Maria Caruana This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Pastor

I'm a New York Italian who was an atheist, pothead, and alcoholic until my relationship with Jesus began in 1986. Instantly God delivered me and set me free to live life abundantly in Him. Realizing my call to pastor, I graduated from Christ Evangelical Bible Institute in 1994 and moved from Phoenix to San Francisco in 1996 to share my life with my spouse Terrie. My heart is to tell everyone about the love of God and the relationship He wants to have with us through Jesus. With compassion, love, mercy, honesty and God's help it is my desire to encourage everyone to be the person God has created them to be.

I love music from the 70's especially Billy Joel. I enjoy Hillsong and various Christian artists. Anything by Tina Turner is a big hi with me!

My new favorite book is "And You Invited Me In". I loved the Left Behind series. Of course the Bible is my favorite read.

The Godfather, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, An American President, Toy Story, The Lion King, To Kill a Mockingbird

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Todd Ferrell This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Minister of Worship & Elder

I come from an Assemblies of God tradition and worked with the music & record label of Grace World Outreach Center, a church of over 6,000 congregants in St. Louis Missouri. Todd co-founded Freedom in Christ Evangelical Church of San Francisco in 1991 with a message of Christian+Gay=OK™. Todd currently also owns his own business consulting company and is the President of The Evangelical Network - a network of Churches, Ministries and Christian Workers who are reaching out to the gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual and straight community with the message that God Loves All people!

Praise and Worship Music....and Beyonce!

The Velvet Rage - Alan Downs, And you Invited Me In – Cheryl Moss Tyler, Religion Gone Bad - Mel White

I don't really have one.

My nickname is Toddie Faye

Romans 10:9 (NLT) If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Franklin Sampley This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Minister of Outreach & Elder

Franklin Sampley is a member of Freedom in Christ Church in San Francisco. He has been attending FIC since 1998, and currently serves as an Elder and the Minister of Outreach. He also serves as Secretary of The Evangelical Network. He was raised in the United Pentecostal Church and attended Christian Life College in 1980 and 1981. He has a B.S in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco and a State of California teaching credential in Adult Education. Franklin believes in the great need in the LGBT community to reconcile their sexuality and Christianity. At all of our Outreach events we meet many people raised in church and hurt by what they had to deal with because of their sexuality. It is a primary mission of FIC to reach these people and to let them know that God does love them and that they can have a relationship with God regardless of their sexuality. Franklin coined the phrase “Christian + Gay = OK” which is the FIC byline at this time because it is simple and to the point – no ifs, ands, or buts – it is simply OK with God who you are.

My music collection ranges from Country Gospel to Christian Pop, House Music and Black Gospel. Depending on the mood, I love all of the various forms of Christian music. I tend to like hymns – preferably with a very updated beat and version – because they tell the story that needs to be told.

Velvet Rage – Growing up Gay in a Straight Man’s World, The Shack, Mystery and Suspense Novels

The Color Purple, Sordid Lives, Milk, Kite Runner

Romans 4:21 (King James Version) And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

David Medina This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Minister of Interpretation

I’ve been a part of Freedom in Christ since 1993 (with a few years away) and have been involved in worship ministry from the very beginning.  I was saved at the age of five and have been in music ministry since age eight.  Currently, I lead the interpretation ministry at Freedom in Christ Church, a ministry inspired by three moms who loved our church but are monolingual Spanish speakers. Now, we’ve expanded our ministry to include American Sign Language.

I graduated from the University of San Francisco with a BPA in Public Administration and am currently pursuing an MBA from St. Mary’s College of California.  Originally from San Francisco and happily married to Steven, who gave his life to Christ at FIC in 1999, I believe in RESTORATION. I’d hate for any visitor to ever feel unwelcomed or marginalized. Our Heavenly Father is THE GOD OF RESTORATION and it doesn’t matter where YOU are on YOUR journey, He wants YOU just that way YOU are – and He wants YOU now!  Hoy es el día de salvación.  Dios te ama así como eres.  Nunca te olvides de Su misericordia! 

Christian Contemporary and Show tunes… oh yeah, and a few awesome messages.

The Left Behind Series; Harry Potter; any good Christian Fantasy

The newest Star Trek movie is probably the best sci-fi movie of all time; The Village, Sister Act II, and anything time traveler-ish

I was basically born in a hospital elevator.

Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.

Filomeno Fiel This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Minister of Young Adults

I was born and raised in the Philippines. My childhood home was a block away from our church (Catholic). I served my church as an altar boy from elementary school through high school. I taught Catechism to elementary school students during my high school years. Also, I was very involved in a catholic charismatic group where I headed a conference and several seminars for youth.

Club or Techno

Harry Potter Series

Pan’s labyrinth

Video Game Enthusiast

In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions. (Acts 2:17 NIV)

Grace Campion This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Minister of Young Adults

I have been a member at Freedom In Christ since 2007. I have been a Christian for 13 years and I believe it is my calling to help reach out to the LGBTQ community. I have also been serving God through playing drums for worship services for 9 years. I am currently a full time student at Cal State East Bay. My major is in kinesiology and it is my goal to be an adapted physical education teacher. Since I want to be a P.E. teacher, I’d better like sports! My favorite physical activities are: biking, hiking, playing Frisbee and tennis.

Hillsong and Hillsong United, Foo Fighters, Spitalfield, Daphney Loves Derby, Michelle Branch, Celine Dion, Back Street Boys

A Catcher in the Rye; Oppression, Privilege, and Resistance; It’s Okay to be Different; Chronicles of Narnia

Saving Face, Chronicles of Narnia, It’s In the Water, Lars and the Real Girl, Stranger Than Fiction

I love cheese, but just not on my pizza.

Joshua 1:9 NIV Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Warren McCarthey This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

SF Cell Group Facilitator

I was born and grew up in Oklahoma. I have been in the SF Bay Area since 1986. I moved here to attend Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. I graduated with a M.Div. with an emphasis in Urban Missions in 1989. After graduation I moved into the Tenderloin District of San Francisco, where I was a Director of an Inner-City Ministry, (Harvest - later renamed InRoads to the City) - working primarily with children and their families. In 1997 I stepped down from that ministry. I have been a member of Freedom In Christ since early 1997. I have served FIC as an usher, deacon and cell group leader.

Blondie – Heart of Glass, Alexander Pires – E Por Amor, The Mamas and Papas – Go Where You Wanna Go, Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody, Rouge – Um Anjo Veio Me Fala

Anything by E. Lynn Harris – I Say a Little Prayer, Basketball Jones . . .

Era Uma Vez … Big Eden, Possible Lives, Young Frankenstein, Europa Europa

I was offered a job at Halliburton but turned it down to become a Geophysicist at Gulf Oil.

John 21:15-20 (NIV) When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

Brian Johnson This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Treasurer

I was blessed to find Freedom In Christ in 2005 during one of my visits to the Bay Area. It became my church home in 2006 when I moved here from North Carolina. I was saved when I was 10 years old in a Southern Baptist church in Washington State. As with many at FIC, I grew up in church and was active in ministries through college. I have been FIC's Treasurer since 2007, and my partner and I host the South Bay Cell Group at our home in Fremont.

Praise and Worship, Contemporary Christian, and Styper (the hardrock Christian band from the 80s.)

nonfiction concerning history and economics.

The Lion in Winter (1968), Office Space (1999)

I eat at Wendy's everyday.

John 3:17 - “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Steven Medina This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Secretary, Board of Directors

Originally from Salinas, CA, I came to know the Lord at Freedom in Christ Church in August of 1999. Having been raised in a Catholic home, my newfound relationship with God was surprisingly instantaneous and miraculous because the Lord saved me at a point in my life when I was questioning His existence and especially His love for me and others like me. Immediately, the Lord changed my life in so many ways: I married my husband, David, in November of 1999, I joined the worship team at FIC, helped launch FIC’s Inreach and Interpretation ministries, and am now the Secretary of the Board of Directors. I’m a graduate of the University of Southern California and am the Hub Manager of a large payroll company. My ministry goal is to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ to all who will listen. I’m learning how to be an effective Spanish-language interpreter and my mother-in-law boasts I’m easier to understand than my husband! Dios te ama exactamente como eres. Nunca te olvides que El te ama y te ha llamado a salvación que solamente se encuentra en su hijo, Jesucristo.

I am an IPOD junkie and have a sizeable collection of all kinds of music. My favorites include war-time music (1940s), ballads, 1980’s, House, and worship.

I love thrillers and mysteries and am a Dan Brown fanatic. I’ve read many Gregory MacGuire books (Wicked), all the Harry Potter series of books, the Twilight Series, and the Left Behind Series as well. My very first Bible was an engagement gift by my Husband and has been such a different read since I got saved.

The Neverending Story, The Joy Luck Club, Indiana Jones and Goonies.

I am a gamer and love online, computer, and PS3 games.

Leviticus 19:18 – You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.