STUFF: Bachelor of Science majoring in Pastoral Studies with a minor in Youth ministry from Eugene Bible College in 1995. Bachelor of Arts in Music from Eugene Bible College in 1997. Doctorate in Theology (Th.D h.c.) from Global Action International in 2013

MOVIE: I've watched Anne of Green Gables many times, and I even named my first car Gilbert. I like thrillers, suspense, comedy, action, and drama.

CLEANING/WORKING TUNES: Usually Michael Jackson. I like all kinds of music, but I don't listen to the ones that scream because I feel like I need to perform an exorcism.

BOOK (OTHER THAN THE BIBLE OF COURSE): Strong's Greek and Hebrew Bible Dictionary. Just kidding. I like Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti novels. I was also really impacted by The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning.

HOBBIES/INTERESTS: Graphic design, playing piano and guitar, reading, and traveling - I have a travel bucket list.

FEARS: Losing my notes before I speak, getting stuck behind slow drivers in traffic, falling off a cliff, and spiders.

LAST MEAL ON EARTH: Okay...get ready. Drink: root beer. Appetizer: chips and salsa. Mid-course snack: popcorn. Main course: a beautiful tossed salad, rib eye steak grilled to medium-rare perfection, buttery garlic mashed potatoes, and I don't have room for vegetables this time. Dessert: something chocolaty and decadent, perfectly paired with a caramel latte. I feel like I'm on a cooking show, saying things like "paired." Midnight snack: a charcuterie board (that's like salamis and cheeses, and I know that because I'm pretty fancy. Hence, the previous word "paired"). Okay, time to find some stretchy pants.

Taunja grew up singing into her Mag flashlight, envisioning herself as the next music star, and giving the most exciting concerts to her dolls and stuffed animals. Lacking a long attention span, at some point during those childhood concerts, she would switch to preaching the most fiery sermon she could deliver. She was quite the hell-fire preacher as a youngster; she has since dramatically improved her communication skills and now includes the love of God. Her mantra is church should be enjoyed, not endured; so a good laugh and a little fun are often in order. Many people have said if the pastor thing doesn't work out she could try stand-up comedy. As a gifted teacher, she makes difficult passages easier to understand; as a storyteller, she makes the Bible come alive; and as a communicator, she finds a way to make it all practical and applicable to our everyday lives. 

In her free time, Taunja hangs out with her family and friends, and BBQ's for them, and they often request her kickin' homemade salsa. She is always down for a movie, but must have popcorn, and a cozy blanket even in the theater. She loves good coffee, winning at games, playing music, and she's currently learning how to draw. She openly confesses her struggle to act like Jesus while driving. She realizes it's probably unbefitting for a pastor to curse, so she often has friends with her and they sometimes curse for the both of them. She was our Youth Pastor at City Gate Church for 19 years; she says being a youth pastor helped her understand why some animals eat their young. In reality, teenagers and children will always have her heart. After becoming the Lead Pastor in 2014, she often thanks God that He didn't listen to her all those earlier years when she said she would never want to be a lead pastor or work with adults.

My vision for City Gate is a place of belonging for everyone; always enlarging our circle of friendship for others. I want people to experience hearing God speak to them. I pray God drives anxiety and shame out of people's lives, with His perfect love overtaking and conquering their fears. Above all, I hope we continuously experience the love of God and realize how much He treasures us; our identity secure as beloved sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. I want us to build a culture that we are excited to share with people, and pass on to the next generation.