Wayne Burton - Jersey City Pastor of Worship Arts
Hi, I am Wayne Burton, Jersey City Pastor of Worship Arts. I am responsible for anything music, arts, or production related to our Jersey city campus. I also am the Music Director at The Journey. I help prepare our music each week and oversee all of our great musicians here at The Journey.
BASIC STUFF:
My Wife Erin and I were married on June 2, 2007. I grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, and my wife grew up in Brockport, NY. We’re basically this hodgepodge of North meets South, so in our house there’s always sweet tea and, um, whatever else they eat in Upstate NY. We moved to New York in May of 2008.
I am passionate about people having a deep and full relationship with Christ. I believe that God is a creative God and I want to use my life to display His creativity through music and the arts. I love being around many different cultures and feel more at home when I am not in a culture of my own. Erin and I have spent time in overseas missions and I’ve been blessed to spend time in Hong Kong & Indonesia.
I play Piano, Trombone, and 5 chords on the guitar. I’m working right now on the Accordion, and the pursuit of different sounding instruments. I’ve also lived in Nashville, Rhode Island, and North Carolina.
BIRTHDAY: August 25
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Music, Belmont University
Interests and Favorites
- Places: Smokey Mountains, Hong Kong, Beavertail State Park, anywhere with water.
- What's on your iPod: David Crowder, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Tim Hughes, Stavesacre, Boston, Delirous, Jill Phillips, Andy Gullahorn, William Schuman (classical), Phillip Glass, Vivaldi, and only about 3 country songs.
- Books: Bible, The Air I Breathe, Developing the Leader Within you, any book by Nelson Searcy
- What do you TiVo: Deadliest Catch, 24, College Football, Seinfield, Simpsons
- Sport Teams: University of Tennessee Football/Basketball; Boston Redsox….yep
- Movies: Tommy Boy, Bourne Series, Road to Perdition, Swingers, Christmas Vacation, Gladiator, Blood Dimond
- Hobbies: I like to be outdoors: Fishing, Mountain Biking (just starting), Camping/Hiking, the idea of me snowboarding
- Dislikes: Driving across Kansas, loud chewing noises, chewed gum on a plate
- Odd Facts: I love the sound of big loud electric fans
- Life Scripture: Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Caroline Mandler - Executive Assistant & Office Manager
My name is Caroline and I am the Executive Assistant to Pastor Kerrick and the Office Manager. I am fortunate to work in a lot of different areas, including Growth Groups and at the Sunday services. I am passionate about serving wherever I am needed, and love seeing people grow more connected to God and friends at the Journey.
BASIC STUFF:
I am originally from New Canaan, CT, just 1 hour outside of the city. After attending college in Washington, DC, I came back to New York to work for an Off-Broadway theater. I started attending the Journey in December of 2006, and joined the full-time staff in May of 2008!
BIRTHDAY: August 8, 1983
EDUCATION: The George Washington University: BA Dramatic Literature, Minor in Art History
Interests and Favorites
- Places: Martha's Vineyard, Barcelona, London, Berlin, Washington, DC, New Canaan, CT and of course NYC!
- What's on your iPod: Lots.
- Books: Romeo & Juliet, the Bible, Blue Like Jazz, The Glass Menagerie
- What do you TiVo: Gray's Anatomy, anything on Bravo
- Sport Teams: Yankees
- Movies: The Sound of Music, Love Actually, Almost Famous
- Hobbies: Traveling, dancing, art, coffee, Scrabble
- Dislikes: Tomatoes
- Odd Facts: I have moved 6 times in the last 2 years
- Life Scripture: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 5-6
Henric Ideström - Worship Pastor - Journey Brooklyn
I will be overseeing the Worship Arts at the Brooklyn location. I’m excited to join a Journey team that is very strategic in their calling to New York City.
BASIC STUFF:
My wife Robin, our son Jeremiah, our Shetland sheepdog Lily and I recently moved to NYC. Robin is studying a Master of Music at Manhattan School of Music, Voice Performance, Opera. My boy is seven and loves the Yankees. We moved from Calgary, Alberta where I was a Pastor of Worship at a local church and a Chair of the Arts at a Christian College. Robin grew up in California and I grew up in Canada. We have been married for 12 years.
BIRTHDAY: October, 3 1970
EDUCATION: My undergrad is in Political Science from University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario. My Masters is in Music, Conducting from Azusa Pacific University, Los Angeles, California. I know, it’s a weird combination.
Interests and Favorites
- Places: Highway #1 California coast, Canadian Rocky Mountains, Stockholm
- What's on your iPod: Wide variety, but the top is Sting, BNL, Watermark, Sara Groves
- Books: The Psalms
- What do you TiVo: Letterman, The Daily Show, Eddie Izzard stand-up, Arrested Development, Extras
- Sport Teams: Toronto Maple Leafs
- Movies: Too many, but to name a few; Good Will Hunting, Godfather, Immortal Beloved, Tommy Boy, Crash, Waiting for Guffman, capote, REVERB…
- Hobbies: Running, Hockey
- Dislikes: People on blue tooth talking out loud while walking around the city
- Odd Facts: Scared of heights! The older I get the worse I get and have considered therapy to overcome it.
- Life Scripture: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11
Elliott Sneed - Journey-Brooklyn Pastor
My name is Elliott and I'm the Journey Brooklyn pastor. I also help lead the Journey Leadership Experience here at the Journey. I love to see new things started from scratch, and the process of people taking next steps to grow spiritually as they take the risks. I am passionate about building relationships with people that are far from God, and I also enjoy strategizing about how the church can be most effective in accomplishing God's mission.
BASIC STUFF:
Originally, I am from Louisiana and Texas, where I met and married Heather Ruth, the love of my life! We have been married for 12 wonderful years. Heather Ruth and I were able to pastor and start two churches over the past seven years. We have two children, our 5-year-old daughter Abigail and our 3-year-old son Micah. They are the joy of our lives! We are excited to be a part of a growing church life The Journey – especially being a part of launching a new site in Brooklyn and seeing it reach its full redemptive potential.
BIRTHDAY: August 13, 1973
EDUCATION: Texas State University – B.A. in English & History; Southwestern Seminary - Master of Divinity
Interests and Favorites
- Places: Brooklyn (we already love it), Texas, Boston, and NYC!
- What's on your iPod: Little bit of everything.
- Books: Books on leadership and strategy, historical fiction
- What do you TiVo: 30 Rock, King of Queens, Seinfeld, Law & Order SVU
- Sport Teams: Go Giants! I am also partial to the Buffalo Bills.
- Movies: Almost anything with Will Ferrell or Steve Martin, almost all westerns, and yes, really good science-fiction movies
- Hobbies: I enjoy hanging out with my wife and kids, NFL football, good restaurants, tech stuff, and movies
- Dislikes: I hate being too hot, small rooms, all spam email
- Odd Facts: I once performed a dramatic short in front of 3000 people. It went well!
- Life Scripture: "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-22
Carie Bashur - Financial Administrator
Hi, I'm Carie Bashur the Financial Administrator at The Journey. I work in the financial area where my responsibilities include overseeing a wonderful group of people...the counting team. The counters make sure that the offering is counted accurately and with intregity. While working at The Journey I have enjoyed watching God touch people's lives. He has been working in amazing ways.
BASIC STUFF:
Before moving to New York City I lived in Washington, PA which is located 30 miles south of Pittsburgh. In August of 2006 I became an official “New Yorker.” After many years of visiting the city I finally came to stay. One month later I started attending The Journey and then in June of 2007 I was blessed to join the wonderful staff. I have two amazing sons. Chris is a student at Virginia Tech and Mitch is attending Dickinson College (Carlisle, PA).
BIRTHDAY: October 27
EDUCATION: Duquesne University
Interests and Favorites
- Places: London, Rome San Francisco, Myrtle Beach, Disney World & Sedona, Arizona
- What's on your iPod: Praise Music (Lincoln Brewster, Chris Tomlin & Mercy Me), Trans Siberian Orchestra & Classic Rock
- Books: Murder mysteries & books on spiritual growth
- What do you TiVo: Law & Order, Amazing Race, American Idol & Steelers Games
- Sport Teams: Pittsburgh Penquins & Pittsburgh Steelers!!!
- Movies: Bourne Identity, Batman, Mission Impossible, Office Space & Grease
- Hobbies: Spending time with my sons, traveling, reading, walking, hiking, biking, whitewater rafting, eating out & exploring NYC.
- Dislikes: Seafood, mushrooms, listening to people talk on their cell phone while on the bus or train
- Odd Facts: I have visited 35 of the 50 states. I hope to visit all 50.
- Life Scripture: "Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." Psalm 106:1
