I moved to Philadelphia to teach high school and was looking for a community and church to serve and be a part of outside of my classroom. Though I was raised in a traditional Lutheran church, it was more routine and convenience that played out in my family and I didn't come to know a true relationship with Christ until several years ago. Some people were put into my life, and others taken away, during a hard but restorative period where I grew to know God's love and goodness. Jesus is at work in my life, and marriage now, to call me closer to him and to rely on him, and to show me I need his grace every single day. I look forward to continuing to build relationships at Liberti and to be a part of a community where I can live and serve alongside friends and family.

JEREMY JULIEN

Growing up in a Christian home as a pastor’s kid, I came to faith as a young child (I don't remember the age). I grew up in the church, but now see that I was always more concerned on performance and approval (mostly of my parents) than a relationship with Christ. After many years wandering away from my faith in college and many years of my 20's, I finally let God back in my life and he started to do an amazing work on my heart. Presently, Jesus is still working on my stubborn, selfish heart, of which I has become even more apparent through marriage. He is pushing me outside of my comfort level and wants me to give sacrificially of my time and money. He is growing me into the man he intended me to be (this is a slow process). I look forward to being part of a community that is approachable, fun, honest and interested in ministering to the city. It has been a long time since I have served, so I am excited about serving and using my gifts at Liberti.

JENNA DUBOSE

I grew up with divorced parents who didn’t know God. I learned about Jesus and committed my life to Him at a Young Life camp as a freshmen in high school. Since then, it has been apparent that He has been present in both major life decisions and minor everyday details, and He has been my source of comfort in more ways than I can count. I most look forward to continuing to grow, pray, and experience Philly life with my liberti family.

KAREN RUSSO

I grew up in a Christian home and got saved at age four. My father is a pastor and I approached him and said I'm a sinner and I need Jesus to forgive me or I will go to hell. God is teaching me that he is sufficient and I can trust him to provide for my needs. I hope to use my spiritual gifts to further God's kingdom at Liberti and develop friendships with others.

NATE HELLER

I grew up in a Christian family and never knew a time when faith was not emphasized as an important part of life. Nevertheless, the faith I practiced for much of my childhood and early adult life was very focused on believing the right things; the heart aspects of living and caring for one another in community often fell by the wayside. When I met my then-future wife, Marci, and began attending her church, I became connected for the first time to other Christians interested in discipling me and helping me embrace the church as a family rather than just as a group of people to gather with on Sunday. Now that Marci and I have moved to Philadelphia, we both feel called to liberti to be Christ's body to our community, neighborhood, and city.

MARCELLA HELLER

I was raised in a Christian home and accepted Jesus as my Savior at a very young age. I went to a Christian school and was very involved in church growing up and then went to a Christian college doing everything "right" along the way. After I started living on my own, I experienced a dark period in my life until Jesus sent my brother to ask "Are you alive?" and "Do you have community?" The answer to both was "no". This became the turning point and I experienced the pursuance and grace of Jesus in a huge way. Now, this "country bumpkin" is living in the city and loving it! I am so thankful for the Liberti community and am looking forward to deepening the relationships that have begun here and showing Jesus' love to Philadelphia.

REBECCA TIBBETTS

Growing up in a Christian family, I heard the gospel message my entire life and made a profession of faith at a young age. Still, it wasn't until around the time that I graduated high school that I truly understood what it meant to know Jesus in a real and personal way. I am thankful for the Lord's never-failing love, this journey of faith and redemption, and the privilege of serving Him in this life. Liberti has been a great encouragement for my husband and me. We are blessed to have found a community that seeks to know the Lord and endeavors to share the story of His forgiveness with its friends, neighbors, and the city at large. I am excited to formalize my commitment to this church and the work it is doing in the city of Philadelphia.

MICHAEL TIBBETTS

I became a believer in Jesus Christ at a young age then was baptized at a middle school youth camp. I reconfirmed my commitment to my faith in Jesus in college where I was encouraged by a strong community of believers. I feel blessed to have participated in a home group at liberti this past year where I have been encouraged by new friends. I am excited to join the community of believers at Liberti to continue growing in my faith and serving the city of Philadelphia.

ASHLEY BRUCE

I grew up in a Nazarene church in the San Francisco Bay Area. I was baptized at the age of 16 which was when I first truly understood what it meant for Jesus Christ to be the Lord and sole purpose of my life. The people and community that God has brought into my life and the lessons He has taught me have made my journey of life so incredibly abundant and beautiful. God has been filling me with both humility and hope each day. “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:35). He is teaching me to die to self now, by surrendering the sovereignty of myself to the sovereignty of God. I am looking forward to being a part of our church as it grows in numbers and in faith. I am so thankful to be a part of a community of people that love living in Philadelphia for this time in our journey with the purpose of loving and serving our God and the people of this city.

JESSICA TURNBULL

I was raised in the church and I've been blessed to have Godly parents who taught me what an amazing Father I had. But going out on my own after college has been a time to claim my faith as my own. I felt God calling me to go on an adventure and move to Philadelphia and I have been so thankful to find something here that's been missing in my life in the past two years — community.

ELIZABETH SCHWEIZER

I was raised in an evangelical christian family and my faith was part of my life from an early age. I grew up in Israel and my faith was shaped significantly by growing up in a country and culture with a rich biblical history. After I graduated from college, I tried to find a church but never found a place where I was comfortable. Not being involved in a community of believers took a real toll on my faith and spirituality. My relationship with God suffered too. For a long time my life felt directionless and lonely. After I found liberti, I began to experience a renewal in my faith and my longing for God. I am beginning to understand God's mercy in a way that I never have before. I look forward most to the community and being surrounded by genuine, loving, humble, supportive people. I look forward to serving the people of this city alongside a church family who is as passionate about this city as I am.

BLAKE HUNTER

I grew up in the church, but never really believed everything the Bible said. After trying to live my life for myself, and falling on my face, I turned to the only thing I thought could fix my screwed up life. God. Now Jesus is shaping and molding me into a real man, and I look forward to being lifted up and held accountable by the community here at Liberti.

MEG DILEO

I grew up in the faith, although I didn’t make it my own until adulthood. God has been changing my life and showering me with blessings as I follow Him through these rough waters. I look forward to growing in and with liberti as we work together in ministry.

NICOLE LEWIS

For many years I thought life was about pain and turmoil, with only mere glimpses of happiness. I thought that cynicism was the only appropriate response. Turning towards Jesus and gaining a faith after years of atheism was a process fraught with doubts, but the peace that developed in my body and mind was undeniable. There was hope, and I found it in Him.