Our Staff

Our staff team is dedicated to serving you as you access the life you’re made for in Jesus. Get to know us more below!

  • Hi, I’m Austin — the Lead Pastor of Bellevue Christian Church. I’ve called Bellevue home since high school, and my wife Julie and I are raising three kids in a house we’re slowly renovating one room at a time. I wrote A Restless Age because I wanted to write the book I wish I had when I was still in young adulthood, and I founded Everyday Institute because I’m passionate about helping people take steps toward the lives they’re made for every single day. I love baking sourdough pizza, drinking a cup of Commonplace coffee, and walking around Bellevue. (If you see me walking, be sure to say hi!) Check out my newsletter for more.

    Austin will be on sabbatical from May 4 - July 26. Find out more here.


  • Hi, I’m Justin — the Worship Director at Bellevue Christian Church.
    I grew up in Bellevue and have been part of this church since middle school, so it’s a joy to now serve on staff and help people encounter the presence of God through worship. When I’m not at the church, I work as a Senior Medical Assistant at UPMC Bellevue Pediatrics, caring for kids in our community. My wife, Naomi, and I love to travel together and are always dreaming up our next adventure. I’ve been to 25 countries so far and hope to reach 30 before I turn 30! In my free time, I enjoy jamming on my instruments or playing board games like Everdell, Wingspan, or Dominion with friends.


  • Howdy! I’m Isaac Eames, the Youth Pastor here at Bellevue Christian Church (and I also manage our weekly communications). I’m a lifelong Bellevue local—having grown up here, attended Bellevue Elementary, and graduated from Northgate High School. Some of my favorite memories come from my time in BCC’s youth group, where my faith really became my own during middle and high school. It’s an incredible privilege to now lead the very same ministry that shaped me so deeply.

    Before joining the team at BCC, I studied Youth Ministry at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, where I also met my amazing wife, Talia. We’ve since settled back home in Bellevue with our French Bulldog, Blizzard.

    When I’m not spending time with students, you’ll probably find me cooking (or eating!), watching YouTube, or unapologetically singing along to High School Musical.


  • Hi, I'm Talia — the Children's Ministry Director at Bellevue Christian Church! My journey to Pittsburgh was quite the adventure. I grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, and moved to Chicago for school at Moody Bible Institute, where I fell in love with children's ministry! It was in Chicago that I met my husband, Isaac, who is my very best friend and the most loyal Steelers fan I've ever met. Once we were married, Pittsburgh quickly became my home, too! I love this community more than I could have ever imagined, and seeing kids encounter the love of Jesus is truly the greatest joy in my life. When I'm not teaching kids or cutting out Sunday crafts, you can find me training for my next marathon or walking my beloved French Bulldog, Blizzard!


  • Hi, I’m Julie — the Office Administrator at Bellevue Christian Church. I have been part of the BCC family for well over a decade, and I love this church. My husband, Austin, and our three kids live in the neighborhood, and the incredible local restaurants, fun parks, and walkability might keep us here forever. I especially enjoy days when I have the chance to create, organize, thrift, make lists, take a walk, and sip my coffee slowly.

  • Hi, I'm Amanda Wagner - the Discipleship Director at Bellevue Christian Church. While we’re newer to Bellevue, my family and I have called the North Side of Pittsburgh home for many years. I've spent the last 15+ years working in ministry and nonprofit spaces, with a growing passion for walking alongside people as they learn and grow in the life they were made for.


    I'm married to the love of my life, Connor, and together we're raising five sons - who keep our days full of surprises and laughter - and we also have the joy of caring for children through foster care. In my free time, you'll likely find me out for a run, hosting friends around our table, or lingering over a cup of coffee on a slow Saturday morning. I love to create spaces for honest conversation and to walk alongside people as they grow and discover more of who they are meant to be.


  • Hey, I’m Chris. I grew up in Steubenville, Ohio, but now my wife, Sanghee Ku, and I live here in Bellevue with our two sons, Christopher and Lincoln. I love this neighborhood and am grateful to be part of the community both as a Teacher Assistant (Paraprofessional) for the Northgate School District and as the custodian here at the church. On Sundays, I also get to volunteer with our kids ministry, teaching the 4th–6th grade class. When I’m not working or serving, I’m usually enjoying something Star Wars–related, getting outside for a hike, or watching anime.

As a church with historical roots in the Stone-Campbell Movement, we seek to ensure that our Church is governed according to the governance model we see in the earliest churches. In light of the New Testament model of church governance and PA state requirements for organizational boards, we are led not by one pastor or multiple voting bodies but by a unified Leadership Council that exists to collectively oversee the long-term flourishing of our church (spiritual, financial, legal, and otherwise) by discerning God’s will for our church. The unified Leadership Council of BCC consists of both elders and non-elders. Both roles are equal voting members of the Leadership Council decisions and serve in complementary capacities—as articulated in Article 3.2 of our Bylaws.


CURRENT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEMBERS:

  • Austin Gohn (Lead Pastor) (Elder)

  • Ed Hain (Council Chairperson) (Elder)

  • Graham Johnstone (Elder)

  • Matthew Kline (Elder)

  • Cristine Leifheit (Non-Elder)

  • P.J. Kemerer (Non-Elder)

Our Leadership Council

  • All members of our Leadership Council, as a whole, are ultimately responsible for the following six items in order to fulfill the purpose stated above. Within the final two responsibilities, though, there is a difference of degree of responsibility between Elders and Non-Elders on the Leadership Council—based on the specific responsibilities of Elders described in biblical texts like Acts 6:4, Acts 20:28-32, 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:9, and James 5:14.

    Direction:
    This includes discerning and protecting the long-term mission and vision of the Church as well as articulating and approving any necessary and helpful policies for fulfilling that mission and vision—including, without limitation, presentation of the annual budget to the Membership (see Article 6) and proposal of changes to the bylaws (see Article 8) that serve the mission and vision of the Church. In addition, this includes providing wisdom, challenge, and support (as needed) to the Lead Pastor so that he and the staff are able to make the best decisions for the good of the church.

    Delegation:
    This includes leading the process of selecting (and, if necessary, terminating) the Lead Pastor and guiding the Church through any pastoral transitions (see Article 4). It also requires defining the general responsibilities of the Lead Pastor, conducting a regular review process, and ensuring that the Lead Pastor (and family) has the encouragement and support necessary to thrive. Additionally, it requires working with the Lead Pastor to develop and delegate authority to a Leadership Community of staff and volunteer leaders to fulfill the mission and vision of the Church (cf. Ephesians 4:11-13) (see Article 5).

    Demonstration:
    This includes demonstrating the kind of life we want to see lived out in our congregation—both in our individual lives and our relationships with one another. (See Article 3.1 above for Leadership Council qualifications.)

    Discipleship:
    This includes working with the Lead Pastor to evaluate and modify our disciple-making strategy as well as modeling a life of disciple-making. It also includes ensuring that we have a good pastoral care system for our Membership and overseeing the disciplinary process for our Membership (as articulated in Article 1.3).

    Doctrine:
    While all members of our Leadership Council are responsible for alignment with our “Statement of Beliefs,” Elders are specifically responsible for developing, amending, and interpreting the “Statement of Beliefs,” with the Bible as our authority (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17),  that will guide what is taught in all areas of our Church—from the pulpit to the children’s ministry. It will require articulating our stance on new issues as they arise, shaping our response to major cultural events in light of what we believe (as needed), and protecting our church from any heresies (old or new) that seek to divide.

    Devotion:
    While all members of our Leadership Council are to be committed to rhythms of prayer individually and collectively, Elders are specifically responsible for interceding for our Church together regularly, being available to pray for the sick (cf. James 5:14), and prioritizing the modeling and building of a culture of prayer throughout our Church.

  • Individuals must demonstrate the following minimum qualifications in order to be considered for membership on the Leadership Council and to remain on the Leadership Council once selected:


    A CONSISTENT PATTERN of demonstrating the highest level of Christ-like character qualifications, as articulated in our Leadership Code of Conduct.

    A COMMITMENT to our Church that has been demonstrated through attendance, serving, and giving—as well as active membership in our Church for, at least, one (1) year. The Lead Pastor is exempt from the requirement of active membership for at least one (1) year prior to serving on the Leadership Council.

    A sense of CALLING to the role.

    Shared doctrinal CONVICTIONS in accordance with our “Statement of Beliefs.”

    No actual or perceived CONFLICT OF INTEREST—including, but not limited to, the spouse or an immediate family member (i.e., spouse, ancestors, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and the spouses of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren) of the Lead Pastor.

    A demonstration of our leadership core COMPETENCIES at BCC—as well as different areas of expertise and gifts that will enable the Leadership Council to make wiser decisions.

    CHEMISTRY with the existing members of the Leadership Council so they can be united in vision, values, and methods of ministry in an atmosphere of friendship.

  • Candidates will be added to the Leadership Council after careful review of their qualifications as noted above by the existing Leadership Council (see Article 3.1), recommendation of candidate(s) to the congregation by the existing Leadership Council as either an elder or non-elder members of Leadership Council, and a congregational vote to affirm the candidate(s). Members of the congregation may recommend an individual for consideration. 

    The candidate may be selected to serve a six (6) to twelve (12) month trial period, in which they will meet regularly with the Leadership Council but as a trial member without the authority to vote, make motions, or hold office.

    Before recommending a new Leadership Council candidate to the congregation, the candidate must be affirmed by a two-thirds (⅔) majority of the existing Leadership Council. After approval by the Leadership Council, the candidate will then be officially recommended to the congregation at least three weeks before the Annual Meeting (or Special Meeting) of the congregation.

    Between recommendation and election, any Member may express approval or disapproval of the recommended candidate(s) to the Leadership Council, but must provide written commentary in person, not anonymously. The Leadership Council will take any critical comments under serious consideration. However, after thorough evaluation, the Leadership Council may still determine to recommend said candidate to the congregation and will provide their reasons to the Member who initiated the commentary.

    The candidate(s) will be officially added to the Leadership Council after a two-thirds (⅔) vote of the Members at the Annual (or Special) Meeting.

  • For a biblical basis, please see the following the passages:

    1 Timothy 3:1-7

    Titus 1:5-9

    Acts 20:28-32

    1 Peter 5:1-4

    James 5:14

    Ephesians 4:11-13

  • For more on our governance, you can view our bylaws here.

Contact Us

If you have questions for our staff, please submit them below and we will connect you as soon as possible!