The current UniteBoston team is a tight-knit group of people that is committed to one another and to joining God in His work in this city. If you believe in Christian unity and want to be a part of a community that is working to make the unity we share in Christ visible, please prayerfully consider joining our team!
We are the volunteers who work hard to accomplish the mission of UniteBoston.
If you are interested in joining our team, click here to learn how you can Help UB!
Also, click here to view the UniteBoston Worship Team
UniteBoston Core Team
Kelly Fassett
What is her role for UniteBoston?
She is the Team Leader (Executive Director) for UniteBoston.
How did she get involved with UniteBoston?
She was visiting different churches and noticed the disconnectedness between different Christian groups. There were so many amazing events taking place and yet no one knew what else was happening; people were not connected to the events that best matched their interests and passions. She felt the need to create an infrastructure for communication which would use today’s technology to connect the Christian community in new ways. She and Mike Lloyd initiated the UniteBoston weekly email newsletter in the fall of 2011, which was the beginning of UniteBoston.
What does she like most about UniteBoston?
Kelly loves visiting Christian pastors and leaders throughout the city, learning what they do and the beauty of God’s work within each individual Christian community. She considers it a joy to understand how God is working corporately throughout the city, to see the function and purpose of each part of the body coming together as one.
About Kelly:
Kelly has served as the Executive Director for UniteBoston since 2012 and has been the catalyst for UniteBoston’s bridge-building work throughout Christians in the region. She has a certificate in Christian Foundations from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is now studying to receive her Masters of Divinity in Global and Community Engagement at Boston University. She has also worked as a consultant to organize the New England City Forum and has spoken at conferences around concepts related to evangelism, mission, Christian unity, and conflict transformation. Kelly and her husband Andrew live in an intentional Christian community in the Longwood area and are both seeking ordination in the American Baptist tradition. They enjoy spending time outdoors, and you can find them frequently biking around the city and climbing mountains.
Craig Miller
Church / Ministries:
Life Church Boston (Home church)
International Community Church (Ministry Affiliation)
What is his role for UniteBoston?
Director of Finance
How did he get involved with UniteBoston?
Met with Mike and Kelly after responding to an email communication in search for fulfilling this role.
What does he like most about UniteBoston?
Infrastructure is key in developing and growing an organization.
About Craig:
Craig is a tax accountant and business advisory consultant and currently pursuing his certified public accounting (CPA) license. In his spare time, he enjoys solving puzzles of all sorts, reading, or spending time with family and loved ones.
Chloe Gaydos
UB Role:
UB Worship Team Coordinator
Home Church:
Congregation Lion of Judah
What Chloe enjoys about UB:
“I believe that UniteBoston’s mission expresses a core utility of Christianity, and experiencing that through building dynamic relationships with the single commonality of Jesus is inspiring.”
About Chloe:
Chloe works in the consultant field in Boston. She loves to climb, play the drums, and serve the community in her spare time.
UniteBoston Reps Profiles
UniteBoston Dinner Coordinators connect church and community. They help nurture relational connections with Christians across boundaries within a specific geographic community to learn about what God is doing within a neighborhood and discern how churches and ministries can collaborate together to further God’s work.
We would love to meet you to hear about what God is doing in your midst and connect you with others who are engaged in similar work!
To connect with your local UB Rep, email Kelly at kelly@uniteboston.com
Mambi Ashu
Home Church
International Family Church
UB Neighborhood Focus
Malden
Why Mambi enjoys serving with UB:
“Serving with UniteBoston allows me to step outside my comfort zone to learn how other Christians worship Jesus. UB gives me the opportunity to learn about the diversity that exists in our Christian faith and how to share my love of God with others.”
About Mambi:
Mambi is a corporate wellness consultant by day and an avid football (soccer) player in her spare time. Mambi loves anything involving the outdoors, and enjoys getting lost in translation in different countries.
Deborah Bitzer
Home Church
Christ the King: JP/Roxbury
UB Neighborhood Focus
Evangelism
Why Deborah enjoys serving with UB:
“I enjoy serving with UniteBoston because it allows me to meet and minister alongside people with whom I likely would not have crossed paths with otherwise. The community, though broadly spread across the city, creates a place for all of God’s people to gather and develops connections that foster love in action. UniteBoston has opened my eyes to the presence of the Living Church in Boston and taught me that we are stronger and better when working together.”
About Deborah:
Deborah is originally from Philadelphia but moved to Boston a few years ago to pursue a Masters of Divinity with an emphasis on Urban Ministry from Gordon Conwell’s Boston Campus. She works at an adult day rehabilitation program and takes classes part-time. These past few years has taught her the value of serving God bi-vocationally and sharpened her vision for evangelistic outreach and community development.
Kate Devane Brown
Home Church
Mosaic Boston – Brookline
UB Neighborhood Focus
Jamaica Plain
Why Kate enjoys serving with UB:
“Friendships with fellow Christians from different cultural and denominational backgrounds have been an incredible tool that God has used in my own life to show me new facets of Himself and to validate the core truths of the gospel. My vision for volunteering with UniteBoston is to put down roots by building a network of close relationships which is attractive and welcoming to not-yet-believing neighbors and friends.”
About Kate:
A Massachusetts native, Kate spent time living in Germany after college before moving back home for her current job at an educational software startup. Kate and her husband Matt, a loyal Bostonian and Boston sports fan, share a desire to build relationships between local churches and explore ways that the gospel completes the unique culture of the city. In her free time, Kate enjoys baking, reading theology, strolling through the Arboretum, and one-on-one coffee meetups.
Paul Castiglione
Home Church:
Reservoir Church
UB Neighborhood Focus:
Somerville
Why Paul enjoys serving with UB:
Kiki Densamo
Home Church:
Hope Fellowship Church
UB Neighborhood Focus:
Cambridge
Why Kiki enjoys serving with UB:
“I love the mission and idea of connecting people, the sharing of resources and events in the Christian community. I have always seen myself as a connector. I believe by joining others like me through UniteBoston we can make a bigger impact while supporting each other. I am excited to step out and meet different people and learning from one another.”
About Kiki:
Kiki is a public health professional who lives and works in the Boston area. Her goal in life is to be in the right place at the right time doing the right thing with the right people. In short, she wants to love people by living out the purpose God has set out before her and finish the race well.
Anne Freeman
Home Church
River of Life Church (Jamaica Plain)
UB Neighborhood Focus:
Rosindale
Why Anne enjoys serving with UB:
The vision and mission of UB is right up my alley! I can say a hearty AMEN! to the goals of this ministry and long to see Jesus’ prayer answered that His church will be one. I also love to cook and host people at my home!”
About Anne:
Anne Freeman is married with a teenage daughter. She is a member at River of Life Church in Jamaica Plain, where she serves as prayer coordinator. She is an ordained deaconess with the Christian and Missionary Alliance and serves as Coordinator of New England Deaf & Hard of Hearing Ministry, under the umbrella of the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts (TABCOM). Anne works as a free lance ASL interpreter in the Boston area and loves to host people for dinner!
Peggy Hothem
Home Church
Our Savior Lutheran Church in Topsfield
UB Neighborhood Focus:
North Shore
Why Peggy enjoys serving with UB:
I am excited about serving with UniteBoston because praying for spiritual revival in New England has been on my heart for a long time. To bring followers of Jesus together in unity allows us to see how the Holy Spirit is moving in and through His church. May His kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven!
About Peggy:
Peggy is a retired professor of Recreation and Leisure Studies from Gordon College. She has been a single mother to two terrific sons who are now young adults. She feels fortunate to have the time, health, and energy to not only serve in my church and community, but to enjoy God’s beautiful creation through various recreation activities such as fitness walking, bicycling, and cross-country skiing. She loves to travel internationally to explore cultures and history, as well as serve on mission trips.
Sally Jackson
Home Church
Church of the Cross
UB Neighborhood Focus
West Roxbury
Why Sally enjoys serving with UB:
“Gathering and connecting people is what comes most naturally to me! Throw in a dinner party and people coming together to talk about God’s work in the world; there are few other places I’d rather be.”
About Sally:
Sally works in higher education student services and called Chicago, Virginia, and Prague “home” before setting down roots in Boston. When she’s not working, you can find her biking around Boston, exploring outside, cooking up a storm, and finding creative ways to bring people together around the table.
Rebekah Kerstetter
UB Neighborhood Focus:
Medford
What Rebekah enjoys about UB:
“In UniteBoston, there are so many open and friendly people all seeking to love God and others.”
About Rebekah:
Rebekah is a wife and mother of three in Massachusetts since 2017, and before that, in five other states. She loves dancing, helping people with parenting or marriage questions and relaxing with her family by playing Settlers of Catan and playing other games or watching movies.
Pastor Dan Lee
Ministry Roles
Disciple-Making Movements Coach, Accelerate New England
UB Neighborhood Focus:
Hyde Park
Why Dan enjoys serving with UB:
“John 17:23 inspires me to participate. I dream of Christians standing in complete unity as they engage in the Great Commission and multipling the Gospel Movement.”
About Dan:
Dan has served passionately in church planting movement (CPM) since 1998. In 2014, he remembered the call to develop disciple-makers and multiply. Now, he focuses on activating and coaching the catalysts for Disciple-Making Movement (DMM) in New England.
Adam Montalbano
Home Church:
Reality Boston
UB Neighborhood Focus:
East Boston
Why Adam enjoys serving with UB:
“I am passionate about connecting people across Boston together for Christ and welcoming new people. I am also skilled at organizing events and hosting people, whether in a small group setting or celebratory event.”
About Adam:
Adam works at Oracle as an IT sales consultant. He enjoys dance music, foodie culture, including visiting and connecting with the top restaurants in Boston, as well as making and enjoying craft cocktails. He is also a huge Red Sox fan and avid volleyball and ping pong player.
Caroline Meditz
Home Church
Church of the Advent
UB Neighborhood Focus
Allston/Brighton
Why Caroline enjoys serving with UB:
“I love getting to know other Christians who I may not otherwise meet at church or in my denomination!”
About Caroline:
Caroline has lived in the Boston area for almost ten years and works in higher education career services. She loves exploring the city, and in addition to Unite Boston, she volunteers with the MSPCA Safewalk program, where she helps shelter dogs become socialized for adoption.
Cleopatra Muhammad
Home Church:
Mars Hill Fellowship
UB Neighborhood Focus:
Dorchester
Why Cleo enjoys serving with UB:
“I enjoy meeting different people, being a part of a network, and experiencing God at different events.”
About Cleo:
“Put simply, I am from Massachusetts and love the Lord Jesus. I currently reside in Dorchester.”
Pastor Stephen and Rebekah Nyakairu
Home Church:
Grace Chapel – Watertown
UB Neighborhood Focus:
Watertown
Why Stephen and Rebekah enjoys serving with UB:
“We love seeing Christians unite together to be shining light in our world.”
About Stephen and Rebekah:
Stephen is the campus pastor at Grace Chapel Watertown and Rebekah teaches second grade at Park Street School in Boston. They love spending time with their young girls Grace and Emma.
Andrew Walker
Home Church:
First Lutheran Church
UB Neighborhood Focus:
Back Bay
Why Andrew enjoys serving with UB:
“Conversations starting with, “What is God doing among us?” are very influential in forming our goals and direction.”
About Andrew:
Andrew is an IT professional at the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. He studies, teaches and coaches Biblical Peacemaking. He lives in Medford and enjoys walking and reading.
UB Board of Directors
From Left to Right –
- David Wright, Black Ministerial Alliance, UniteBoston Board Member
- Vito Nicastro, Associate Director Archdiocese of Boston Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, UniteBoston Board President
- Kelly Steinhaus, UniteBoston Executive Director & Board Member
- Rita Powell, Associate Rector for Liturgy, Trinity Episcopal Church, UniteBoston Board Treasurer
- Dana Baker, Pastor of Social Justice and Multicultural Ministry, Grace Chapel, UniteBoston Board Member
Rev. David Wright
Ministry Roles:
Assistant to the Pastor, People’s Baptist Church
Executive Director, Black Ministerial Alliance
Why David enjoys serving with UB:
“I believe in the mission of UniteBoston, and we have a really interesting board of dedicated, fun people.”
About Rev. Wright:
Born and raised in Roxbury, Rev. David Wright is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law. From 1999 to 2004, David Wright served as the President and CEO of the African American Federation of Greater Boston, Inc., a collaboration of 35 community-based organizations located in inner-city Boston. David has been serving as Executive Director of the Black Ministerial Alliance since October 2007. David loves learning how to play guitar and other instruments.
Dr. Vito Nicastro
Ministry Roles:
Associate Director of the Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Home Parish: St. Mary Parish, Dedham
Why Vito enjoys serving with UB:
“I love Unite Boston for the focus on full unity among all Christians, which is Jesus’ own prayer.”
About Dr. Nicastro:
Dr. Vito Nicastro has earned degrees from Brown University, the Weston Jesuit School of Theology and Boston College. He has worked in Ecumenism since 1990 and published a book entitled From Division to Christian Unity. He is Associate Director of the Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the Roman Catholic Archdiocse of Boston. He also serves on the North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation.
Rev. Rita Powell
Ministry Roles:
Associate Rector for Liturgy, Trinity Church
Why Rita enjoys serving with UB:
“I love UB because in our time, we need to have concrete, tangible signs that God is alive in Christianity. Christians coming together across divisions is one of the ways we affirm that Christ is bigger than any of us.”
About Rev. Powell:
Rev. Rita Powell has a Masters of Divinity from Yale Divinity School, and is an episcopal priest with a particular friendship with the ecumenical community of Taize. She has worked with the Taize movement towards reconciliation for seven years in South Dakota.
Pastor Dana Baker
Ministry Roles:
Pastor of Social Justice, Multicultural Ministry, Grace Chapel
Greater Things for Greater Boston
Why Dana enjoys serving with UB:
“I especially like UniteBoston’s vision for neighborhood reps that develop deep relational ties with specific geographic areas in Boston, and how they seek to understand where God is on the move. So many of UniteBoston’s volunteers represent the next generation of leaders that God is raising up in the city.”
About Pastor Dana:
Raised in Oklahoma, Pastor Dana graduated from Rice University and practiced architecture for 20 years. She has over 20 years of experience in urban and multicultural ministry in Greater Boston, both as a lay leader and in vocational ministry. She resides in Medford with her husband Ron. She has two young adult children, and one of their favorite activities as a family is to spend time in Ocean Park, Maine each summer, where reading, games on the beach, and even an occasional swim in the frigid Maine waters provide an important opportunity for rest, relaxation, family and friends.
