Board of Directors

CityJoy’s Board of Directors is a diverse team of leaders with expertise in ministry, law, finance, leadership development, and business strategy. United by a shared passion, they guide CityJoy with the vision of seeing the Twin Cities transformed by the joy of the gospel.

  • Portrait of Dr. Chuck Steddom, member of the CityJoy board of directors, wearing a black jacket with a 'CityJoy' logo, smiling and standing in front of a wooden background.

    Chuck Steddom

    President

    Dr. Chuck Steddom currently serves as Pastor for Worship and Ministry Development at Bethlehem Baptist Church, where he has served since 1997. He holds degrees from Wheaton College, St. Cloud State University, and the University of Iowa. He and his wife, Carol raised four children in the near urban neighborhoods and developed a passion for ethnic harmony and have sought  to model the greatest commandment  “to love your neighbor” among marginalized people groups.  He has been on the board of City Joy since 2006.

  • Portrait of Dr. B. Charvez Russell, member of the CityJoy board of directors, smiling in front of a wooden background.

    Dr. B. Charvez Russell

    Vice President

    Dr. B. Charvez Russell began preaching in 2009 and continues to spread the Gospel however he can. He believes that to live the life God has called for requires us to intentionally be better. He was given the great opportunity to be elected as the 5th Pastor of Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church on January 9, 2022. In 1 Peter 4:2, we read, "...that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God." Dr. Russell is committed to leading his church to be rooted in "God's Word," rooted in "Prayer," "Operating in Love" and "Guided by His Spirit. He joined the City Joy board in 2022 and is excited for the future of bringing ministries together for the building of the Kingdom of God.

  • Portrait of Osni Ferreira Filho, member of the CityJoy board of directors, smiling in front of a wooden background.

    Osni Ferreira Filho

    Treasurer

    Osni holds an engineering degree from Brazil and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas, and advises investors on aligning their finances with Christian values. He attends Bethlehem Baptist Church with his wife, Sarah, and their two children, Elliot and Selah. Since 2023, Osni has served on the CityJoy board. He believes that Christians are called to meet the city’s needs and share the ultimate hope, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

  • Portrait of Sarah Bushnell, member of the CityJoy board of directors, smiling in front of a wooden background.

    Sarah Bushnell

    Secretary

    Sarah is a Minneapolis lawyer who is grateful for the opportunity to observe and support the great work of the CityJoy ministers and staff as they care for and share the good news of Jesus with the people of Minneapolis. Sarah holds degrees from Northwestern College (now, the University of Northwestern, St. Paul) and Harvard Law School.  She and her husband, Anthony, have three teen and young adult children. Sarah has served on the CityJoy board since 2022.

  • Portrait of Chinechetam "Jeremiah" Ogazi, member of the CityJoy board of directors, smiling in front of a wooden background.

    Chinechetam “Jeremiah” Ogazi

    Member-At-Large

    Chinechetam (chee-nay-chay-tamm) Jeremiah Ogazi grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, a bustling city at the heart of Nigeria's commercial life. He has worked on a variety of marketing strategy and sustainability initiatives for companies like Seplat Energy and Medtronic. He is passionate about CityJoy's mission to faithfully present the tangible love of Jesus to some of the toughest neighborhoods of the Twin Cities and has been a board member since 2023. Jeremiah is married to the sweetest woman on earth, Annie, and a proud father to Ziifechi.

  • Portrait of Heather Elting-Ballard, member of the CityJoy board of directors and Executive Director of CityJoy, nonprofit organization.

    Heather Elting-Ballard

    CityJoy Executive Director

    Heather Elting-Ballard has served as Executive Director of CityJoy since 2022. A graduate of the University of California, Davis, she spent several years working in affordable housing development, asset management, and consulting before taking time away from professional work to focus on raising her family. From 2000 to 2002, she was part of the Bethlehem Baptist Church committee that planned and incorporated Bethlehem Urban Initiatives (which later changed to CityJoy), and later served on its board until 2006. Heather counts it a great privilege to lead CityJoy as it serves a growing mosaic of gospel ministries across the Twin Cities. Her favorite part of her job is working with the gifted staff God has brought to CityJoy.