TEAM
Dan Wolf, Senior Pastor
Dan has been married to the love of his life and best friend Carrie for 16 years. They cherish many adventures with their 9-year-old son, Coen, and 7-year-old daughter, Imogen, and 4-year-old, Phoebe.
Dan grew up in Charleston, SC and came to faith on a mission trip at 15. This adolescent experience led him to pastor youth for 7 years in at an Anglican Church in Columbia, SC. During this time, he studied philosophy at University of South Carolina and received his Masters of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Dan went on to serve as the associate pastor of an Anglican church in Jacksonville, FL for 6 years. He is currently working on his Doctorate of Ministry from Gordon-Conwell in Pastor in the Public Square, writing a thesis project on discipleship through Biblical theology, helping Christians reflect on their personal story, and how to find one’s role and mission in God’s Story.
Dan and Carrie fell in love with the natural beauty and culture of Maine, especially since Carrie had been spending every summer here since she was 7. They spent two years praying and discerning God’s call to start a church in Portland and are excited to be home.
Dan is passionate about Gospel identity and walking alongside others as they discover the adventure of following Jesus on mission. He loves good beer, coffee, and conversations. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and exploring islands in their old Whaler on the Maine Coast.
Craig Vickerman, Pastor of Rising Generation
Craig was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. He came to America to study Youth Ministry. Early in his journey, Craig met Anna and together they followed their calling into full-time ministry. After twenty years dedicated to youth ministry, Craig was ordained as an Anglican Priest. While serving as a rector for nine years, he has advocated for family ministry across New England and contributed to youth ministry within the province. Craig is deeply passionate about mentoring and equipping leaders and reaching and equipping this rising generation to know God and develop the character and capacity to follow Him in holiness, bringing hope to their lives and this broken world. Craig loves laughter, conversation, and an excellent cup of coffee.
Zach Ashley, Assistant Pastor
Zach is originally from Western, NY. After discerning a call to enter into the Military Chaplaincy during his freshman year of college, Zach enrolled in Army ROTC and transferred to Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York. Following his graduation from college, Zach enrolled in the Army's Chaplain Candidate Program and completed a Masters in Divinity at Northeastern Seminary in Rochester, NY.
Zach's primary ministry has been with the military. He has served both as a Chaplain in the Army Reserve and is currently serving as a Chaplain in the Air National Guard. Throughout his ministry, Zach has also assisted numerous churches throughout the Northeast.
Zach lives in Saco Maine, with his wife Emily, and son, Nathaniel. If you spend any time in the Wilds of Maine or New Hampshire you may encounter the Ashleys hiking a mountain, XC skiing, snowshoeing, hanging out by the river, or at Bayview Beach.
Anna Vickerman, Rise Kids Pastor
Originally from New England, Anna has been overjoyed to be back since 2014 with her husband, Craig, and their children. Having created many cherished memories in Maine since college, the Vickermans are excited to call Maine home. Since earning a degree in social work, Anna has been supporting families—serving in roles such as preschool teacher, family director, children’s director, youth leader, and parent coach. Anna is passionate about mentoring parents, strengthening family relationships, and especially guiding children to deepen their connection with God while developing character, wisdom, and purpose within their families, church, and community. Anna enjoys exploring the outdoors and cannot decide if she prefers the woods or the ocean, so why not live close to both! She loves to linger around a good meal and conversation.
Dan Wells, Director of Worship and the Arts
Dan Wells was raised in Topsham, Maine. He earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Springfield College and a master's degree in Biblical Studies from Ashland Theological Seminary.. He has been in pastoral ministry since 1994, the most recent of which has been at a church he founded with his wife Lisa in Topsham, Maine in 2004. Dan is the founder and owner of Opening to God, a practice devoted to teaching people how to experience Jesus through scripture meditation, and is co-founder and President of Anoigo Retreats.
Dan has a passion for music and helping people understand and experience the story of the bible and the world in which it is set. He looks forward to building a music and A/V program that has multiple teams and works weekly to harmoniously accompany the liturgy and sermon contant. Dan is excited to be a part of a worshipping community that values the arts as a whole and looks forward to working together with the Rise staff to create a community that not only celebrates art but creates art to the glory of God.
In his spare time Dan plays guitar in a blues trio that gigs in the mid-coast region, enjoys reading, watching the Bruins and Celtics, and hosting large friends and family gatherings at his home. Dan has been married to his best friend, Lisa, since 1996. Dan and Lisa have three wonderful daughters and live in Richmond, Maine.
Carrie Wolf, Communications Director
When Carrie is not working as a pediatric nurse at Barbara Bush Children's Hospital, she is partnered with her husband Dan in church ministry. This dual calling was born out of her lifelong desire to be a part of Jesus’ mission to invite all people to explore the deeper questions of life, faith, and meaning.
In her spare time, Carrie likes watching movies, exploring small towns, trying new restaurants, expressing her artistic side through restoring old things, and cruising around Casco Bay in the Wolfs’ old Whaler. She enjoys connecting with new people while out trail running or while taking the kids on various nature adventures around Portland. Carrie oversees hospitality and maintains social media for Rise Church.
Jan Dubois, Parish Administrator
“I wasn’t born in Maine, but I got here as fast as I could.” That sentence describes Jan, a lover of lakes and the ocean. In 2013, she moved to Portland, having retired in Scranton, Pennsylvania, from her role as the Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Business at the University of Scranton. With her expertise as an early childhood educator and later as an administrator, Jan jumped right back into work in Portland serving as a Parish Administrator since 2013.
Jan has two grown children, Amy and Alex. They lived through her many years of teaching elementary school in New York, Connecticut, California and Pennsylvania. Now Amy and John live in Pittston, ME. Jan’s grandchildren, Veda (9) and SunRa (7) are doing their part to keep her invigorated. Alex and Natalie live in Charlestown, SC.
