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Staff |
STAFF
Rev. Roland J. Wells, Jr. —Executive Director
Pastor Wells has served over twenty years in the 'hood, rebuilding an historic urban congregation in
the midst of drug dealers, poverty, gunshots, and rebirth of a neighborhood. Roland is an entertaining and riveting conference speaker, as he has spent a lifetime re-visioning
and rebuilding ministries. St. Paul's Church's inspiring story has been featured by Leadership Journal. Wells has been featured on CitySites Urban Media, Asbury Seminary's annual Kingdom Conference, Peoria's Southside Mission Annual Dinner, and has served as a regular workshop leader at the Ethnic America Network's Ethnic Workers' Summit for several years and many other media outlets.
Kari Raia—Program Director
Kari Raia graduated from Northwestern College with a BA in Intercultural Studies in 2002. She has been working in Minneapolis since 1999, primarily with Living Hope Ministries where she was Volunteer Coordinator and later Program Director for One-by-One, a tutoring/mentoring program for at-risk, inner-city children. Kari and her husband, Nick, have lived in north Minneapolis since 2005. They love the energy of the city and are constantly being reminded of the need for God’s people to be deeply involved in the community.
Kari is also part of her family’s business – Heritage Photography, loves to camp, and enjoys time at the dog park with Moses, the big, friendly Doberman.