Pastoral Team
Derek Quan
Senior Pastor
Pastor Derek has served as Senior Pastor at Journey of Faith since January 2020.
He is passionate about sharing God’s word and seeing it change the way people think, feel, and act toward God. His other passions include hiking and vacationing with his wife and family.
Born and raised in Oakland, CA, he committed his life to Christ after graduating from college and has been serving in the greater Phoenix area for the last 30 years.
He received his Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts with minor in Business, and his MBA degree from Santa Clara University, as well as Master of Divinity at Western Seminary and Doctorate of Ministry at Phoenix Seminary. He is also the author of the book, The Faithful and the Flawed—Learning Life Lessons From Those Who Came Before Us (2009).
He married his wife, Kathy, in 2001, and they have three beautiful children.
Keli'i Ah Leong
Pastoral Intern
Keli’i serves at Journey of Faith as a pastoral intern and also suppports various ministries.
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Keli’i moved to Arizona in 1993, and has continued to live in the Phoenix area. He is passionate about discipleship, teaching God’s Word, and helping people see how faith shapes everyday life.
Keli’i is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) at Grand Canyon University. He brings experience in higher education, financial aid operations, systems administration, and team leadership. He has a background in organizational process improvement, supporting people and families and operating with greater clarity and effectiveness.
Keli’i married Morgan in 2013, and together they are raising three children. His family is one of the greatest joys of his life and a central part of how he understands ministry, discipleship, and faithful service to the Lord.
Julie Poliarco
children's ministry director
Julie is the co-Children’s Director with Trang Nyugen
She was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States with her family when she was eleven years old. She met her husband, David, in Boston, got married, and moved several times, living in multiple states across the country, and landing in Arizona.
After becoming a mother, she stepped away from mortgage banking to homeschool her children for their first few years, guiding them through a Christian curriculum.
Julie’s faith is the cornerstone of her life. She became a Christian in 2020, a transformative turning point. In the summer of 2025, she and her husband felt called to deeper spiritual growth and joined Journey of Faith. Whether navigating mortgage banking or engaging with her family and community, she strives to live a life of purpose guided by her faith in God and devotion to her loved ones.
Trang Nyugen
children's ministry director
Trang is the co-Children’s Director with Julie Poliarco.
Trang grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and was raised in the Vietnamese Missionary Alliance church, where her faith journey began.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and served as a pediatric nurse for 17 years. Today, she owns a small business and is exploring new opportunities, trusting God to lead and provide each step of the way.
She and her family spent seven years in Texas before moving to Arizona in 2021. Trang joined Journey of Faith three years later. Through every season, Trang has seen God’s hand guiding her life and gently drawing her closer to Him. She hopes to encourage others by sharing His love, faithfulness, and truth.
Trang has been married to Tony since 2012, and together they have a son and daughter.
Grace Yum
Chief of Staff
Grace serves as Chief of Staff at Journey of Faith Church, where she has the privilege of supporting church leadership and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the church.
As one of Journey of Faith Church’s founding members, she has a deep love for God’s Word, her church family, and helping people grow in their faith.
Born in Korea and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Grace moved to New York to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Music Education at Ithaca College. Later, she earned her Master of Music in Piano Performance at ASU. She has called Arizona home since 2001.
Outside of church, she works as an elementary school music teacher and Pilates instructor. She enjoys taking Pilates classes, listening to audiobooks, and discovering new restaurants with her husband, Charles.
Grace is grateful for God’s faithfulness throughout the years and is thankful for the community and friendships God has graciously provided over the years. She considers it both a joy and privilege to serve Him and His church.
Elders
John Lee
ELDER
John is an Elder at Journey of Faith. He also serves as the Worship Leader and loves bringing people together to praise God through music.
He grew up in Yuma, Arizona, and southern California, and moved to Arizona in 2016.
He graduated from California State University-Long Beach.
He is currently working as a Data Engineer, but has an entrepreneurial spirit and has a couple of side businesses. He loves to BBQ and feed others.
John is married to Janis and has one daughter.
dan shin
elder
Dan is an Elder at Journey of Faith, and also serves as the Chairman of the Board, as well as a Youth Leader for the high school students. He is one of the original founding members of Journey of Faith Church when it was planted in 2011, and he loves to share JoF with everyone he meets.
He loves participating in sporting events, especially pickleball, golf, and snowboarding, as well as travelling worldwide.
Dan received his Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, and an MBA from the University of Chicago in Finance, Strategic Management, and Entrepreneurship.
Dan served 7 active-duty years in the Navy as a submarine officer and retired in 2021 as a Captain in the Navy Reserves. He also retired from his civilian job as Director of Business Development at Intel Corporation in the same year.
Dan has been married to Theresa for 30 years, and they have three adult children.