meet the team

CHARLES TAYLOR | ASSOCIATE PASTOR | SPIRITUAL FORMATION & OUTREACH

Charles is the Pastor of Spiritual Formation & Outreach at the North Jersey Vineyard. Having traveled throughout the United States and to nearly twenty countries internationally, he is uniquely gifted to engage people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. His passion is to equip people to reflect, experience, and reach others with the life-changing goodness of God. Charles also comes from a strong academic background, holding an undergraduate degree from Wheaton College and graduate degrees from Nyack College and Princeton Theological Seminary.

When he is not hanging out with the awesome people of the Vineyard, Charles can be found in the wrestling room as a coach and in the classroom as a professor.

SUE SEHULSTER | CREATIVE ARts & COMMUNICATIONS | Prayer Ministry

Sue wears a few hats at the North Jersey Vineyard, serving as the creative developer/graphic designer and communications director, as well as overseeing the Prayer & Holy Spirit Ministries of the church. Sue has a passion for the creative — especially through writing, leading on the worship team, and graphics and visual development — and also thoroughly enjoys teaching, training, and equipping others to step into empowered Holy Spirit ministry.

Sue graduated from Eastern University in PA with a dual Bachelor’s degree in History and English Literature and, before coming to the Vineyard, worked in several museums as well as a rare book library in Washington, D.C. Sue and her husband Don have two kids, Aidan and Grace, and a rescue dog named Penny. When not working, you’ll find her outdoors — working in her garden, hiking, mountain biking, or just enjoying the beauty of nature. Sue also enjoys cooking, hanging out with friends and family, traveling and exploring, and is always ready for an adventure.

Mike Turrigiano | Pastor of Leadership Development

Mike joins the NJV team as a valuable resource to our staff, offering support and coaching in both professional and spiritual contexts. Mike is a veteran of over four decades of ministry and a Vineyard pioneer on the East Coast. He spent thirty-eight of those years church planting and pastoring in New York City. Mike is also the Director and Senior Missional Coach for the Main & Plain, a ministry that provides coaching and care for pastors and ministry leaders as well as equipping for local churches. He lives with his wife Char in Brooklyn, NY. They have two sons, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

HELEN SHIM | ASSOCIATE WORSHIP PASTOR

In addition to serving as one of our Worship Team Leaders, Helen’s role as Associate Worship Pastor allows her to support the worship pastor in a variety of capacities including overseeing church's Sunday worship operations and carrying out the visions and values of the worship ministry. Helen states, “I have a desire to help foster a healthy and thriving worship culture at the North Jersey Vineyard to see and savor the goodness of God in the power of the Holy Spirit.” This includes developing and pouring into the worship leaders and musicians, working alongside the worship leaders to meet the needs of the ministry, and investing in the worship community.

Helen is from the great Pacific Northwest, Seattle and moved to the east coast to attend Parsons School of Design in NYC, earning a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design. Helen is currently studying Biblical counseling at CCEF School of Biblical Counseling. She is married to Ben and have two kids — Matthew and Abigail — and a sweet Goldendoodle named Charlie. Helen enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing softball and kickball, reading, and finding new places to visit.

Michael Rivera | Finance Director

Michael serves as Finance Director overseeing financial stewardship. He has over 20 years experience in banking and corporate accounting, holding a Masters Degree in Accounting from Rutgers University - School of Business.

Michael has also served in various pastoral roles, most recently as lead pastor of a multicultural church in NYC. He holds his degree from Alliance Theological Seminary.

Lily Bonilla | OFFICE MANAGER

Born and raised in an Ecuadorian Christian home, Lily is surrounded by generations of pastors, church planters, and leaders in the Christian & Missionary Alliance and appreciates the significance of serving in the church, overseeing many administrative aspects of the church that are crucial to its daily operations as Office Manager. Lily also actively participates in the life of NJV, serving as a Life Group Leader, Prayer Ministry Team member, and Welcome Team member for both the English and Spanish services while also supporting the Open Door Community Center in the capacity of a certified church-based ESL Instructor and APA-certified Coordinator for the ACT Against Violence Raising Safe Kids Program.

Lily holds a Master’s degree in Child Advocacy & Policy from The Graduate School at Montclair State University, a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a Minor in Latin America Latino Studies, and a Certified Mental Health First Aid Assessor from Montclair State University. In addition to working at the church, Lily is also an Adjunct Professor of Child Protection, Advocacy, and Policy at Montclair State University, a Bilingual Adjunct Professor of Psychology and Counseling a Pillar College, and a court-appointed Special Advocate (CASA) representing abused and neglected children in the New Jersey Superior Court.

Lily’s journey reflects holds a harmonious integration of faith, education, and commitment to social and mental well-being. Her passion lies in advocating, educating, and empowering individuals for spiritual growth and leadership development, and she is dedicated to helping individuals identify their God-given purpose, fostering hope, and bringing about positive, lasting change in their communities.

Meital De lavalle

Administrative Assistant

Veronica Teran

Director of the Sunday Experience

kenia sosa

Spanish Ministry Assistant