Impact Staff
-
Chris Potts | Youth Pastor
Born and raised in Tacoma, I am excited to serve Jesus here. I met Jesus in elementary school and grew up in church...
-
Makayla Guzman | Coordinator
I put my faith in Jesus in elementary school, but I had a very shallow understanding of what walking with the Lord was...
-
Kiara Frantz | Intern
I’ve lived in Washington my whole life and always been connected to churches in the area…
High School Leaders
Alexa Pedersen
Amy Potts
Mateo Zacapu
Piper Talladay
Dustin Talladay
Jill Newman
Karl Newman
Kellen Westering
Santi Hernandez
Middle School Leaders
Anders Pedersen
AJ Pearson
Caden Pedersen
Emma DeVries
Fernanda Duran
Isaiah Knouff
Sadie Mae Potts
Additional Leaders
Malachi Nyhuis
Randy Guzman
Staff Bios
CHRIS POTTS | Born and raised in Tacoma, I am excited to serve Jesus here. I met Jesus in elementary school and grew up in church knowing him but didn’t really choose to follow him until 1999. As a parent, coach, teacher, and now youth pastor, I am passionate about helping young men and women through the hard process of growing up.
I have been married to my beautiful wife Amy since 1994. We have been attending FBC since 2002. We have 5, mostly adult, children (One is married in!) who have all been blessed by the youth group at FBC. This makes it such an honor for me to be able to serve Jesus through Impact since he has used it to richly bless my family. In addition to teaching, I also serve as a high school boys small group leader.
I love to barbecue, travel, and read. I even enjoy most home remodeling projects. Oh, it’s also really awesome to cross things off my Honey Do list. Am I right? Pizza is great, coffee rocks, but ice cream rules!
MAKAYLA GUZMAN | I put my faith in Jesus in elementary school, but I had a very shallow understanding of what walking with the Lord was supposed to be until I was in college, where I committed fully to loving the Lord with all my heart, mind, and soul.
I graduated from Calvary Chapel Bible College with a degree in Biblical Studies, and I am passionate about teaching teenagers how to study the Bible and apply its truth to their lives, equipping them to serve the church and be leaders in their communities. At Impact, I coordinate our volunteer team, lead our Student Leadership Team, and serve as a high school girls small group leader.
I also work as a photographer at a portrait studio, and you can pretty much always find me with a camera in hand. If you love good espresso, green smoothies, traveling, documentary podcasts, game nights, bookstores, and paddle boarding - let’s be friends.
KIARA FRANTZ | I’ve lived in Washington my whole life and have always been connected to churches in the area, though I took my relationship with God for granted until I was a sophomore in high school. The Lord met me where I was, and I’ve been walking next to him in closeness ever since. I emphasize the importance of taking your relationship with God seriously due to the immense changes for the better I saw in my own life and others who walk with him.
I’ve been attending Impact at FBC since 2018 and have been coming to church full time at FBC since 2023.
When I’m not at work I enjoy; Reading, running, writing, cliff jumping and other adrenaline driven activities :)
Leader Team Bios
Alexa Pedersen | I have been coming to FBC since I was in high school (2009). Youth Group was where my faith became my own, and not just something I did with my parents. Now I get to encourage students to develop a personal relationship with Jesus, just like I did! I went to college for Piano Performance and love to play in the worship band. I work for the Seattle Symphony, and fortunately I get to work from home most of the time. But when I take the train to Seattle, I enjoy reading my Bible or listening to Christian podcasts and audiobooks. I’ve been doing the same bible reading plan since 2019, and I’m passionate about challenging students to cultivate a love for God’s Word. Ask me about my Bible reading plan anytime, and I’ll happily talk your ear off!
Aside from that, I enjoy Disneyland, cats, memes, classical music, and any behind-the-scenes/how-it’s-made content from my favorite movies or TV shows. My husband, Anders and I just got married in 2023. He is a middle school boys leader and also plays electric guitar in the worship band. We enjoy serving together, playing tennis together, and having friends over to our house, which is only 5 minutes from church!
Amy Potts | I didn’t grow up going to church, yet I had a reverence for God that is hard to explain. However, I had no idea what the Bible said, what it meant to follow God, and I had no desire to change. Mostly, I was happy living that way, even into my adult years. Thanks be to God, He didn’t leave me that way! I was married to Chris and had two little boys at the time I began to realize how scared I was to die. The thought of going to hell left me absolutely panic stricken. I knew I had never surrendered to God. I had never taken the time to know God and His attributes. But God. ♥️ God‘s amazing mercy and grace saved me. He gave me a desire to change when I honestly started to seek him. I learned that God’s promises are true. Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; Seek, and you will find; Knock, and it will be opened to you.” The peace of God truly transcends all understanding to which I am eternally grateful!! I love serving for the glory of God! What an incredible honor to be part of the body of Christ and to be used by Him! Being able to serve alongside my husband and my kids is such a total blessing! I also work full-time as a daycare owner. I have a house renovation happening at all times. I love, love, love traveling, hosting events, and spending time with my family! ♥️♥️♥️
Anders Pedersen | I’ve been coming to FBC my whole life and love helping lead in youth ministry. I remember how much growth I saw in my own life and faith during my time in youth group. I had leaders encouraging me to read my Bible and helping me find friends who were serious about their faith. I hope to similarly encourage the students at Impact as they seek to make their faith their own.
When I’m not at youth group, I enjoy reading, playing guitar, and programming. I also enjoy spending time with my lovely wife Alexa, who is one of the high school girl leaders.
AJ Pearson | I was born and raised in Kennewick Washington. I grew up going to church but lived a completely immoral and ungodly life for the first three years I was in high school. I repented and started truly living for Jesus when I was eighteen years old. Reflecting on my own experience makes me understand how important it is to be surrounded by believers & have godly role models in our lives.
I now live in Gig Harbor and have been at FBC since August 2022. I enjoy reading, hiking, running, golfing, fishing, and boating. I am currently pursuing a degree in Bible Apologetics through Liberty Online.
Caden Pedersen | I have had the pleasure of growing up in a Christian family, and have been attending FBC for my whole life. Because of this, there are countless people who have been a massive encouragement to me and my faith by the way they lived for Christ and for others. Having benefitted greatly from the influence of servant leaders throughout my own life, I hope to reflect the love and grace Christ has given me in the way that I live and interact with the students of Impact, as well as the leaders I serve alongside.
In August I will start Blue Origin's ELTD Rotational Program doing technical design and drafting. When I've got free time on my hands I enjoy reading, cooking/baking, knife making, bouldering, and all things music!
Dustin Talladay | I was raised 30 minutes from Niagara Falls in New York until I got my GED at 18. I was raised in the church and in a believing family, but did not take it seriously or accept Christ as my Lord until late highschool age/early college. I’ve seen both good and bad examples of leadership in the church during my life. The bad experiences taught me how important it was to have strong leadership and I’ve sought to become a leader like this. These experiences led to my faith in Jesus and to a desire to pursue a degree in ministry.
I have a Bachelors Degree in Youth Ministry, and I am now in school full time at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon (online), pursuing a Masters in Divinity. I previously spent 7 years as an engineer in the army. I enjoy working on cars, woodworking, gaming, gardening, and I love cooking but never use recipes. I love animals, especially my dog Simo. My wife Piper and I both serve together at Impact and recently welcomed our first son, Shepherd!
Emma DeVries | I have lived in the beautiful PNW for my whole life and have been attending FBC for a little over a decade. Being raised in a household and community of believers, I had a head full of biblical knowledge but lacked the true understanding and depth that comes with true belief and ownership of my faith. It wasn’t until my late teens that I took the full leap of faith in Christ to commit to living a life honoring to the Lord with my whole being.
In 2020, I graduated from Ecola Bible College where I spent my time deep diving into Biblical Studies. My passion is serving youth and walking alongside them in their unique walks with the Lord. I was a student in FBC’s youth ministry from 6th-12th grade and I am beyond thankful for the experiences, leaders, and community which shaped and further inspired my own growth in Christ.
Along with my passion to serve youth, you can often find me in a coffee shop, with friends & family, or in class studying to be an esthetician! On my “me-days”, I like to spend my time reading, spending time outdoors, or spending time with my husband, Levi!
Fernanda Duran | I was born and raised in Washington. I have been attending church since the age of 8, but I didn’t take my relationship with the Lord seriously until 7th grade and have been growing in my faith with Him ever since. I grew to understand the importance of having a relationship with the Lord, and I saw the overwhelming joy the Lord brought not only into my life but also into the lives of those around me.
I have been attending FBC specifically since 2022. I enjoy paddle boarding, trying new coffee shops, and spending time outdoors, but I'm up for anything. I am currently in school studying elementary education.
Isaiah Knouff | Bio Coming Soon!
Jill Newman | I was born into a large non-Christian family. I grew up in small paper mill towns across the country, moving every few years. It wasn’t until I moved to Washington in the early 80’s that I really heard the gospel for the first time. I accepted Jesus as my Savior at the age of 23. Since then, the Lord has consistently called me out of my comfort zone as He works to make me more like Jesus.
My husband, Karl, and I have been happily married for over 30 years. It’s a joy to serve together in a ministry that we both love. We have two married children, whom we homeschooled through high school. We also have five adorable grandkids that keep us on our toes! Free time is full of reading, art, creative writing & studying God’s Word. My favorite part of youth ministry is getting to know each individual person and pointing them to Jesus.
Karl Newman | I accepted Jesus as my savior at age 5 and as both Savior and Lord at age 18, when I made a commitment to be changed to be like him! I have been happily married to my beautiful wife, Jill, for more than 30 years. Our two married children, their spouses and our five grandchildren make for energetic and fun family gatherings. I run a technology company in Seattle as well as a separate leadership development company.
I’m excited about helping our FBC youth serve God by discovering their gifts and talents and using them to show Christ to the world. I also enjoy hiking, biking, music, basketball and sailing.
Kellen Westering | I grew up going to FBC, surrounded by faith, but for the longest time, I didn't fully embrace or live the Christian life on the inside because I knew what it would cost. On the outside I played the game, I could tell you every popular Christian song and recite every popular verse. After living a lukewarm lifestyle and chasing worldly desires, I finally committed wholeheartedly to loving the Lord with all my heart, mind, and soul in my late 20's. When I decided to truly follow Jesus, I discovered a deep and lasting joy that goes beyond temporary happiness. His love and guidance fills our hearts with peace and contentment, even in challenging times. By walking in His footsteps, we experience a true and fulfilling joy that nothing else in the world can offer. I believe God has given me energy, drive, and passion for intentional connection and I've absolutely loved serving at Impact. Being able to build God's kingdom together by nurturing the next generation in their faith is truly remarkable.
I'm married to my beautiful bride Taylor and we live in North Tacoma. I work at the YMCA Corporate Office where I help oversee Membership. In my free time, you will catch me playing pickleball or talking about pickleball!
Malachi Nyhuis | Although I received the gift of salvation when I was 9, my journey with the Lord didn't take off until I was 13 when He rescued me from certain physical death. He brought my life up from the deep (literally) and carried me onto dry ground. Ever since that moment, my life has been filled with an indescribable joy as I learn how to serve our good and faithful Father more fully, with all of my heart, through each passing day.
I’ve been attending Fellowship Bible Church my whole life, and I love this church community deeply. I’ve had the privilege of serving on both the sound team (13+ years) and in youth ministry (10 years). My heart & passion are for the young men of our church, and although my job as a UPS Driver (as well as the needs of my growing family) often prevent me from serving on Tuesday nights, I have stayed as involved and intentional as possible by helping wherever I am able. I love my beautiful wife, Margo, and I love to play with each of my sweet children as they grow older. I enjoy reading/listening to books and podcasts, board gaming, tinkering with/fixing literally anything, road-trips, deep, biblical conversations and in learning, all around.
Mateo Zacapu | I grew up going to church for as long as I can remember, but for a while, faith was just something I went along with because it was part of my family’s life. That all changed during my freshman year of high school. It was at youth group here at FBC where I really began to understand who Jesus is and what it meant to have a personal relationship with Him. The teaching, friendships, and encouragement I found here helped me grow in ways I never expected, and my faith became real and personal. Because of that experience, I felt God calling me to step into a leadership role. I wanted to give back—to encourage students the same way I was encouraged, to walk alongside them as they grow, and to help them see that following Jesus is the most important and life-changing decision they could ever make.
When I’m not at youth group, you can usually find me fishing, traveling to new places, listening to music or podcasts, playing video games, or just enjoying time outdoors. I love connecting with people, sharing stories, and seeing how God works in different lives. My hope is that every student who comes to youth group will feel welcomed, cared for, and challenged to take their next step in faith.
Piper Talladay | I started attending FBC in 2019 after moving to Washington from the East Coast and have been so blessed to be welcomed and loved by my family in Christ here! It is a great blessing and privilege to serve your kids and watch them as they grow in their walk with Christ. Seeing these kids experience the love of Jesus and a family of believers is beautiful.
My husband, Dustin, and I have been married for seven years, and it’s a joy to serve in youth group alongside each other! I am an artist, painting mostly equine portraits, and I am a cofounder of an online art school. I love animals, gardening, adventures, and hosting! Dustin and I recently welcomed our firstborn son, Shepherd and he’s the best!
Randy Guzman | I’ve lived in the Lakewood/Tacoma area my entire life. I work in construction safety, and also do side work as a First Aid/CPR Instructor. I was married for 25 years, until my late-wife Stephanie passed away in 2019. I have four kids (all now young adults), all of whom love the Lord. I did not grow up in the church, but accepted the Lord as my personal Savior in my late 20’s.
I have been attending FBC for 15 years now, and have been serving in the Impact Youth Ministry for the last 10 years. I had been serving as a HS boys leader, but have more recently transitioned into a leadership role focusing on the youth worship & music ministry. I play the drums, guitar, and sometimes bass in our worship bands and have the opportunity to train up students to use their gifts to serve the Lord. I consider it a privilege to be able to work in youth ministry, and look forward to seeing how the Lord uses me to impact the lives of those students He puts in my path.
I enjoy camping, traveling, grilling, and just spending time with my friends and family!
Sadie Mae Potts | I first realized my need for Jesus when I was 8 years old. I accepted Him in my heart and was baptized a few months later. In high school I realized what it was to make my faith my own. I went to public school and saw the impact I could make standing out for the Lord. Then in college I went to a “Christian University” that didn’t actually stand on Christian values based on the Bible. So I wrestled a lot with what the Bible says and what the world says and how to navigate that. Because I have walked through seasons of wrestling with what is truth and what is from the world, it has grown my faith in really cool ways. I not only trust the Lord’s character and His Word, but I am sure that God is good and just in all His ways.
I love a good competition and anything revolving around sports. I love to travel and be adventurous. Being outdoors always makes me feel close to the Lord. I love a good dance party. Anything that revolves around being in the sun is my total jam, even though I’m Irish and burn immediately. I love to be with people and build relationships. I’m very close with my family and I’m thankful for the rich community that the Lord has given me through FBC.
Santi Hernandez | I was born in Cúcuta, Colombia, and grew up in a Christian family, but for eight years I lived a worldly life far from God. Everything changed when I encountered Christ and made the decision to leave that life behind and follow Him completely. Since March 2022 I have been part of Fellowship Bible Church, where God has been shaping my faith and surrounding me with a Christ-centered community. I now live in Tacoma, Washington and I enjoy writing stories, composing songs, cooking, hiking, watching movies and going to the beach. I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Theological Studies at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. I speak both English and Spanish, although people often say I have a strong accent in English and somehow even in Spanish as well.