Christine Caine is a speaker, author, and activist who has been serving the local church globally for over 30 years. She and her husband, Nick, founded the anti-human trafficking organization, The A21 Campaign, which works at the local, domestic, and international level to end modern-day slavery. They also founded Equip & Empower, a ministry that is mobilizing people everywhere to live on mission for Jesus. Propel Women is an initiative of the ministry dedicated to coming alongside women all over the globe to activate their God-given purpose. The ministry has also planted three life-giving Zoe Churches in Europe that are not only bringing the Gospel to the region, but also serve the most vulnerable through humanitarian outreach during times of crisis.
Christine is the best-selling author of more than a dozen books and studies and you can tune into her weekly podcast or television program to be encouraged with the hope of Jesus wherever you are. Christine holds a Master’s Degree in Evangelism and Leadership from Wheaton College.
Drew Hyun is the Founder and Lead Pastor of Hope Church NYC, a diverse church with three locations in New York City. Drew is also the President of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, an organization that aims to transform church culture through the multiplication of deeply changed pastors and leaders. He regularly speaks at churches, conferences, and college campuses throughout the United States and abroad.
He is a graduate of UC Berkeley, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div), and Fuller Theological Seminary (DMin) and is the author of the book, Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful: How Gratitude, Grief, and Grace Reflect the Christian Story.
Jay Pathak is the National Director of Vineyard USA. He also serves as the Lead Pastor of the Mile High Vineyard, a family of neighborhood churches in Denver, that he and his wife Danielle, planted in 2001.
Jay co-wrote the book, The Art of Neighboring, with Dave Runyon. His passion for sharing his faith with the people around him is at the center of his calling.
Jay is a humble, empowering leader who is passionate about raising up leaders around him. His strengths, in particular, lie in strategically placing people on teams where they thrive. Additionally, he regularly thinks of ministry in context of culture and developing relationships and partnerships in the city, government, and across denominational lines.
Jay has lead in various contexts throughout the Vineyard starting as an intern for Rich Nathan at the Columbus Vineyard in his early ministry days, and stretching into various positions of translocal leadership including serving on the Vineyard USA Executive Team for many years. He is a sought after speaker and coach, while keeping strong ties to the local community.
Jay has a BA in Philosophy from The Ohio State University and is a graduate of the Vineyard Leadership Institute. Jay met his wife, Danielle, in high school and they were married in 1998; they have two beautiful daughters, Jasmine and Sofia.
Charles A. Montgomery, Jr serves as the Associations Directorfor Vineyard USA. Charles also founded a successful multiethnic Campus (Vineyard Columbus East) and has pastored there since 2012. His passion is to develop Beloved Communities as espoused by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, an alumnus of Charles’ alma mater, Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.
Charles has a B.A. in Mathematics from Morehouse, a Master of Divinity from Emory University (Ga) and a PhD in Ethical and Creative Leadership from Union Institute University (OH).
He has earned several credentials in Diversity Training and is a Certified Spiritual Director through the Sustainable School of Faith.
He considers his greatest accomplishment (ok, grace) being married to his childhood crush, Kimberly. Charles and Kimberly are avid Buckeye fans (Go Bucks!) and make their home in Columbus Ohio.
Melanie Forsythe-Lee is the leader of the Women’s Association for Vineyard USA, giving voice, encouragement and support to women throughout the movement.
Melanie was born and raised in the post-Christian landscape of Australia. Her parents were church planters, and it was in that context that her love of local church was cultivated. Her passion for Jesus and people led her and her now late husband to start a youth ministry that saw hundreds of teens come to Christ, as well as leading the 24/7 prayer base in Australia.
They moved to Ohio in 2003 to work as Youth Pastors, and in 2009 they were sent out to plant LIFE Vineyard Church. Thirteen years later, LIFE has grown into a vibrant faith community, a sheltering tree in the heart of Columbus. This community also extends to Cambodia and India, where, through a partnership with Asia’s Hope, LIFE supports two family-style orphan care homes for at-risk children. Visiting the children in India each year is one of the deep loves of Melanie’s life and ministry.
Melanie has been a Pastor’s daughter, Pastor’s wife, a co-lead Pastor, and now solo lead Pastor. This unique perspective has developed a passion to see women empowered and released into their callings at every level of ministry leadership and she is excited about serving the women of the Vineyard in her new role.
Melanie is married to Andrew and is the proud mother of three incredible teenagers. In her free time you’ll find her growing her own vegetables in her rather large garden, baking in her kitchen, or listening to live music.
Mary Anne de la Torre
VUSA Asian American Pacific Islander Association Leader
Mary Anne serves as the Executive Pastor in charge of the NextGen Ministry at the North Jersey Vineyard in South Hackensack, NJ. She was born in the Philippines and moved to New Jersey at almost 7 years of age and loves all that New Jersey has to offer in terms of its beautiful people and amazing culinary experiences (she loves to eat food from all over the world).
Mary Anne seeks that our younger generations experience Jesus for themselves. She hopes to bless and encourage them in their faith journey to know God, experience His presence, and to continue to seek the Lord’s good and perfect plans for the rest of their lives.
Mary Anne also joyfully serves the wider Vineyard USA Movement as the Asian American Pacific Islander Association Leader.
Mary Anne and her husband Rich have two kids, Marcus and Noemi. They also have a puppy named Charlie. She loves to travel, spend time with her family, and works part-time as a donut connoisseur. She tries to run to offset all the donuts in her spare time.
Rubén Quintero is a follower of Jesus Christ, married to Vaneza, and father of Rubén (20), David (18), and Iván (16). Since 2022, he has led the Hispanic Association for Vineyard USA, supporting pastors and leaders by providing leadership development.
He serves as the senior pastor of Imperial Valley Vineyard, a church founded in 2009 in El Centro, CA. The church has actively supported its local community and, since 2011, has participated in the Iberia Partnership to assist Vineyard churches in Spain and Portugal. Rubén is dedicated to supporting immigrant communities—particularly agricultural field workers—and acts as a chaplain for a private harvesting company.
He is presently affiliated with the National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NALEC) and is pursuing graduate studies at Fuller Theological Seminary.
