OUR TEAM

Meet the people who bring our church community to life. Each person on our team contributes their unique gifts and perspective to create a place where faith grows and everyone belongs. Get to know the faces behind our ministry.

Staff Team

Curtis Mulder

Co-pastor / Co-founder (teaching, discipleship, worship)

Curtis co-founded Ekklesia with CJ in 2010, where he teaches and leads the music and tech teams. A proud Canadian, he and his wife Kim welcomed their son George in 2021, joining his daughters Kyra and Megan. Curtis is passionate about LGBTQ+ inclusion, and believes following Jesus helps us become the best versions of ourselves—healing wounds and making the world better.

CJ Stephens

Co-pastor / Co-founder (teaching, discipleship, missions)

CJ has been in ministry since 2005. He holds degrees in Journalism from UNC Chapel Hill (where he played football) and Biblical Languages from GTU in Berkeley. He’s passionate about how scripture, history, and social sciences inform faith. Married to Holly since 2003, they have two children, Abby and Noah. In his free time, he coaches sports and reads science fiction. Favorite non-Biblical quote: “Be curious, not judgmental.”

Tori Ellington

Kids Ministry Pastor

Tori teaches music at her local elementary school and brings her experience with children to our kids ministry. Married to Greg (our youth pastor), they have two children, Audrey and Maverick. She’s passionate about hands-on, fun approaches to teaching children about Jesus. You’ll often see her singing with the worship team on Sundays.

Greg Ellington

Youth Pastor

Greg and Tori have worked with students since 2013, fostering holistic growth in young people. Parents to Audrey and Maverick, Greg is a licensed educator focused on spiritual, social, and intellectual development. When not with his family or the youth, you’ll find him reading theology or playing pickleball.

Board of Elders

Katie Anderson

Katie and Scott found Ekklesia after searching for a church that elevates Jesus and welcomes everyone. Katie works for an environmental non-profit focused on sustainable food systems. She loves spending time with her daughters Abigail and Ellie, enjoying good food, and exploring Raleigh’s parks.

Brian East

Brian has experience as a social worker, worship leader, and pastor, and currently works in media production. He joined Ekklesia in 2022 and serves on the worship team. Brian is passionate about God’s presence, healthy theology, and LGBTQ+ inclusion. In his spare time, he enjoys family, theology books, Lord of the Rings, and conversations around a fire.

Sarah Kinnarney

Sarah and Joseph joined Ekklesia in 2015, appreciating its authentically welcoming community where questioning is encouraged. Sarah homeschools her four children and works part-time as a speech-language pathologist. She enjoys reading, hiking, and playing violin in the Really Terrible Orchestra Of the Triangle.

Paul Nelson

Paul, with a background in microbiology, has been with Ekklesia for about 10 years, leading a small group and serving on the hospitality team. He values embodying the gospel and building Christian community in the 21st century. Paul enjoys improving his Spanish, learning on YouTube, and exploring the Triangle’s diverse food scene.

Holly Reston

Holly found healing at Ekklesia in 2019 after difficult previous church experiences. With 31 years in insurance, she previously served on the setup team and now joins the hospitality team. Holly enjoys outdoor activities with her husband, live music, and parenting her two young adult children.

Our Board of Elders consists of 5 members, with a balanced representation of men and women (never more than a 3:2 majority either way). This team oversees all operational aspects of the Ministry. They ensure we remain aligned with our charitable purposes, set our annual budget, guide strategic decisions, and provide encouragement and care for our Pastors. The Board embodies our commitment to responsible ‘inward’ stewardship and intentional ‘outward’ generosity, reflecting our core values in all we do.