Our Story

Modern concrete and glass building with trees and people walking and bicycling in front, under a partly cloudy sky. The Social Sciences building also known as the death star at UC Davis.

In 1997, while attending graduate school at UC Davis, Pastor Timothy saw how deeply the campus needed a college ministry. As he read the book of Joshua, he sensed God calling him to make Davis his “promised land.” So, he and his wife, Alice, took a step of faith and began the very first Bible study at UC Davis.

Not long after, Pastor Jonathan and Susanna, along with our very first team from Berkeley, joined them—and our first church plant was born.

Over the years, God has faithfully built a community where students can encounter Jesus, grow in their faith, and wrestle honestly with life’s biggest questions: Who is God? What is my purpose? And what does it mean to follow Christ?

We continue to see God moving in Davis today. Much of our staff team is made up of UC Davis alumni who chose to stay after graduation and serve as co-vocational ministers. Nearly three decades after that first Bible study, God is still changing lives, forming lasting friendships, and raising up students who desire to follow Jesus and live out their faith on campus and beyond.

Klesis Christian Fellowship is part of the Acts2 College, a family of college fellowships across the U.S. and around the world united by a shared heart to reach the next generation.

Meet our
Pastoral Couple

A smiling family (Albert and Elisa + kids) of four outdoors with a lake and trees in the background during sunset. The mother stands on the left, the father holds a young boy on his back, and a young girl is sitting on a wooden railing between them.

  • Our campus pastor, Albert, and his wife, Elisa, have been ministering to college students for over 15 years. After serving at their alma mater, UC Berkeley for 3 years, they were sent out to help start our LA church plant in 2013. They grew up with the church as they ministered to the campus alongside their best friends. In 2025, they spent one year in Bible and leadership training in Illinois before moving to Davis to lead the ministry!

    They, along with their two kids- Jordan and Sophie love having students over at their house, taking walks as a family, and playing “Blind Dinosaur” (an original Kim family game!). These days, you’ll also find them scouting out new dessert places in Davis!

  • After growing up churched but uninspired, I found Jesus Christ in college at UC Berkeley and the gospel message left a permanent mark on the trajectory of my life. Although I grew up shy and awkward, I found my security and identity in Jesus and became extroverted and passionate for the vision of helping college students find and follow Jesus. After serving as a bi-vocational minister at UC Berkeley and UCLA for 15 years, I left my job as a director at SpaceX to pursue ministry full-time alongside some of my best friends. After spending a year in training in Chicago, our family arrived in Davis in July 2026. 

    I'm a passionate LA sports fan (Lakers & Angels) and have been enjoying the Davis food scene way too much.

  • I grew up in a Christian home in the comfortably sheltered city of Irvine, and ready for adventure I chose to go far and attend UC Berkeley for college (go Bears!). I was excited to experience freedom, autonomy, and life in the “real world.” What I found during those first years of college was that I made a pretty poor master over my own life and that ultimately life in my hands resulted in me feeling more insecure and anxious than before. I looked for meaning in purpose what I saw others chase in college - in academic achievement, fun, relationships, and it was disorienting when I felt emptier and unfulfilled. But that experience helped me be more open to give God another chance, and I was able to re-discover my childhood faith in a fresh way as I saw others take it seriously around me and I got to experience genuine Christian warmth and community. I was also floored at how relevant, applicable and wise the bible was, as message after message I felt like someone surely had given our pastor a glimpse into my diary because he seemed to be describing what was inside of me. I decided to follow Jesus and make him Lord over my life, and since then found that living my life for Jesus has resulted in true peace, love for others, and genuine joy. I continued to stay on to help with college ministry, where I eventually signed up to help start the UCLA plant back in 2013 (go Bruins!) and now I serve at our Davis college ministry (go Aggies!). I am passionate about talking to college students and getting to share with them about the difference Jesus can make in their lives and their eternal trajectory. 

    Likes: coffee, cooking, reading (CS Lewis, Harry Potter)

Our mentors serve co-vocationally, which means we pursue our professions while also serving in ministry. We’re designers, engineers, healthcare providers, scientists- and above all, followers of Jesus who care deeply about college students.

For many of us, our years at UC Davis were more than just a season of classes and campus life - they were a defining chapter in our spiritual journeys. It was here that we encountered Jesus in deeper ways, asked hard questions, built lasting community, and saw our faith take root and grow.

Our heart is to see more students encounter Jesus, grow in authentic community, and live out their faith in everyday life. We love walking alongside them through questions, challenges, and victories. Our hope is to equip the next generation of kingdom workers, bringing His love into college campuses and the world!

Meet our Mentors

Group of Klesis Christian Fellowship mentors standing and smiling outdoors in a park with trees in the background.
Group of Klesis Christian Fellowship mentors standing and smiling outdoors in a park with trees in the background.

What We Believe

Statement of Faith