Our Leadership

Services

Sunday - 10AM Worship Service- In-Person and Online

The Way Christian Center Leadership

The Way Christian Center is blessed to have a leadership team who are truly dedicated to Christ and accomplishing His will. Following are brief bio's of our leadership team and their qualifications for ministry.

Michael McBride

Lead Pastor

Pastor Mike is a San Francisco native who loves all things California–The 49ers, Lakers and Giants. He majored in Addiction Studies and Counseling at Bethany College before completing seminary at Duke University where he earned a Master of Divinity. God led him back to the Bay Area where he planted The Way Christian Center in 2005. He immersed himself in the local community: directing Black Campus Ministries at Cal and heading student support services at B-Tech continuation high school in Berkeley. In March 2012, he became the Director the LIVE FREE Campaign with the Faith In Action national network, a campaign led by hundreds of faith congregations throughout the United States committed to addressing gun violence and mass incarceration of young people of color. He has supported the implementation of Gun violence reduction strategies in over a dozen cities which have achieved 30-40% reductions in gun related shootings and homicides.

Regarded as a national faith leader, active in the Ferguson uprisings and many subsequent uprisings, he helps bridge, train and support millennials and religious institutions working on racial justice and black liberation.

He currently serves as Lead Pastor at The Way and Director of the Live Free Campaign.

He is married to Cherise McBride and they have two beautiful daughters, Sarai and Nylah. Lady Cherise is from the Central Valley (Fresno) and has a passion for teaching, learning and all things crafty. She earned a degree in English from UC Berkeley, a Master’s degree in Education from the University of San Francisco, and a PhD in Education from UC Berkeley. Her research lies at the intersection of literacy, digital technologies, and teacher development. She has taught English in Berkeley schools and appreciates getting to know and serve so many amazing students and families.

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Pastor Mike is a San Francisco native who loves all things California–The 49ers, Lakers and Giants. He majored in Addiction Studies and Counseling at Bethany College before completing seminary at Duke University where he earned a Master of Divinity. God led him back to the Bay Area where he planted The Way Christian Center in 2005. He immersed himself in the local community: directing Black Campus Ministries at Cal and heading student support services at B-Tech continuation high school in Berkeley. In March 2012, he became the Director the LIVE FREE Campaign with the Faith In Action national network, a campaign led by hundreds of faith congregations throughout the United States committed to addressing gun violence and mass incarceration of young people of color. He has supported the implementation of Gun violence reduction strategies in over a dozen cities which have achieved 30-40% reductions in gun related shootings and homicides.

Regarded as a national faith leader, active in the Ferguson uprisings and many subsequent uprisings, he helps bridge, train and support millennials and religious institutions working on racial justice and black liberation.

He currently serves as Lead Pastor at The Way and Director of the Live Free Campaign.

He is married to Cherise McBride and they have two beautiful daughters, Sarai and Nylah. Lady Cherise is from the Central Valley (Fresno) and has a passion for teaching, learning and all things crafty. She earned a degree in English from UC Berkeley, a Master’s degree in Education from the University of San Francisco, and a PhD in Education from UC Berkeley. Her research lies at the intersection of literacy, digital technologies, and teacher development. She has taught English in Berkeley schools and appreciates getting to know and serve so many amazing students and families.

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Tanisha Walton

Campus Pastor

Pastor Tanisha was born and raised in Oakland, CA. She received her B.A. in Communications from Biola University and played basketball and ran track in both high school and college. She is the founder of the organization called Black Girls United which promotes solidarity among black girls on school campuses. She is married to Jared and has three children: Tommy, Timmy and Jadyn and Grandson Josiah. She loves playing sports, singing loudly in her car and having great conversations over a good cup of coffee. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Divinity at Payne Theological Seminary.

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Pastor Tanisha was born and raised in Oakland, CA. She received her B.A. in Communications from Biola University and played basketball and ran track in both high school and college. She is the founder of the organization called Black Girls United which promotes solidarity among black girls on school campuses. She is married to Jared and has three children: Tommy, Timmy and Jadyn and Grandson Josiah. She loves playing sports, singing loudly in her car and having great conversations over a good cup of coffee. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Divinity at Payne Theological Seminary.

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Lauren Adams

Director of Worship

Lauren is a multi talented leader who seeks to glorify God in all she does. A graduate of Hampton University she is a teacher at Roses in the Concrete Community School, a member of Sol Development a Hip Hop/Jazz/Soul band, and Director of Worship at The Way.

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Lauren is a multi talented leader who seeks to glorify God in all she does. A graduate of Hampton University she is a teacher at Roses in the Concrete Community School, a member of Sol Development a Hip Hop/Jazz/Soul band, and Director of Worship at The Way.

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Michael Carpenter

Director of Production and Facilities

Minister Mike was born in OKC and raised in Fresno, CA. He played Div. I baseball at ORU but received his B.A. in Biblical and Religious Studies w/Theology and Ethics emphasis from Fresno Pacific University. After suffering injuries that ended his playing career early, he spent a decade as an Athletic Director and Coach at the collegiate level.  He has been in professional ministry for 13 years serving as Minister, Praise and Worship Coordinator, and Audio-Video Engineer.  He is currently pursuing a Master's Degree at Concordia University in Irvine. 

He is single, currently an educator in the Bay Area, and gratefully serving the community with love and excellence by the grace of God. 

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Minister Mike was born in OKC and raised in Fresno, CA. He played Div. I baseball at ORU but received his B.A. in Biblical and Religious Studies w/Theology and Ethics emphasis from Fresno Pacific University. After suffering injuries that ended his playing career early, he spent a decade as an Athletic Director and Coach at the collegiate level.  He has been in professional ministry for 13 years serving as Minister, Praise and Worship Coordinator, and Audio-Video Engineer.  He is currently pursuing a Master's Degree at Concordia University in Irvine. 

He is single, currently an educator in the Bay Area, and gratefully serving the community with love and excellence by the grace of God. 

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