Our Team

  • DR. SAMUEL NAAMAN

    President

    Email: president@safcchicago.com
    “Dr. Naaman, a Pakistani-born American, is the President of the South Asian Friendship Center. He is also a professor at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He lives with his wife and two sons in suburban Chicagoland.”

  • REV. ERIC MASON

    Executive Director

    Email: director@safcchicago.com
    Rev. Eric Mason currently serves as Executive Director of the SAFC. He is also the host of the international Podcast “Muslims want to know.” He and his wife, Beth, live in the neighborhood and are thankful to be serving with and leading this great team.

  • BETH MASON CWM

    Director of Youth Ministry

    Email: beth.mason@safcchicago.com
    Beth Mason, CWM, is the Director of Youth Ministries at the SAFC. Beth is passionate about serving the many children and families in the Little India neighborhood. Beth and Eric are also site associates with the Envision program, a ministry of the C&MA.

  • SUNITA RODRICKS

    Director of Asha Outreach

    Email: asha@safcchicago.com
    “Sunita has served the SAFC since its inception! She has helped to develop many of our services over the years. She has a heart for meeting and developing relationships with women in the community as well as mentoring young women in ministry.”

  • SUSY MASIH

    ESL and Women’s Ministry

    Email: women@safcchicago.com
    “Born and Raised in Chicago, Susy lived in India for 19 years with her late husband, Vijay. She enjoys speaking in Hindustani, as well as indulging in South Asian foods. Baingan ka burta is her favorite!”

  • DOUGLAS GRENAWALT

    Director of Resources

    Email: bookstore@safcchicago.com
    “Before coming to Chicago, Doug and Margaret lived in Pakistan for 18 years. They both speak Urdu fluently, and are happy to be living in the South Asian culture of Little India.”

  • MARGARET GRENAWALT

    Director of ESL

    Email: esl@safcchicago.com
    “Before coming to Chicago, Doug and Margaret lived in Pakistan for 18 years. They both speak Urdu fluently, and are happy to be living in the South Asian culture of Little India.”

  • JAMIE VINESAR

    Director of Communications

    Email: esl@safcchicago.com
    Jamie is a graduate from Moody Bible Institute. She started her time at the SAFC helping with our after-school program and is now in charge of communications at the Friendship Center.She looks forward to growing in her role at the SAFC, and to connecting more with our community.