Author: Shean Kim

Grace Kaczowka serves as the Director of Operations for Citylight Church. Born and raised in Northern Virginia, she has lived in Virginia her entire life and has a heart to serve her local community. She attended Virginia Tech and graduated with a Bachelors degree in Business Management and Human Resources in 2015. She then worked for several years in the corporate world and as a small business owner before joining the Citylight team. Grace’s desire for Citylight is to reflect the love of Christ to all people, to bring hope into dark places in our community, and for each person to trust they are fully known and loved in Christ. Grace and her husband, Steve, met Nate through McLean Bible Church in 2017. When Nate approached them about joining a new church plant, it was an immediate “yes” and an answer to prayer.  A few months after launch, Grace and Steve felt the Lord moving them to not just serve Falls Church and Annandale, but to actually live in this community and love their neighbors. They are so grateful for the ways God has allowed them to serve His Kingdom through this church.

Valery Erickson serves as the Director of Citylight Kids. She is grateful to be able to love on children throughout the week as a second-grade teacher at a Title I school. Val is passionate about empowering children and families to recognize God’s love and the unique and precious ways they were each created. Originally born in Barranquilla, Colombia, she is thankful for her Spanish language and the many doors it opens for spreading the Gospel. Her desire for Citylight Kids is that each child come because they feel loved by our Servant Leaders and return because they learn they are loved by Christ. God led Valery and her high school sweetheart, Austin, to Citylight through Nate at Mclean Bible Church, who both baptized them and officiated their wedding the same summer that Citylight Church launched. Valery and Austin have loved serving at Citylight and playing a role in how the Lord is using this church to advance His Kingdom in the local communities.

Originally born in Massachusetts (GO PATS!), Taylor attended grade school in Alexandria VA and high school in Luray VA, and graduated at Liberty University in 2013 with a BS in Religion and Biblical Studies. During his time at Liberty, Taylor also married his high school sweet heart, Rachael, and enlisted in the Army Reserves. Upon graduation, they were stationed in Northern California, where they had the privilege of leading their church’s college ministry. After his four year tenure with the Army Reserves, Taylor transitioned towards his pursuit of becoming a Chaplain in the United States Air Force in 2013. In 2017 he completed his Masters of Divinity in Military Chaplaincy, and moved back to the DMV to serve at Mclean Bible Church as a college pastor. Taylor and his amazing wife Rachael Antone are thrilled to serve at Citylight Church.

Nathan Crew is the Pastor of CityLight Church. Originally from Alabama (Roll Tide!), he moved to Lynchburg VA to attend Liberty University and graduated in 2008 with a degree in Communications and 2009 with an MA in Church Planting and Evangelism. He then got married and he and his wife jumped overseas to be missionaries in the Dominican Republic for 6 months. Afterwards God led him to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary to prepare for a life of full time ministry. He graduated with an MDIV in 2013 and then went to McLean Bible Church as an outreach pastor in 2014.  IN 2016 he became the young adult pastor at MBC and served in that role until God called Him to CityLight. He is passionate to see the church actively participating in the cause of Christ both locally and globally. He is married to the wonderful Kristen Crew and has 4 children.

Nathan Crew is the Pastor of CityLight Church. Originally from Alabama (Roll Tide!), he moved to Lynchburg VA to attend Liberty University and graduated in 2008 with a degree in Communications and 2009 with an MA in Church Planting and Evangelism. He then got married and he and his wife jumped overseas to be missionaries in the Dominican Republic for 6 months. Afterwards God led him to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary to prepare for a life of full time ministry. He graduated with an MDIV in 2013 and then went to McLean Bible Church as an outreach pastor in 2014.  IN 2016 he became the young adult pastor at MBC and served in that role until God called Him to CityLight. He is passionate to see the church actively participating in the cause of Christ both locally and globally. He is married to the wonderful Kristen Crew and has 4 children.

John Arevalo spent the first fourteen years of his life in the Philippines, then lived for three years in St. Croix, USVI before moving to the DMV.  He earned an associates degree in Business Administration at Northern Virginia Community College, and is currently completing his bachelors on Biblical and Theological Studies at Liberty University Online. After working in banking, Capitol Hill, and other businesses, God lead John to train for full time ministry by serving as a Pastoral Intern at Mclean Bible Church since 2017. His desire for Citylight is to see the church build itself up in love (Eph. 4:16) as it displays the glory of Jesus both in word and action. John is also married to Leah Arevalo since April of 2019.

Christopher Bayless attended The Golf Academy of America with hopes of becoming A licensed PGA teaching professional. God, however, had other plans for Christopher’s life, leading Christopher to a life of full-time vocational ministry.  Recently Christopher finished McLean Bible Church’s Leadership Development program, Activate. He currently serves at Mclean Bible Church leading a young adult bible study in Loudoun County, he also helps to plan, coordinate, and lead short term mission trips. His hobbies include reading, golf, and leading short-term missions’ trips. He has committed to creating an environment where believers can grow in their faith learning to study the Bible in a more intimate way and for non-believers to come and learn about the life-changing power of the Gospel.

Adina Popa is very excited to lead CityLight Kids and is looking forward to the great opportunities God will provide to share the Gospel and disciple the next generation of Christ-followers. She grew up behind the Iron Curtain, her father working underground to build churches and train new pastors. She is thrilled to play a small role in a church plant, where in freedom we can reach and disciple new believers. Adina is currently a teacher with experience in leading district and national programs or projects. Adina was also a member of the team that started and grew the children ministry at Maine Ave, a new Mclean Bible Church campus at the time.

Throughout her journey as a learner she has acquired degrees and certificates in Elementary Education, Instructional Technology, and Educational Leadership. Adina believes God has used her life experiences to prepare her for the leadership role at CityLight Kids.  She is looking forward to partnering with parents and volunteers to serve the amazing children of CityLight Church.

Dale Sutherland served on staff at Mclean Bible Church as the Lead Pastor until 2019 where he casted vision, shepherded the people and provided pastoral oversight of the church.  Dale and Patti attended MBC from the early 1980’s until the launch of CityLight in 2019. Prior to his role as Lead Pastor, Dale served as the Director of Student Ministries and Director of Outreach for more than a decade.  Dale now serves as the President of ICM USA and is actively launching a global initiative to care for the physical and spiritual needs of the ultra poor of the world. Dale has three daughters, three sons-in-law, six grandsons and one granddaughter.