Meet our team of Pastors
MAT HOLLEN serves as the lead pastor at St. Thomas. Mat has been involved in full-time ministry for 20 years. He studied theology in college and went on to complete a Masters of Divinity from George Fox (now Portland) Seminary. Mat is currently pursuing a ThD in Open & Relational Theology at Northwind Theological Seminary
Mat worked for the para-church ministry, Young Life, for five years and has a passion for helping people see how compelling Jesus can be. Mat is married to his incredible wife Becca. They live in South Salem with their sons Emmett & Noah, their dog Winnie, and their 27 chickens
CHRIS MAY serves as the Pastor of Worship Curation at St. Thomas. He has been involved in both traditional and non-traditional ministry for most of his adult life. Chris spent a decade serving as a youth and worship pastor before helping to build a community of care for Salem’s unhoused neighbors as an Incarnational Leader at Church@thePark. He holds a degree in Religion and Philosophy from Northwest Nazarene University.
Chris is passionate about curating worship environments that invite our authentic expressions of wonder, gratitude, and lament in response to the mystery of God and our complicated life as humans. He is the proud co-parent of three kids: Kadence, Judah, and Zoe.
Four days a week, Chris dons a Hawaiian shirt and helps Salem find Everything but the Bagel Seasoning, and the elusive mini tote at Trader Joe's. Hit him up for the best ways to use Chili Onion Crunch.
MAE KANIM OHREN serves as Pastor of Children and Youth as well as a second role as our Church Administrator, where she brings five years of experience in Children’s Ministry leadership. Mae is passionate about supporting kids and their families as they walk with Jesus through every season of life. At home, she enjoys life with her family, their two dogs, Snoopy and Ari, and their cat, Bandit.
HEIDI THURSTON serves as the Seminarian Pastor of Community for St. Thomas. Heidi first and foremost is a storyteller. With her undergraduate degree in theatre and Christian ministry from George Fox University, storytelling has always been the lens through which she sees the world -- both through theatre and how she is called to empower God's beloved. Heidi's ministry path has been unconventional. She has spent the last 15 years doing everything from cleaning church toilets, to teaching classes, to leading children's ministry. But her favorite role is to walk alongside people as they heal, doubt, learn, love and grow in who God has made them to be, as they seek their Imago Dei. After teaching theatre for two years, Heidi will be pursuing her masters in theological studies at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology.
Most days you will find her with a good book and a cup of coffee as she seeks stories of many kinds. Heidi lives in Keizer with her husband Caleb and three daughters, Alice, Elizabeth and Laura, who are usually singing Broadway show tunes and eating good food together.
Meet Our Leadership Team
Connie Williams, Church Chair
Alexis Frederick, Vice-Chair
Brad Box, Finance Chair
John Marshall, Secretary
Emma Felzien
Tillerman Kroon
Caitlin St Peter
Ingrid Thomas