What We Do
ABF is a church that strives to share the Gospel of Christ in a holistic way. To this end, we have functionally divided our ministry into 4 basic silos of operation. These silos serve as houses for our ministries that focus on feeding the greater gospel narrative in our church. Our Gospel silos include Education, Wellness, Arts, and Community.
Education
We express our faithful service to Jesus by learning about the Gospel, teaching it to our community, innovating its distribution, and putting into the hearts, homes and hands of our communities.
- • Weekly Sermons
- • ABF Studios Podcasts
- • Eldership Academy
and more…
Wellness
We express our faithful service to Jesus by being good stewards of our health. This includes everything from nutrition to mental health. Physical transformation demonstrates the holistic nature of salvation.
- • Insight Counseling
- • Nutritional Counseling
- • Edith Schaeffer Gardens
and more…
Arts
We express our devotion to God by enabling our community to mirror his creativity. By mastering our creative expression, we glorify our God in fascinating and exciting ways.
- • ABFid
- • Open Studio
- • Feast with Ravens
- • Mite Records
and more…
Community
We express our devotion to God by emphasizing The Trinity. By innovating various ways for the congregation to connect we can be meaningful participants in his nature.
- • Haven: House of Ministry
- • Developmental Cadre
- • Volunteer Days
- • ABF Events
and more…
How Do We Operate?
Aletheia Bible Fellowship is a non-insular “church-in-community.” It has no traditional place of worship and no standard worship service. Its primary form of worship is lived in the community as various acts of service. Whereas other churches come together on Sunday mornings for a time of song and sermon, members of Aletheia connect out and about in the community to interact with non-believers, give pastoral counsel, give service, and orchestrate circles of worship.
Our Monthly Sunday Rhythm
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1
Sermon Recording
Location TBA. We record the foundational sermon that sets the trajectory for the month.
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2
House Church
Intimate worship and fellowship hosted directly in congregational homes.
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3-4
Community Outreach
Active witnessing, prayer, counseling, and pastoral interaction. Locations are announced weekly.
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5
Church Synergy
On months with five Sundays, we attend other local churches with an emphasis on making meaningful connections.
Podcast & Teaching: Instead of traditional weekly monologues from the pulpit, our pastors output a dialogue-style podcast released on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sundays. This podcast focuses on the year’s learning arc and deeply connects with the core sermon recorded every 1st Sunday.
Throughout the week, our congregation also meets to tend animals, work in gardens, learn artistry, and build skills at the ABF Ministry Campus, creating a holistic and healthy community of believers.
The ABF Ministry Campus
Primarily a place of residence, this church-owned property at the base of Zion Hill is where we farm, build skills, and enjoy our community. It is not a traditional place of religious assembly.
Damascus, OR 97089
Latest Teachings
Catch up on our monthly foundational sermons and weekly dialogue-style podcasts produced by ABF Studios.
About Aletheia
Aletheia Bible Fellowship is a church with a 501(c)3 nonprofit status. It is Bible-believing, with traditionally held doctrines and values. It has a congregationally affirmed Eldership structure and has been operating since 2004. Its operational headquarters is the ABF Ministry Campus—a church-owned residence at the base of Zion Hill in Damascus, Oregon, dedicated to farming and community life rather than traditional services.
Our Goal
The Goal of ABF is for its current membership to carve a meaningful impact on the future of the church and its community, which brings people to a saving knowledge of Christ, that transforms their lives beyond the power of sin, and into the responsibilities, powers and blessings of the Holy Spirit. We do this through an emphasis, in the daily lives of our members, with scripture, doctrine, and the local body of believers.
Technology & AI
Constitution · Chapter XIWe recognize the profound impact of emerging technologies on society. In accordance with Chapter XI of our Constitution, ABF approaches Artificial Intelligence and digital tools with strict biblical discernment.
We view technology not as an ultimate authority, but as a tool to be stewarded wisely for education, artistic creation, and expanding the reach of the Gospel—ensuring it always remains subservient to human dignity and spiritual truth.
Core Doctrinal Beliefs
Jesus Christ
In His manifestation, Jesus is both fully human and fully God.
The Trinity
God presents Himself to humanity through Trinitarian concepts, most specifically as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – essentially harmonious in a polity of three unique identities, creating and sustaining one sovereign essence.
The Bible
The Holy Scriptures, as revealed in the original literary form, are self-evident, self-sustaining, sovereign, and divinely inspired. They are infallible. The tradition of Scriptural transmission over time is infallible in its presentation of the original intended meaning of Scripture when: the action of canonization, translation and transmission of Scripture, including the various translations into varying languages and vernacular, contain the entirety of God’s revelation if these actions have been discerned by God’s people and maintained by the community of the Invisible Church over time and measured against previous revelation. All that is contained within this tradition is complete for the accurate transmission of God’s revelation and fully able to bring a person to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, metamorphosis in his Spirit and sanctifying work before the Father. All other sources for defining Truth must agree with the Holy Scriptures.
Sin & The State of Man
“Sin” is defined as “missing the mark” of God’s standard. Though God recognizes that mankind sins, His actions and intent are not subject to or in reaction to mankind’s focus on sin. The actuation of God’s outworking of His design toward mankind’s focus on sin, is in relation to mankind’s focus, not God’s standard. God’s action toward mankind, though it addresses sin, is solely for the benefit of God’s creation, and not in any way an opposition of sin, which is inconsequential to God’s sovereignty, intent for proper economy, standard for divine justice, and the outworking of God’s love toward His creation. God’s focus is not on sin, but rather on grace and the productive outworking of His economy. When mankind focused on guilt, through sin by the Law, God provided Christ in order to properly align mankind’s focus away from the guilt of sin and the Law toward the productive outworking of His economy through grace by faith.
Salvation is necessary because, after Eden, humans are inherently sinners, in rebellion against God and in league with Satan. This is inescapable by any merit of human work or intention. The effects and outcome of sin on the lives of humankind is absolutely pervasive, extending to all aspects of the personhood of humans. This includes relationship with God and other humans, physical actions, inner thoughts and emotional wellness. Salvation is a state of Grace under which all things touched by our sin are both disconnected from their ultimate end in hellfire and actively maintained or sanctified into being an accurate display of God’s intended glory. We acknowledge that we have not been given the full understanding of the mechanics of how this works. However, it is a holistic truth of those who are adopted into it by the movement of the Holy Spirit and the work of Christ in his humanity. To have Salvation, a human must receive the call of the Holy Spirit, repent of their sin and believe in the personhood and work of Christ as defined in the Holy Scriptures.
Salvation
Salvation is not attained; rather, it is an unmerited gift from God.
The gift of Salvation was provided by the work of Jesus Christ alone, a carpenter from Nazareth, who was born of a virgin, Mary, raised among humans, died a criminal’s death on a cross, and defeated Death by rising from His sealed tomb three days after His death. There is no other path to Salvation but through Christ.
Baptism
Baptism by immersion, though not necessary for salvation, is a necessary event in our spiritual life and is a key point in our spiritual health.
Our Leadership & Staff
Our pastoral and support staff are dedicated to guiding, counseling, and serving the community.
Elders
Josh McGary
Senior Pastor · Since 2004
Husband of 15+ years. Father of 4. Artist, Teaching, Counseling, Bodylife.
Josh is a Custodial and Attending Elder at ABF. His ministerial responsibilities include Preaching, Teaching, Counseling, and developing resources for the church, as well as External Ministries and the Christian Resource Cooperative. He and his wife, Mashayla, have two sons and two daughters: Sophia, Joseph, Olivea & Daniel.
Adam Kunkel
Attending Elder · Since 2019
Husband of 10+ years. Father of 2. Carpenter, Properties, Children’s Ministries.
Adam’s ministerial responsibilities include Preaching, Teaching, Internal Ministry for the 12 and under age group, maintaining properties, and leading the Culture In Sanity Podcast. He and his wife, Brittany, have a son and daughter, Oliver and Hannah.
James Pierzina
Custodial & Attending Elder · Since 2004
Husband of 25+ years. Father of 3. Tech Specialist, Senior Ministries, ABF Studios.
James has been a pastor at ABF since 2004. His responsibilities include Preaching, Teaching, Counseling, Internal Ministries for congregants 50 and older, and maintaining the assets of the church. He and his wife, Julia, have a son and two daughters: Jeremiah, Jacquline, and Jasmin.
Colin Sakewitz
Attending Elder · Since 2019
Husband of 10+ years. Father of 3. Electrician, Records/Assets, Youth Ministries.
Colin’s responsibilities include preaching, teaching, assets, and internal ministry of the 13-25 age group. He is the Elder in charge of The Outsiders, ABF’s youth culture resource, and leads the Emberwatch program. He and his wife, Bethany, have three sons: Milo, Evan, and Caleb.
Rev. Monte McGary
Elder Emeritus · Since 2004
Husband of 40+ years. Father of 3. Veteran, Professor, ABF Studios Advisor.
Having served 10 years as Senior Pastor, Monte now teaches at Warner Pacific University. He frequently speaks at important events and hosts the ABF Studios Originals: Truth Time with Pastor Monte. He and his wife, Rose, have two sons, Monte II and Josh, and a daughter, Maraia.
Deacons
Justine Braks
Deacon of Counseling
Wife of 2 yrs. Mother of 2. Nite Lite Radio.
Justine administers the counseling program, counsels in Insight, and develops resources for children. She co-hosts Nite Lite Radio. She is married to Paul Braks and has two kids, Elizabeth and Ethan.
Brittany Kunkel
Director of Optics & Legacy
Wife of 10+ yrs. Mother of 2. Bible Study.
Brittany heads ABF’s Project Vigilance. She leads in Outsiders and teaches Cadre Jr in the Developmental Cadre program. She is married to Elder Adam Kunkel and has a son and daughter, Oliver and Hannah.
Mashayla McGary
Director of Internal Ministry
Wife of 15+ yrs. Mother of 4. Nutritionist.
Mashayla’s responsibilities include teaching, counseling, developing resources for the congregation, and maintaining the church’s general welfare. She is married to Elder Josh McGary.
Jon Parker
Records & Finances
Husband of 15+ yrs. Father of 2. Customer Service.
Jon assists in maintaining the assets of the church. He is married to Deacon Heidi Parker, and they have a son and daughter, Aidan and Madilyn.
Heidi Parker
Director of External Ministry
Wife of 15+ yrs. Mother of 2. Manager.
Heidi’s responsibilities include teaching, networking, developing resources, and maintaining the church’s general external mindshare. She is married to Deacon Jon Parker.
Kelsey Salazar
Internal Ministries
Child care specialist. Youth Ministries.
Kelsey coordinates the church’s multiple calendars, events, and meetings. She is a leader in Outsiders, ABF’s youth culture resource, and ABF’s volunteer coordinator.
Staff & Interns
Jasmin Pierzina
Intern . Optics
Artist / Optics & Legacy
Heads up the design department of ABF’s Project Vigilance, and ABFid, the church’s design studio.
Bethany Sakewitz
Intern . External Ministry
Manager / Upreach
Works for ABF’s Upreach Program and Christian Resource Cooperative. Married to Elder Colin Sakewitz.
Jacob Browning
Staff . Counseling
Veteran / Haven Ministry
Chaplain in training and Pastor in training in the Eldership Academy. Married to Jennifer Browning.
Jennifer Browning
Staff . Children’s
Child care specialist
Teacher for ABF’s Developmental Cadre. Advocates for early education in Cadre Tots. Married to Jacob Browning.
Jacquline Pierzina
Staff . Youth
Customer service specialist
Leader in the Outsiders Ministry and Baby Ruth’s Society. Chaplain in training in the Insight Program.
Support Aletheia
Aletheia Bible Fellowship is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Your financial support enables us to continue our community outreach, fund ABF Studios, and maintain the Ministry Campus.
abfpdx.org 