Aaron Bjerke
Head Pastor
A letter from the Pastor:
Having served our city as a pastor for more than ten years, I’ve come to understand many New Yorkers share a desire to find spiritual remedies for life’s everyday challenges. Our home is full of conflicting forces; it’s a myriad of grand opportunities and overstimulating priorities, and we long to find inner peace and achieve wholeness in the midst of it all. We want authentic spiritual experiences, but sometimes aren’t sure where to begin, what’s real, and what works.
I stepped into ministry in 2008, when I began serving as a pastoral intern, attending seminary and studying under veteran New York City pastor Tim Keller. I was ordained in 2013, and loved serving my community as an Assistant Pastor and Community Group Director at Redeemer Presbyterian Church East Side.
In November of 2018 my faith journey took a new direction. I developed a deep longing to experience God in fresh, unexpected ways. As a result I cultivated new rhythms of prayer, stillness and silence, through which I learned to connect with the Divine more deeply than I ever had before. That journey birthed the foundation on which we are now gathering a new community called The Well.
Together with my wife Erica, our children Joshua and Amelia and our amazing team, I look forward to welcoming you into our community.
If you find yourself searching for spiritual significance or desiring to draw closer to the Divine One, my sincere hope is that you’ll come to The Well and experience God for yourself in fresh, new ways.
Having served our city as a pastor for more than ten years, I’ve come to understand many New Yorkers share a desire to find spiritual remedies for life’s everyday challenges. Our home is full of conflicting forces; it’s a myriad of grand opportunities and overstimulating priorities, and we long to find inner peace and achieve wholeness in the midst of it all. We want authentic spiritual experiences, but sometimes aren’t sure where to begin, what’s real, and what works.
I stepped into ministry in 2008, when I began serving as a pastoral intern, attending seminary and studying under veteran New York City pastor Tim Keller. I was ordained in 2013, and loved serving my community as an Assistant Pastor and Community Group Director at Redeemer Presbyterian Church East Side.
In November of 2018 my faith journey took a new direction. I developed a deep longing to experience God in fresh, unexpected ways. As a result I cultivated new rhythms of prayer, stillness and silence, through which I learned to connect with the Divine more deeply than I ever had before. That journey birthed the foundation on which we are now gathering a new community called The Well.
Together with my wife Erica, our children Joshua and Amelia and our amazing team, I look forward to welcoming you into our community.
If you find yourself searching for spiritual significance or desiring to draw closer to the Divine One, my sincere hope is that you’ll come to The Well and experience God for yourself in fresh, new ways.
Alison Maddox
Worship Director
Alison has led musical worship for over 15 years in various churches, gatherings, and retreats.
Passionate about the arts as a spiritual ministry, she is a singer/songwriter at The Well and has her own music label.
We asked Alison why she "does music" and this is what she shared:
For hope and for beauty.
Because I believe there's beauty in a lot of things, and not just in stuff like white and lace and rainbows. There's beauty in deep, soul-wrenching questions and doubts, there's beauty in the messy problems that keep you awake at night.
Because I've realized that life isn't just what's here on the surface, there's more.
Because I want to bring people to things in life that are beyond the daily grind. The world is complex and beautiful.
Because the soul needs feeding, too.
Alison and her husband, James, who is also a singer/songwriter and producer, live in Brooklyn together.
Passionate about the arts as a spiritual ministry, she is a singer/songwriter at The Well and has her own music label.
We asked Alison why she "does music" and this is what she shared:
For hope and for beauty.
Because I believe there's beauty in a lot of things, and not just in stuff like white and lace and rainbows. There's beauty in deep, soul-wrenching questions and doubts, there's beauty in the messy problems that keep you awake at night.
Because I've realized that life isn't just what's here on the surface, there's more.
Because I want to bring people to things in life that are beyond the daily grind. The world is complex and beautiful.
Because the soul needs feeding, too.
Alison and her husband, James, who is also a singer/songwriter and producer, live in Brooklyn together.
Allison Woodfin
Pastoral Resident
As a Pastoral Resident at The Well, Allison helps cultivate community and spiritual formation. She is passionate about creating spaces where people can encounter the Divine in the midst of everyday life and discover God’s presence in the ordinary and the in-between. Her heart is for fostering belonging and finding beauty and joy in the in-between, believing that God meets us most deeply in moments of uncertainty and becoming.
Allison also serves with her family’s nonprofit, Street2Street, which empowers youth through sports, mentorship, and personal development. She is currently pursuing her Master of Divinity with a focus in Christian Theology and Islamic Studies.
Allison also serves with her family’s nonprofit, Street2Street, which empowers youth through sports, mentorship, and personal development. She is currently pursuing her Master of Divinity with a focus in Christian Theology and Islamic Studies.
Mary Gallagher
Community Life Director
Hi, I’m so glad you’re here! At The Well, my role is to support you in exploring spirituality and belonging at a pace that feels right for you. Whether you’re curious, cautious, or ready to jump in, I’d love to get to know you.
I’ve lived on the Upper East Side with my husband, Jim, and our three children, now grown, for almost two decades. I love meeting friends for coffee, taking long walks in Central Park (join me!), and spending cozy evenings at home — cooking for friends or curled up with a good book.
I’ve lived on the Upper East Side with my husband, Jim, and our three children, now grown, for almost two decades. I love meeting friends for coffee, taking long walks in Central Park (join me!), and spending cozy evenings at home — cooking for friends or curled up with a good book.
Sarah McShane
Hospitality & Operations Manager
Sarah grew up going to church with her family every Sunday. It was there that she discovered her love of singing which led to a successful career in musical theatre.
While continuing her musical passion and raising a family, Sarah strives to live up to The Well’s mission by creating a space for all New Yorkers on Sunday mornings, at any point in their spiritual journey, to feel welcome and a sense of community.
While continuing her musical passion and raising a family, Sarah strives to live up to The Well’s mission by creating a space for all New Yorkers on Sunday mornings, at any point in their spiritual journey, to feel welcome and a sense of community.
Jeanne Kim
Hospitality & Operations
Jeanne has lived in New York City for over a decade working in journalism, events, and in consulting. Born in Seoul and having lived in multiple countries, creating spaces that feel like home has always been important to her.
Currently she is a freelance marketer helping companies in the B2B SaaS space.
Currently she is a freelance marketer helping companies in the B2B SaaS space.
Matt Shanahan
Children's Program Manager
Matt serves as the Children's Program Manager at The Well. He's been a part of The Well since moving to New York in 2024, and has been involved in children’s ministry as a teacher in several churches and summer programs throughout the city.
His passion is to make Sunday mornings a space where children encounter Jesus in a way that is playful, imaginative, and deeply formative.
Outside of church, he enjoys creative spaces, cycling around NYC, and spends weekends exploring the outdoors whenever possible.
His passion is to make Sunday mornings a space where children encounter Jesus in a way that is playful, imaginative, and deeply formative.
Outside of church, he enjoys creative spaces, cycling around NYC, and spends weekends exploring the outdoors whenever possible.
And Also...
The Well was co-planted by Christa Chi and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit on September 23, 2019. Christa continues to walk with people through life’s transitions—with intuition, clarity, and care. Today, she brings that same approach to her work at Elegran Real Estate, helping clients find homes that align with the life they envision building in New York City.