Meet the Dwell Church Leadership Team

Lisa Mario, Worship Leader (She/Her)

I grew up in rural East Texas, and the Church is as much a part of my identity as almost anything else. From attending service within the first few days of my life (seriously), serving in various ways as a volunteer and spending the last 15 years in the Church in a professional capacity, I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. My relationship with it has shape-shifted over the years, and I long to be part of building a church for the future that is flourishing and has a wide-open front door. My husband, Eddie, and I are the proud (and exhausted) parents of twin boys, and consider ourselves coffee, wine, and Niners enthusiasts (not necessarily in that order).



Brian Wo, Pastor of Leadership and Systems Development (He/Him)

Born in Arizona, I was used to being the only Asian kid around, until I became a follower of Jesus in high school and began attending a Chinese church. The Bay Area became home after studying Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley;, then my wife and I settled here in 1994 after getting married. Our calling has been centered in discovering ways to serve the communities where we live and work. My vocational journey has been an adventure in faith, as I have spent most of the last few decades in church start-ups and co-founding a non-profit organization. A trip to China to serve children abandoned because of disability deepened my heart’s capacity for compassion and solidified my call to be a part of God's work to bring justice to a broken world. Life-giving things for me include running, jazz, and my ’67 Mustang.



Eunice Nichols, Leadership Team (She/Her)

I am a combination of many things: I’m a holder of the "in between," an integrator of community, a lover of storytelling (and equally of deep listening!), an adventurer with my husband Ryan, a growing friend to my teen sons, an aspiring elder, and a truth seeker. Professionally, I lead CoGenerate, a national nonprofit that brings older and younger changemakers together to bridge divides, solve problems, and co-create the future. Spiritually, I'm a hybrid of the Chinese church, Baptist tradition, and Presbyterian life of the mind. Over the last decade, as I've watched the mass exodus of young people (including my sons) from church, I've become obsessed with finding new expressions of faith and spiritual practice that feel relevant to the next generation -- and our times. Helping to build Dwell is a part of that journey!

Karina Wilhelms, Leadership Team (She/Her)

I am originally from Southern California but moved to the Bay Area for college and discovered that the Bay feels like home. I love the trees, the weather, the culture, the food, the diversity – all of it! (except that wind…) I’m the child of a doctor and a nurse, so helping others has always been fundamental in my family. I grew up in an agnostic, non church-attending home but started attending youth group with a close friend in high school. I became a Christian through that church and an incredibly impactful mission trip building houses in Tijuana. My husband and I have lived in San Mateo since 2009 and are raising our 3 boys here. I am passionate about Diversity and Inclusion and excited to be a part of a truly inclusive and affirming church plant that is centered on Jesus.

Atzi Gates

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