Dave Ainsworth - Lead Pastor

Dave and Maggie have been married since 2005, serving together in ministry. They have three children: Shepherd, Trinity, and Lucy. 

In 2011, Dave and Maggie visited family in San Francisco and ran the San Francisco Half Marathon. The course started downtown, ran out and back across the Golden Gate Bridge, and ended at Golden Gate Park, offering a beautiful tour of the city. In just one day, they were both captured and burdened for San Francisco. It’s a wonderful place lost to the God who created its wonder.

After pastoring in Houston for five years, they finally moved to the city in 2014 and joined Citizens as a pastor in 2017. Family life in the city is always interesting, and their family’s love for San Francisco remains stronger than ever. Dave and Maggie earnestly believe the gospel of Jesus empowers broken people to flourish and want to be part of a gospel church where all types of broken people flourish.

Adam hillyer - pastor

Adam and Sunee grew up in the East Bay and have had a deep love for San Francisco from a young age. While praying for the City in seasons of ministry elsewhere, they have never been able to shake a burden to see people here come to know Jesus and the fullness of his love. 

Prior to pastoring at Citizens, Adam served in ministry in the Bay Area and in Seattle at churches affiliated with Citizens through the Soma Family of Churches. He has an MA in Ministry Leadership from Western Seminary and a BA in Biblical Studies from Biola University. Adam currently works in business consulting for a software company. At Citizens, his primary responsibilities are Citizens Communities and financial operations.

Adam and Sunee enjoy living in the Outer Sunset, taking their son Jude to Ocean Beach, and having friends new and old gathered around their table for a meal. Adam is passionate about seeing people be at home in the love of God and live on Jesus’ mission in the everyday stuff of life. 

Georgia Lee - deacon of justice & operations

Georgia is a staff deacon with Citizens, working full-time for the church in two main realms:

(1) Communications and Operations — coordinating gatherings, connecting with visitors, welcoming new members, and communicating with our church family (2) Justice and Mercy Ministries — teaching our church about God’s heart for justice & mercy and facilitating spaces for transformational & mutually-beneficial relationships between our church, friends on the margins, and local organizations.

Georgia grew up in North Carolina, graduated from Elon University, and moved to San Francisco in 2015. She has a heart for participating in God’s redemptive story through pursuing justice, being a part of missional communities, and inviting others to know & enjoy God.

Soma Network

Soma has been a key resource and support for Citizens Church since its beginning. Soma is a family of churches making disciples, strengthening one another and planting churches of missional communities toward gospel saturation.

Like family, Soma provides significant relational support to our church’s leadership. With these friends, we share knowledge, burdens, prayers, and life. Soma is committed to helping Citizens become a strong, healthy, self-sustaining church in San Francisco for the long haul. Check out the Soma Family of Churches here.

Harbor Network

When Dave joined in 2017, he brought with him a partnership with Harbor Network (formerly the Sojourn Network). Harbor Network is a church planting network committed to helping pastors launch, lead, and multiply thriving churches.

Harbor Network is theologically-robust, relationally-driven, and rich with experience in planting healthy churches in creative urban contexts like San Francisco. 

Citizens has been significantly shaped and encouraged by their influence, especially their emphasis on pastoral health and renewal-driven mission. Check out the Harbor Network here.