New pastor Todd Gallahar joins Northwood Chapel

Northwood Chapel, formerly known as Northwood Alliance Church, recently hired pastor Todd Gallahar to bring new changes to the C Street church.

“They’re looking for someone to freshen things up and reach the community and family ministries,” he said. “It excited me that they wanted revitalization.”

New changes will include improving the quality of the church’s online presence, creating a treehouse theme upstairs for children and bringing new music to the church, Gallahar said.

Ken Crandall served as the church’s interim pastor after Charles Gibson retired from 25 years of serving as pastor last winter.

Gallahar’s path as pastor began 15 years ago as an assistant pastor at Kalamazoo Community Church in Michigan. He later moved to Pitt Meadows, B.C. in 2014 to become the teaching pastor at Burnett Fellowship Church before being hired at Northwood.

Gallahar said he was looking for a pastor position in Whatcom County so he could be close to family in Anacortes but still maintain friendships in B.C.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in music from Grace Bible College and master’s degree at Cornerstone University. Gallahar has been married to his wife, Amanda, for 24 years and has two sons, Zach, 21, and Logan, 18.

The family all play instruments, and Gallahar and his wife record albums in their free time with unique instruments like the hammered dulcimer and banjo. When he’s not at church or making music, Gallahar said he likes to spend his time outdoors kayaking and hiking.

Gallahar also has a strong background in helping people through recovery, and is involved in Celebrate Recovery, an international organization he describes as a faith-based AA but for people with a variety of struggles.

“There’s a lot of potential for people to experience healing where they need healing, especially with hardships that people are coming out of from Covid,” he said. “I think Northwood is positioned to be very helpful with the community.”

Northwood Chapel is located at 580 C Street. The church is currently conducting both in-person and remote church services at 10 a.m. on its YouTube channel. The church also hosts a 7 p.m. Wednesday prayer on Zoom. For more information, visit northwoodchapel.org.