CRM - Empowering Leaders
 | Jose Penate-Aceves Originally from El Salvador, Jose worked with a Christian base community there during the civil war in the 80's. In 1989 he sought political asylum in the US. Jose met Nate Bacon shortly after arriving in SF. Jose became active working with youth at St. Anthony's Church. In 1995 Nate invited Jose to help him with Comunidad San Dimas' ministry. In 1997 he sensed God's call to full-time ministry with InnerChange. |
 | Celida Penate-Aceves Celida Aceves is originally from Jalisco, Mexico. She immigrated to the US with her daughter Isabel in 1991. For three years she worked at a beauty salon. Then her brothers and sisters invited her to play in their Mariachi Band.& For four years she played guitar and sang in their group. At a church in SF she had a profound encounter with the Lord. Shortly thereafter she got involved at St. Peter's Church. In 1997 she became a Comunidad San Dimas volunteer. In 1998 she sensed God calling her to be an InnerChange missionary and joined full-time. |
Jose & Celida Penate-Aceves: In 2000 they became directors of Comunidad San Dimas. As they worked closely together in ministry, they became close to each other! In 2004 they got married and in December 2006 they celebrated the arrival of their baby daughter. Jose also has a daughter, Yanci, and Celida has a daughter, Isabel.
Paul, Mariah, and Corrina Nix
Paul and Mariah currently lead the Outer Circle.
A California native, Mariah loves being a mom to Corrina, welcoming fellow travelers from the street into her home and family, and pursuing what it means to be contemplative in the midst of a crazy city.
Paul is from Missouri, and enjoys reading, playing music on the street, black coffee, and photography. He has been sharpened by the authenticity and courage of the punk ideology he's encountered on the street and believes the church needs to be as well.
Paul and Mariah have been with the team since the Fall of 2005.
| Claire Howard Claire joined InnerChange in the summer of 2006 for her internship in Denver, Colorado and was hooked. She likes swing dancing, patchwork things, frolicking and playing with friends on the street. She has returned to the Bay Area after finishing her un-schooling in Western Colorado . Claire loves leaving the 99 for the 1, sharing with them with joy how God has changed her own life. She has been with the OC since June of 2006. |
Luke, Courtney, Jacob, and Weston Burton
Luke and Courtney Burton both grew up in rural eastern Oregon. They met in high school and married early on in college, and have pursued an upside-down life ever since.
Luke has a deep respect and curiosity for the outdoors and wildlife, matched only by his passion for the non-conforming, nomadic, youth culture he walks alongside of. He is convinced that God delights in this culture, and that they have a important place in His Kingdom. He also can't wait to teach his sons amazing survival skills.
Courtney gently lives out God's radical call on her life, which includes being a mom to Weston and Jacob. She loves sharing her artistic talent with people, traveling the west coast, and seeing people set free to be who God created them to be.
They joined the Outer Circle team in January of 2007.
Jess Sorvaag
Jessica Sorvaag - Novice
Jess is from Fargo, North Dakota. After going to school in Nebraska, she moved out to San Francisco to join the Outer Circle in September of 2007. A viking at heart, Jess loves deep relationships, making up new and interesting recipes (usually with fancy beans), and her new hobby of pottery. Jess loves having people in her home and serving them like they were Christ.
Matt Miles - Novice
Matt is from Lafayette, California. Matt
works in the mission district with the San Dimas team
and oversees Casa San Dimas, which is a transitional
home for Latino youth. He also loves to play the
guitar, write music, and travel. He has been with InnerCHANGE since September, 2007.
Nettie Spitz - Novice
Nettie is a proud Midwesterner and graduated
from Iowa State University with a degree in
tree-hugging. She heard about InnerCHANGE through a
book while she was teaching at an environmental school
in northern Wisconsin. Thrilled with the discovery of
a group that loves Jesus, justice, and the poor, she
joined the San Dimas team in September of 2007. She
loves reading, nature, tostadas, learning Spanish,
dancing, and exploring the back streets of San Francisco.