Staff

Alex Van Riesen, Lead Pastor

Alex and Susan have attended the Peninsula Vineyard since 1998, when they moved from Southern California to work with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Stanford University. Alex joined the Vineyard staff as Senior Pastor on September 1, 2009 after working for InterVarsity for 23 years.

Alex and Susan have three children, Joshua, Hope and Anna.

Alex is an alumnus of Stanford University and an avid basketball (go Lakers) and golf fan.

alex@vcfp.org - (650) 327-5727

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Sharon Wada, Director of Finance

sharon@vcfp.org - (650)327-5727

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Anghelika Elliott Maddalena, Pastor of Children’s Ministries

Anghelika was raised in Athens, Greece. In 1984, she made her way to Vermont, where she attended Bennington College, received her B.A., and met her husband Dave. Since moving to California in 1989, she received her Early Childhood Education Certificate and has taught preschoolers and their parents on and off for the last fifteen years.

Anghelika says, "What I love about Jesus is that He reveals himself through many creative ways: through the Holy Spirit, through the community, through Bible teaching, through worship, through serving and practicing justice. My prayer is that everything we do at VCFP Children's Ministries brings kids into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ. (2The 3:5)"

Anghelika and Dave have a little children's ministry of their own (a sixteen-year old daughter and thirteen-year old son). Anghelika joined the staff as Pastor of Children's Ministries in the summer of 2001. She oversees all the children's programs at the Vineyard.

anghelika@vcfp.org - (650) 327-5727

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Greg Gibbons, Worship Pastor

Greg and his wife Elizabeth were married in 1982. Three years later they had a significant experience with Jesus while attending the Santa Monica Vineyard in Southern California and decided that life with Jesus was the only thing that made sense. Shortly after joining our church community in 1994, Greg began leading worship in Sunday School, small groups, and later, during Sunday morning services. He joined our staff as worship pastor in 2001 and oversees Sunday morning worship.

Greg works full-time in the computer department of a local candy company. They are the proud parents of three wonderfully rambunctious children.

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Liz Milner, Associate Pastor

Liz Milner and her husband Marius started attending VCFP in 1996, when
they moved to the Bay Area from England. Before coming to the United States, Liz was a high school math teacher. At Vineyard, she has been a part-time Associate Pastor since January 2008. She oversees the adult ministries and communications as well as preaching occasionally.

liz@vcfp.org - (650)327-5727

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Mark Pettersen, Founding Pastor, Retired

In February, 2008 Mark Pettersen retired from serving as the Senior Pastor of the church he founded over 20 years ago. Mark and his wife Gail founded the Vineyard in Palo Alto in 1986. Prior to that Mark served two different churches in Kansas as pastor over a 13 year period. Mark and Gail were also staff members with InterVarsity in Texas.

We trust that God still has many plans for Mark and Gail for the coming years, and we pray for his grace and blessing on our friends! We thank God for your years of service, Mark and Gail.

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