LEADING SEVEN MILE ROAD
In His grace, Jesus provides His church with leaders who give their lives to strengthen the members of the body and lead the mission.
Seven Mile Road has a very simple and straight-forward polity. Our pastoral team bears senior responsibility for the life and mission of the church, like fathers in a family, and so are infused with authority to lead the ministries of Word, prayer, discipline, and governance. Our diaconal teams assist the elders in a myriad of ways. All of this is supported by a strong staff and a vibrant, active, faith-marked congregation being mobilized for gospel advance.
Pastor
Hey, I'm Matthew Kruse, and no one has benefited more than me, hands down, from Jesus bringing Seven Mile Road into existence. I'm a Bostonian kid (grew up in Revere and Everett) and a wicked bad sinner ransomed by our Father's wild grace. My dream is to see hundreds of men, women, and children living just north of Boston swept into the family of God as they connect with our church and are given a clear and compelling witness to the grace, beauty, and power of the real Jesus. I serve the life and mission of our Melrose congregation as our Lead Pastor. Grace and I have been married since 1996 and we have four quickly-growing-up sons and daughters who you'd love.
Pastor
I’m Tim. I have seen my own life encouraged and my thinking sharpened by the people of Seven Mile Road working hard to learn from and follow the teachings of Jesus. Hailing from suburban Detroit, I didn’t come to Boston for the weather, but I came with a desire to be a part of the work God is doing in the lives of Bostonians and developed a deep love for this region. Out of that desire and love, I serve as a pastor at Seven Mile Road Melrose. I am excited about the group of people God is forming to be a community doing life together in Melrose and the ongoing life-changing work God is doing in us – starting with me. I married my wife Katie in 2004, and we have embarked on an adventure together that has included travel, one never-ending good conversation, and the joyful challenge of raising our young son.
Pastor
Hey, I'm Matt, my wife Laura and I have been a part of Seven Mile Road Melrose for the last 8 years. We were married here in 2012 and have since welcomed three babies into the world here. Our family has been overwhelmingly blessed to be a part of a gospel-centered church that loves Jesus and seeks to love the locals we are sent to. We are both native New Englanders so our love for Bostonians and the culture is deep. By God's incredible grace I now serve alongside a team of Pastors to the Melrose congregation and help shepherd every Bostonian Jesus gives us to know and love him. Matt loves books, a true bibliophile. He enjoys buying them, holding them, reading them, and oddly enough smelling them. One day when he is ready to pass them to his kids he will do so and they will probably throw them away.
Pastor
Justin Gottlieb serves as the executive Pastor for the Seven Mile Road family, and is currently the acting lead pastor in Melrose. Pastor Justin lives in Malden with his wife, Myrriah, and their four kids.
Ministry Coordinator
Hey! I'm Sara Bida. Born and raised in the Boston area, I am a New Englander through and through, and as such can often be found with a Dunks iced coffee in hand (regardless of the weather). I met my husband Felipe while we were studying at Gordon College, and we've been married since 2008. Since then we've become a family of 4, and love raising our two sons together. In 2010 I walked through the doors of Seven Mile Road and almost immediately knew I belonged. I have found Seven Mile Road to be a place for real friendships, real discipleship, and real devotion to scripture and the gospel. I currently serve as the Ministry Coordinator, which means I do a little bit of everything to keep things running for many aspects of church life: Sunday morning logistics, space management, children's ministry, connections, communications, volunteer management, and event planning.
Discipleship Director
Hey I’m Michael! My wife and I have been a part of the Seven Mile Road community in Melrose since 2015. Our family has been loved and (as we like to say at Seven Mile) “gospeled” by this church family and we are better for it. As Director of Discipleship, I now get to equip our church to join in the mission of Jesus to love Bostonians. I’m a Learner. I view reading as a lifestyle and not an event. So, if you ask, I’ll tell you what novel, theology, sociology, or other book I am currently reading. I love soccer and am intentionally trying to influence my sons to embrace Aston Villa as their favorite club team. Dating my wife, playing with my sons, rooting for the Celtics, meeting with our Gospel Community, and drinking cold brew coffee round out the other major contours of my life. Excited to meet you soon!