Head Elder

(She/Her)

Hi, I’m Cheryl. I’m retired and when the weather is nice, I spend most of my day working/playing in the garden or the yard. When I’m not doing that, I’m sitting on the patio enjoying a good book. I love spending time with friends and my large family. I came to Paradox because I was looking for an open and affirming church. I was so surprised my first day attending, with how powerful the music and sermon were, and the people? Oh my gosh, they were so welcoming. It felt like home the first day. Since then, I have made Paradox my spiritual home where I feel loved, welcomed, and part of the family.

(She/Her)

I love being part of an inclusive faith community where everyone—including children—is welcomed, celebrated, and encouraged to participate. I am grateful for my Paradox family and appreciate the ways Paradox actively serves our members and our wider community.

In this spiritual home at Paradox, I have found the freedom to question, disagree, lament, celebrate and praise. For me, that atmosphere fosters a desire for personal study, spiritual growth, and deeper understanding.

(She/Her)
I didn’t grow up in a church and struggled with the concept of God and church due to my perception of hypocrisy within the Christian tradition. What I appreciate about Paradox is its unwavering commitment to inclusivity, its willingness to address challenging questions, and its relevance to our contemporary lives. I am honored to continue supporting Paradox in its mission to see and embrace Jesus Christ in all.

(She/Her)
I am a retired pediatric dietitian, the best part of which is spending time with my grandkids! I love the beach, hiking, gardening, games, friends, meeting new people, and having adventures. My favorite thing to make and eat is chocolate chip cookies (and they always taste best before breakfast!). My "go to" shoes have been Birkenstocks for at least 50 years. My husband, Ken, and I were part of the group who voted to start Paradox Church. Being a member of this community has greatly enriched our lives!

(She/Her)
Hi Paradox, my name is Yasmine! I am an IE local and current 4th year medical student at LLU. I have been a member of Paradox since 2024, but the first time I actually attended was when I was still in college in 2018. I remember being blown away at the radical love and acceptance of Paradox’s mission statement. Today, I am still blown away by Paradox’s radical love, and I am also so grateful to the community that I’ve met here that has supported me over the years. I am honored to serve this community as an Elder.

(They/He)

Hello! I'm Christian Barrera-Sandri, just another nerdy Latino and Queer adventurer and homebody. If I'm not playing one of my many games or reading, you'll probably find me quietly thinking about that stuff with coffee in hand. I try to lead many fantasy lives as rich as my real one as a husband to an excellent man and plant dad working retail. After the pandemic and struggling with my own faith, I quickly googled, "Gay Friendly Churches" and quickly dove headfirst into serving and making this church my home making others feel as welcome as I did.