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[ Bios ]
Nick Burdette
I am a bridge designer in the “City of Bridges” living in Morningside with my wife Lauren and an as-yet unnamed bump we’ll meet in October. We were a part of the Open Door at its inception and are thrilled to be back after a stint abroad. I love creation and the act of creating. Let me know if you need any construction help or good travel tips!
The “parish” model of the Open Door is really exciting. I love the way we are intentional about the neighborhoods we choose to live in and the web of relationships this naturally forms. My prayer for our church is that Christ would give us his eyes to see the rays of light he is shinning into the brokenness in and around us. Exciting things are afoot if we are open to the Spirit!
Autumn Boyer
I’m seeing the light at the end of the grad school tunnel and aim to finish my doctoral degree at the University of Pittsburgh in the fall of 2010. I hope to continue teaching college courses part-time in my fields of communication and bioethics while spending a lot of time at home with our new son (born in March 2010). My husband and I have been at the Open Door since 2005 and make our home in Squirrel Hill.
My prayer is to see the Open Door continue to be involved with neighborhood activities like urban gardening and soccer camps. I also look forward to increasing opportunities for our faith community to grow and connect through mid-week fellowship, study, prayer, ministry, and other people-lovin’ and God-lovin’ activities. I am one of the deacons for the Visitor and New Member Care ministry.
Lisa Collier
I currently wear two hats—one as a deacon of the Open Door and the other as the Church Administrator of the Open Door. I serve as a deacon on the new visitor welcome and care team. We ventured from Wisconsin out to Pittsburgh for my husband, Ben, to pursue his doctorate at CMU. Our beautiful and funny toddler, Sophia, keeps us moving and life exciting! Our dog Tozer also keeps life exciting, and “doggie” was one of Sophia’s first words.
I really see a strong team of leaders developing within the Open Door that has a purpose to serve those in the community as well as each other. I really hope that those who come to our church feel the love of Christ through us and that we may stand alongside each other and love one another for who we really are–a broken bunch of people in need of God’s redeeming grace.
Bernadette (BB) Collins
I am serving as a deacon by caring for future homeowners with Open Hand Ministries. Currently, my husband Andy and I live in the East End and have two beautiful daughters, Zaida Belle and Suraya Love. I enjoy being home with Zaida and Suraya and being a doula with The Birth Circle. I enjoy cooking, baking bread, taking walks, gardening, playing games, reading, and visiting with friends.
My hope for the Open Door is that we can become a more warm hearted and welcoming community to those not yet connected.
Kristin Horner
I spend my time working with autistic children and nannying, as well as reading and drinking lots of coffee. I head up the Prayer Team for the Open Door and enjoy praying with people and listening to what God is doing in our community.
My vision is to see the Open Door become a place wholly dependent on Christ, devoted to prayer, and to service that flows out of our passion for the justice that God calls us to.
Ben Shelly
After a typical suburban upbringing outside of Philadelphia, I came to the University of Pittsburgh in 1998 to study Engineering. While there, through God’s grace, I grew substantially in my faith and learned through experience about good community. After college, I met my wonderful wife, found a good job, and we purchased a house in the Friendship neighborhood of the city. My son Joseph was born in August 2009.
My prayer is that we continue to cast the vision that the Holy Spirit has for our community and dare to be foolish enough to live it out.
Garret Smith
As a deacon, I serve by supporting Open Hand Ministry and others who are in need of housing repair and restoration. I work at Outlaw Studios in the Strip District and in my free time I enjoy building with concrete or wood (bookshelves, benches, etc.), creating clay pieces, playing ultimate Frisbee, and hanging out with friends.
I dream that everyone who comes to the Open Door will eventually feel as loved and welcomed as I did in my first week. I hope that as a deacon and as a Church I/we have the patience, guidance and willingness to make The Open Door a place where the work and message of Jesus is able to pass freely through us.
