• Rev. Joshua Kingsley

    PASTOR

    Joshua Kingsley is a musician, educator, and pastor.

    Josh attended seminary at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. Although ordained an Episcopal priest, Josh has served in Episcopal, United Methodist, and Lutheran churches. He specializes in spiritual development and community organizing. At King of Kings Lutheran Church Josh leads worship and is co-organizer for the Clackamas County Land and Housing Coalition.

    Before working as a pastor, Josh was the founding artistic director for Portland Chamber Music. He has also taught middle school music. Josh plays a variety of instruments; clarinet is his favorite.

    Josh loves the bible and music. He also enjoys hiking, martial arts, being on two wheels, and time spent with good food and friends. Josh lives in the Montavilla neighborhood of Portland with his son, Trajan, their housemates, and dog.

  • Dez Valdez

    ASSOCIATE PASTOR

    Dez was born & raised in the Pacific Northwest and currently lives in inner SE Portland with their dog Lyric and their cat Summers (named after Buffy Summers, of course). They have worked with youth in Clackamas County since 2018 and are excited to be an integral part of the Spirit Of Life team. Dez can often be found listening to history podcasts, writing, or geeking out about TV. They also love exploring the ways art intersects with justice movements past and present. 

  • Kim Brooksby

    ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

    Kim is an invaluable asset at Spirit Of Life, keeping the day-to-day operations running smoothly and handling requests, emails, problems and really anything under the sun with ease. If Pastor Josh is the steeple, Kim is the foundation.

  • Jesse Preis

    DIRECTOR OF MUSIC

    Jesse A. Preis is a tenor and pianist from Emblem, Wyoming. Originally inspired and taught piano as a child by his musical great-grandmother, Jesse soon joined choir, learned saxophone in band, and performed in numerous high school musicals and plays. As an undergraduate student, Jesse attended Northwest College in Powell, WY and the University of Montana in Missoula, MT, where he earned double Bachelor of Arts degrees in Piano Performance & Pedagogy and Vocal Performance. Jesse studied voice abroad in Vienna and Graz, Austria (The American Institute of Musical Studies) during the summers of 2015 and 2016. In 2019, Jesse completed an M.M. Vocal Performance at West Virginia University. During his undergraduate and graduate years, Jesse regularly accompanied soloists and choirs, and performed for churches, including Suncrest United Methodist Church in Morgantown, WV and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Missoula, MT.

  • Kit Taylor

    WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

    Kit Taylor is a professional musician and graphic designer. His goal is to handle anything tech-related as well as expand the church’s digital reach.