our people
Bryan & Rachel Hehr
Bryan grew up in a Christian home, but it wasn't until high school that his faith became real. After studying finance at the University of Colorado, Bryan entered into ministry, serving in a college ministry as well as overseeing the finances at a local church....
Jay Benfante
I am an inspired follower of Jesus who believes God loved humanity so much that he entered into our pain, our dysfunction, our selfishness, our greed, our violence, and our suffering; he heals us, redeems us, and walks with us through these things; and he invites us...
Riley & Lauren Hall
Riley and Lauren have been in Glasgow since November 2020, where they work with The Upper Room Church, a dual-language community made up primarily of Iranian refugees and asylum seekers. Though they are both involved in a range of ministries within the church,...
Brenda Renderos
Brenda has always had a knack for questioning the status quo. The questions have often been inner and personal but in recent years she has become more vocal. Her questions are not just for the sake of questioning but to deepen her understanding and guard against...
Gretta Kriner
Gretta is from Pennsylvania, and learned about Communitas through Mike and Carol Kurtyka and Amy Swacina that share the same home church. Tri-State Fellowship in Hagerstown Maryland. She originally came to Glasgow in 2021 as an intern and felt called to come back. She...
Thomas and Laura Leonard
Thomas and Laura worked as community development professionals, college ministry leaders, and church plant workers for a combined 15+ years before getting married in 2022. Thomas has extensive experience in West and North Africa, Spain, France, and within immigrant...
Kristen Lalley and Thanos Pappas
An American woman met a Greek man at a cafe in central London. It may sound like the set-up to a good joke, but it's really their calling to ministry and intercultual living. Kristen and Thanos lived in a combined 5 countries and speak two languages at home. They also...
Oli and Constance Smith
Constance and Oli are Church planters with twenty years of experience each and have been involved in 8 church planting situations combined in both the U.S and U.K. They have been married since 2011 and have one amazing son. They have been involved in pioneer church...
Elena Frazier
Elena is currently living in France and working with at-risk children. The aim of the ministry she is interning with is to teach literacy so that the children can engage scripture for themselves. Through Homework Club and Youth Group, these children are given a...
Hadi & Sepideh Jafarizadeh
Hadi has been in Glasgow since 2015, and part of Upper Room Church since 2016 when it was a House Church at Wesley White's flat. Although he had not joined Communitas International at this point, his role was growing and developing so that now he is sharing the same...