About Us
Our vision is to love like Jesus,
with our hearts, minds, hands, and voices.
Greater together
The congregations of Trinity UMC and Good Shepherd UMC have come together as one new congregation. We believe that at this time and place, God has given us an opportunity to be greater together than we can be separately. Our individual histories tell of believers who love their communities through service and fellowship, and we believe that our union has the potential to create something unique in Fort Wayne.
Our name is Sanctuary: a United Methodist Congregation because we feel that it encompasses beautifully the story of who each congregation has been and who we believe God is calling us to become together.
Read our full story
We believe that we are meant to be a church where all people feel welcome and safe, proclaiming the unconditional love of God and showing it through how we worship and do life together. We believe that we are a church that is motivated to serve from a place and posture of love.
We are a diverse congregation with people from all generations, backgrounds, and life and faith experiences. Sanctuary is a word that connects us across age and tradition, speaking of a place of refuge and rest. We want our church to be just that: a sanctuary.
As the people of the church and as the disciples of Jesus that we are striving to be, we want to become living sanctuaries. We want to be a sanctuary every day of the week so that wherever we are, we exemplify and show Jesus’s love to any and all we are near, whether by our words, actions, or simple presence.
Our Mission
From the beginning, we want Sanctuary to be a place of eclectic worship and expansive theology that makes room for all people, regardless of their previous experiences with “the church” and “Christians.” We recognize that church hurt is real and we want to be a place where everyone feels welcome, safe, and the unconditional love of God.
Mission Statement
Sanctuary UMC exists to embody the love of Christ through presence and actions, welcoming all to belong, to explore faith with honesty and intention, and to engage in God’s healing work in our community and world.
What we believe
Sanctuary is proudly part of the United Methodist tradition, sharing beliefs with fellow UMC congregations and a common heritage with all Christians.
God
We believe God, who is one, is revealed in three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Jesus
We believe in the mystery of salvation through Jesus Christ. God became human in Jesus whose life, death and resurrection demonstrate God’s redeeming love.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is God’s present activity in our midst. When we sense God’s leading, God’s challenge, or God’s support or comfort, it’s the Holy Spirit at work.
Human Beings
Genesis 1:27 asserts that we’ve been made in the image of the Creator. Like God we have the capacity to love and care, to communicate, and to create.
The Church
The church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today.
The Bible
We believe the Bible was divinely inspired and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
God’s Reign
The kingdom or reign of God is both a present reality and future hope.
Our team
David Abbott helps co-pastor Sanctuary, A United Methodist Congregation, one of Fort Wayne’s newest and more unique faith communities. He is a “professional lover of God and people.” A fellow traveler on this “narrow road,” David is learning what it means to “unlearn” church and “re-learn” Jesus when they are not compatible. Unfortunately, too often, they are not.
Born in 1978, David calls himself a spiritual mutt. He attended multiple churches inside multiple denominations growing up, well into his 30’s. Instead of being a negative, David believes that it has been the best thing that has happened during his faith journey. “I have been required to learn what I believe Jesus and the scriptures say. I could not rely on the interpretation of one preacher or one church.”
Personally, David married way up. He has been married to his beautiful, hard-working wife Jess for 19 years. They have two mostly great kids; Koleson who is 17, Zoe is 14. He also has a 9 year old Olde English Bulldog Brock.
David received his undergraduate degree from West Coast Bible College. He then completed his graduate degrees (an MBA & Masters of Ministry) from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. He is currently working on his Ph.D through Kairos University.
When not reading, writing, studying, or speaking, you will likely find David on the golf course, where he finds it the hardest to act like a “Christian.” (Stupid 3 putts). He loves working out, running, and watching Liverpool FC. You will often find him with a good drink and a good cigar in his hands.
david@sanctuaryumc.org
Pastor Nikki is kind of a goof. She loves poetry, glitter, The Office, The Bengals, Trader Joe’s and a good pun. Her heart beats to let people know about the love of God and the invitation God extends to us to build the kingdom here on earth. She is passionate about grace and justice and loves seeing people grow in their relationships to love God, themselves, and others more fully. She believes that we all are leaders and have gifts to share to grow ourselves as followers of Jesus. She would enjoy getting to know you by sitting down to chat with whatever beverage you enjoy.
nikki@sanctuaryumc.org
Jordan was born and raised in Maryland, moved to Tennessee for her undergraduate and lived there for six years, and moved to Fort Wayne in 2019. Outside of church, she runs a small photography business and also facilitates Griefshare groups as a chaplain at the YMCA. She loves creating music, and sees the church music team as a beautiful space of belonging for those artistically and technologically inclined. Living a life of love is her biggest goal, as this is how she understands the heart of God to be. When we worship God together, whether in an upbeat or reflective moment, we have the potential for communal and individual healing. Jordan is honored to be a part of a church that reflects the heart of love so well.
jordan@sanctuaryumc.org
I have worked for the church for the past 13 years, filling various roles. My husband Barry and I were married here in 2001. We have three children, all three and Barry, were baptised here. I love interacting with the community, whether it be hosting a family movie night here or spinning cotton candy at the neighborhood pool. Outside of church, I sit on the board for the Performing Arts at Snider, where our daughter marches baritone and is involved in theater. I am excited to be part of a church that honors grace, love, and acceptance of who we are in our faith journey.
corrina@sanctuaryumc.org
My name is Kristy Jensen, and I have been part of Good Shepherd Preschool for 18 years. Over the years, this community has become such a meaningful part of my life. I truly believe God led me here for a reason, and I feel incredibly blessed to have built lasting relationships with so many wonderful families.
I spent 15 years working in the classroom before stepping into the role of Assistant Director. Last year, I was honored to be promoted to Director of the Preschool. It has been a joy to grow within this program and continue supporting both students and staff in new ways.
As a parent, Good Shepherd Preschool is especially close to my heart—my four children all attended here when they were young, and now one of them is part of our staff as well.
Outside of work, I have a passion for photography, which I also pursue as a second job. I love spending time outdoors, camping, hiking, and going on new and fun adventures with my fiancé.
kristy@sanctuaryumc.org
Stephanie Bass brings a lifetime of dedication, creativity, and leadership to both her professional and personal life. She grew up in her family’s flower shop, Crossroads Flowers, where she worked alongside her mother and grandmother until her grandmother’s passing in 2008. Following that loss, Stephanie stepped into a larger leadership role as co-owner, helping run the business with her mom. She specialized in floral design, earning her accreditation as an AIFD designer, while also managing key business operations including payroll, tax filings, and supply ordering.
Stephanie has been married to her husband, Dan, for nearly 25 years. Together, they opened their home as foster parents for eight years, welcoming nine children into their care. Two of those children became their forever family through adoption in 2014 and 2019. Their children, Colin and Josie, are the center of their world.
Deeply committed to her community, Stephanie has been actively involved with Good Shepherd for nearly eight years. She began as the receptionist, later cross-trained into finance, and now serves as Director of Finance & Administration. Known as the go-to person for questions, she plays a vital role in the church’s daily operations. She has also served on the Good Shepherd Preschool Committee both as a parent and staff liaison.
Outside of work, Stephanie serves as president of the local swim club, Glen Aqua, where she spends much of her free time cheering on her kids in swimming and diving, as well as organizing events and supporting the club’s success. Stephanie’s life reflects her passion for service, family, and community.
finance@sanctuaryumc.org
I am the facilities manager here at Sanctuary. I have a wife, 2 stepsons and 2 kids of my own and we have 9 grandchildren. I have been working here for about 8 years now. I am an Army brat, so I have lived pretty much everywhere for a short time. After high school, I was an avid four-wheeler. Ended up building a 4-wheel drive Mustang in the late 70’s. Used to do a lot of off-roading in Pennsylvania. I eventually ended up working in the defense industry, which brought me to Fort Wayne. Have since retired from that and did a short stint with Parkview Hospital in their records department. My wife, who is a preschool teacher here, suggested I try for this position. The rest is history.
facilities@sanctuaryumc.org
I’m originally from Maryland living primarily between Baltimore and Washington, DC, and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in audio production. In 2018, I married my wife, Jordan, and we moved to Fort Wayne in 2019 for my role as a sales engineer at Sweetwater. I enjoy traveling, coffee shops, motorcycle rides, playing basketball and relaxing at home with our three dogs. I’ve always loved going to live events including games, concerts, and comedy shows. I’ve been described as a pretty laid-back individual who values friendships and connecting with people and their experiences.
