WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND? PERSONALLY AND IN MINISTRY?

I grew up in the central valley of California. After graduating high school I moved to Phoenix Arizona to study Theology and music at Grand Canyon University. I had always loved music and the arts, but never saw myself becoming a worship pastor. After graduating from college and upon entering seminary at Talbot School of Theology, I felt a call more specifically to worship. For the past 10 years I have been focusing on that calling, serving first as a worship leader to 200 college students, and then as worship pastor of a church in the east valley of Phoenix, while continuing my studies at Reformed Theological Seminary. I have been married to Renee’ for 10 years, and have 2 kids, Keane (4) and August (6 weeks).

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO THE CITY?

My wife Renee’ and I used to visit the city about once a year. We spent a ton of time downtown at Union Square and had never really explored other areas of the city. Upon moving here, we have been amazed at all of the cool spots the city has to offer. Namely, Hayes Valley, the Marina, and the Mission. We are total foodies, so we are right at home in all of those neighborhoods. The thing I think I love the most, though, is the people we have met. I have never met such open and honest people. There is a communicative directness and a fearlessness of stating who you are that is present here. It is not combative, it is just real. That has been a breath of fresh air. We have loved to dialogue openly about faith and hear where others are coming from.

WHY LAUNCH A NEW CHURCH IN SAN FRANCISCO?

I want to be a part of a church that blesses this city, that is for it. A church that promotes it’s beauty and strengths, and that serves it where it is weak and vulnerable. I believe in Jesus Christ and in the good news of His gospel. I am not here to jam that down anyone’s throat. I just want to live as Jesus calls me to live and let people engage with that and ask any question they want about it. Even the hard ones.

WHAT CORE VALUES OF THE CHURCH WOULD YOU WANT TO COMMUNICATE THE FIRST SUNDAY IN JUNE?

We are into making disciples, because that is what Jesus was into. That means, we do life one on one with people. Messy, real life. We find truth in the scriptures, and we tell that truth to each other. We do this because we believe that Jesus’ way leads to the most flourishing version of “the good life” there is.

My prayer is that people in San Francisco, whether they share our beliefs or not, would say, ‘I’m glad those people are here. They are loving and serve our city in a way that is humble, sacrificial and tangible’. If this is to be true of us in 10 years, we must prioritize genuine community, focusing on deep, one on one discipling relationships that result in each of us believing the gospel, and seeking to live it out in the mundane of our every day lives.

CJ Bergmen
Worship Pastor
Redemption | San Francisco