Staff
alvin chun
senior pastor
Alvin is the founding pastor of NewSong church and has been bi-vocational since 2005, owning multiple companies. He was born and raised in northern New Jersey, attended Brandeis University and Chesapeake Theological Seminary. While serving at New Covenant Fellowship Church in Rockville Maryland, Rev. Chun was ordained in 1998. In 2001, he lead a group of seven to plant a church in northern Virginia, which has become NewSong Church, and currently serves on the senior team.
Alvin has been married to his wife, Christine since 1996, and they have six wonderful children. He currently serves as a Trustee on various ministries and non-profit boards, including the Naismith Memorial of Basketball Hall of Fame.
jason peaks
Executive PASTOR
Being generous makes me think of someone being a continual source of life to all who are around. This is the heart of the Father flowing into the Son and from the Holy Spirit into us.
Jason Peaks is a son of God, a husband of Danielle, and a father to Mercy, Kallon, Juniper, Eastly, & Farrah. He serves as the associate pastor focusing on areas of cultivating community and connection for NewSong. He considers it his calling to champion relationships. His ministry experience has been diverse serving as the Director of Campus Ministries, Discipleship and Worship Coordinator at Regent University for 9 years. He simultaneously served as an Administrative Assistant to the Pastors & Director of Creative Arts/Worship Leader at Open Door Church under his parents, Pastors Tony & Kathy Peaks. He is a passionate communicator, who integrates his love for education with a prophetic edge. Jason has a BS in Religion, a MAR in Worship Studies from Liberty University and received his MDiv from Regent University. He loves all things creative and will always have a book or two in his backpack as he is always reading.
Michelle jeannot
Assistant pastor
Generosity is posturing ourselves with open hands and an open heart.
At NewSong, I oversee our Women’s Ministry, Wholehearted (55+), and serve on our Pastoral Care and Sunday Speaking teams. I have been involved in church ministry for as long as I can remember. In any work I do, I’m passionate about cultivating curiosity and engaging in meaningful conversations that help us grow. I enjoy teaching, sharing practical tools, bringing hopeful perspective, and empowering people to grow into all God created them to be. I invite teams, regardless of the task or content, to join me in pursuing wholeness- body, soul, and spirit. In 2006 I spent time in Kansas City as an intern at IHOP (International House of Prayer). I also attended the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry at Bethel Church in Redding, CA, prior to being sent out to DC as an Intercessory Missionary. I joined the NewSong Pastoral Staff in 2008. When I’m not at the office, you can find me hanging with my kids outside, hosting people from our community, experimenting in the kitchen, or trying a hole-in-the-wall foodie spot with my handsome chef-hubby, Nahum. I’m happy to be alive and want to help the world recognize God’s with-ness and grace in the extravagant, the mundane, and everything in between.
david njoroge
assistant Pastor
A generous life is a life of genuine care for others that inspires the giving of time and resources.
David serves as an Assistant Pastor at Newsong Church, and his primary roles include leading Middle & High School age students as well as the Young Adults Ministry. David has a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Liberty University. He lives to see discipleship transform the next generation. David is passionate for young people to encounter God deeply through worship, with over 10 years of ministry experience leading High School, College, and Young Adults. David served as the leader of the Watch Community on Liberty University’s campus for 9 years and was a full time campus missionary for 4 years through ACTS (Antioch Center for Training and Sending).
Susan drenkow
office manager
Generosity is willingly keeping your eyes and ears open to the Lords voice on the opportunities to show Mercy and Grace when He asks you to; and to freely give the resources that God has blessed you with.
Generosity begins in the little things: “sharing your doggie treats with other dogs you pass on your daily walks is one of my favorite ways” — from Lassie, Susan’s dog :)
This is my all time favorite job! Prior to starting at the church in 2002, I worked at FEDEX for 17 years. I worked as a Dental Hygienist for a few years (not the best fit for me). I stopped working to have my 3 daughters, (I never went back to cleaning teeth). I have 5 Grandchildren and 4 Granddogs. I am so grateful to God for all the blessings He has given me and hope that I can continue to be a blessing to Him and those He puts in my life.
christa Njoroge
administrative staff
Generosity is the openness to hear God’s invitation to being with others & the willingness to say yes to walk alongside them.
If it were possible, bubble tea would be Christa’s daily fuel of choice in her administrative role at NewSong Church. A couple areas you will find her in are curating integrative experiences for the community as well as facilitating collaborative spaces of communication and creative expression. She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL) and completed a ministry internship through the International House of Prayer. Both of these have cultivated a community-oriented perspective and developed deep value for the nuances of spiritual formation. Christa delights in the discovery of every day joys with her husband, David. Some of these include finding cozy places with friends that encourage good conversations, continuously on the hunt for a delicious baked good, enjoying sunshine wherever it may be found, and seeking opportunities for physical movement both at the gym as well as outdoors with friends. She finds a quiet joy in outdoor exploratory opportunities and hopes to convince David to go camping with her one day :)
abigail reynolds
Organizational Events Specialist
Abigail Reynolds oversees NewSong's in-house cafe, Wakey, and serves as an event specialist. She is a coffee and food enthusiast, and loves to curate special spaces and experiences for others. After receiving a bachelor's degree in English Literature and Composition, Abigail worked in nonprofit spaces with an emphasis on community care, education, and operational leadership. She loves her community and cherishes the opportunity to create with intention, artistry, and connectivity in mind. Having grownup in Virginia Beach, Abigail feels most at home when by the ocean and spending time eating good food with her husband, Nicolas, and their cat, Rigatoni.
jen brown
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY director
Jen Brown serves as the Director for Kingdom Heroes, NewSong's children's ministry. Jen considers herself a Northern Virginia local; she grew up as a military kid and lived in Texas and Hawaii before moving to the area during middle school. She brings to the community over eight years of nonprofit program, event and volunteer management experience as well as a deep wonder and reverence for the spiritual life of children and families. While attending Virginia Tech and working in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains after graduation, she fell in love with hiking, horticulture and being outside. Jen and her husband Gabe have attended NewSong Church for over 10 years and have dedicated each of their three children to the Lord here. She is delighted to be in this role as a fellow parent and friend.
Rebecca mcgraw
worship resident
Rebecca McGraw is a part-time worship resident at NewSong Church. She’s been at NewSong church since 2013, and loves to sing, lead worship, and create music. She’s part of regional worship collectives such as: The District Collab and Commonwealth Worship that reaches the young adult community in the DMV area. She attended Bowie State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Rebecca works full-time for District of Columbia Public Schools as a school administrator in Northwest, D.C. She loves all things admin and has a desire to help cultivate the worship community at NewSong Church. She’s been in worship ministry for over 10 years and loves to see people come to the Lord through music. One thing about her is that she’s a great storyteller and loves to laugh. Some core statements you will hear her say are, “I like this for you” and “live your best life”.
joshua pike
pastoral intern
Joshua Pike serves as the Pastoral Intern of Experience within NewSong Church, where his primary purpose is to welcome all newcomers, cultivate an environment of prayer and foster community in all things pre service. He is a devoted husband to Alyssa and father to Simeon and has been a part of the NewSong community since January 2022. His desire is to see all people come to experience the Fathers love in such a real way that they are transformed into who they always were created to be. When he's not at NewSong, Josh works as a program director teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has a bachelors degree in Kinesiology from The Pennsylvania State University. He's always up for trying new food or catching a movie!
nicolas reynolds
manager, Building & Grounds
Nicolas Reynolds serves as the Facilities Manager at NewSong. Coming from a long line of carpenters, Nicolas finds joy in working with his hands and spending time outside whenever possible. Before moving to Northern Virginia and marrying his college sweetheart, Abigail Reynolds, Nicolas studied English at Regent University in Virginia Beach where he served on the Campus Ministries team.
krista wendle
pastoral resident of care & community
Krista Wendle has been providing pastoral care in a variety of roles for nearly 25 years. In addition to her current role at Newsong, she provides 1-one-1 pastoral prayer ministry for emotional healing, having completed her licensing and ordination through the Apostolic Network of Global Awakening (ANGA) in May 2023. Previously, Krista spent ten years as an online instructor for ANGA, teaching Physical and Emotional Healing classes.
Krista moved to the Washington DC area after living in Nairobi, Kenya for six years with her husband and three children. She served in a range of pastoral care and leadership roles at her church in Nairobi. Earlier, Krista and her husband conducted ministry on college campuses, including co-pastoring a church at Penn State University.
Krista has traveled and lived all over the world, carrying a pastoral heart everywhere she goes. She worked for Iris Ministries in Mozambique and as a pastoral advisor and administrator abroad; was a staff member at TACF (now Catch the Fire Toronto) School of Ministry; and worked for Global Awakening HQ, including exploring cross-ministry partnerships to establish a school of ministry.
Krista is currently studying the HeartSync healing prayer modality, and has a BA in Christian Leadership and Masters in Missions from Christian Leadership University. She lives to see the love of Father God transform the lives of those around her, whether that's in Africa, North America, or any other place in the world!