Our Pastors
Dane Gjesdal
Head Pastor
Being a native Oregonian has its advantages. Dane was born and raised in Portland and called to the Northwest people. Dane met his wife Jill as the youth pastor of the Salem Free Methodist church here in Salem Or. They have 5 children, Cherie, Justin, Gabrielle, Danielle and Joel that span all ages.
Dane’s passion is to teach God’s word in a practical down to earth way, from a life that included joy and pain, toward hope and life in Christ. His personal interests are science, cars and sports. He graduated from Oklahoma Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Arts.
Malloree Norris
Childrens Pastor
Malloree was born and raised most of her life in a small town in Idaho. She grew up with the woods as her back yard and took every opportunity to be in them. Whether that was hiking, camping, horseback riding, or looking for old cabins & mines with her family. She then went on to attend and graduate from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, ID with her Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Christian Ministries and a Minor in Christian Education. In 2013 she was officially ordained in the Wesleyan Denomination. For six wonderful (and trying) years she served as the Youth Pastor for the Weippe Wesleyan Church while working full time elsewhere.
Then in 2015 an out of the blue offer was given to pursue a full time Children’s Pastor position at Northgate Wesleyan Church. And after she came and visited with the people she knew that’s where God meant for her to be, even her mom was crying before they left because she knew her baby was going to move. God has truly blessed her with the Northgate family! If you ever catch her outside the church you might find her hiking, kayaking, attending some child’s event, crocheting, or spending time with her Northgate peeps!
James Elgin
Youth Pastor
James was raised in a Christian home. However it wasn’t until he was twenty years old that Jesus became his King. A few years later after serving in a youth group as a small group leader, his heart became entwined with youth ministry. So he decided to go back to school and that is when he met his wife Heather.
They continued in youth ministry together until he was offered a job at Northgate church to serve as the Youth Pastor, and they have been here ever since. They have a wonderful three year old son named Oliver and a daughter named Claire who will be joining their family in April.