Ryan Christoffel – Gotham Coordinator

Ryan worked in pastoral ministry for six years in Texas before he and his wife Jess followed a call to move to NY in 2018, and he’s been part of Redeemer ever since. He’s currently studying at Reformed Theological Seminary, and in his free time he loves exploring Central Park, coffee shop dates with Jess, as well as reading, watching TV, and playing tabletop games. He also likes Apple products, probably too much.

Sonu Soney Joseph – CFW Intern

Sonu has bachelor's in computer engineering from India, and an MBA from Illinois State University. She currently works in tech and is working towards her second masters from Moody Theological Seminary in Chicago. She currently lives in New Jersey, but is a third culture kid of Indian origin (her parents are from India and she grew up in Doha, Qatar.) She enjoys meeting new people and building relationships, outdoor activities, trying new things, spending time with friends and going for standup comedy shows.

FAITH & WORK PASTORAL STAFF

Milla Nieminen – Senior Director for Faith and Work, Redeemer West Side

Originally from Finland, and after living in ten different countries, Milla Nieminen joined the West Side staff in August 2018. She received her Master of Science in Economic and Business Administration from Aalto University School of Business and spent 12 years in global sales and marketing and strategy roles in the technology industry. Milla also received a Master in Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary and was in ministry work in a church setting in Los Angeles for six years before moving to New York City. Hebrews 11:8, where it talks about Abraham and how by faith he “obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going,” has become her slogan for life. “Following Jesus is the biggest adventure ever,” she says. “I’m excited to see what He has for me here in New York.”

Milla enjoys fitness classes such as pilates and barre, loves hiking and walks on the beach. Irving Farm and Joe Coffee are quickly become favorite coffee spots on the Upper West Side. Her favorite way to spend an evening is “around delicious food, great wine and good conversation.”

Jeff White – Assistant Pastor, Redeemer Downtown

A graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary, Jeff started his ministry at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia and then went on to serve as the first associate pastor at Redeemer from 1990 to 1998. At Redeemer, he oversaw community formation through fellowship groups before moving on to become the organizing pastor of New Song Community Church, a multi-ethnic, church-based community development effort in Harlem. Jeff is very excited to have rejoined the staff of Redeemer to launch and serve the Downtown congregation. Jeff and his wife, Rebecca, have been married since 1985 and have three children (Kirsten, Corina, Andrew) and two grandchildren. Prior to entering the ministry Jeff worked as a physical therapist.

Judson Bergman – Youth & Formation Manager, Redeemer East Side

Judson spent his earliest years in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago before moving to Connecticut, where he grew up in the shadow of New York City. Though he’s always loved New York, Judson returned to the Chicago suburbs to study Christian Education & Ministry at Wheaton College. He’s had the privilege of ministering in such dissimilar contexts as Greenwich, CT and Tulsa, OK — experiencing firsthand that the Gospel truly is good news for all. Judson loves long conversations around a fire, losing himself in an art museum, playing tennis at the beach, and falling into a good book. He’s excited to serve junior and senior high students at Redeemer East Side and Gotham Fellows with Redeemer's Center for Faith & Work.