Our Pastors & Staff

Pastor Jonathan has been in professional ministry since 2002. Along the way he’s worked with children & youth, in camping, and campus ministry. Since 2010 he has served as an Ordained Pastor leading congregations from South Carolina to Pennsylvania. He’s served in smaller rural congregations and larger, multi-staff downtown churches; he’s even had a stint in a house church! He’s a 2006 graduate of Lander University with a Bachelor degree in History and a 2010 graduate of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary with a Masters in Pastoral Ministry and Theology. Pastor Jonathan is passionate about grace oriented ministry; whether it's in the familiar center of faith or out on its unexpected edge; he likes to help people wonder where God is in all of this? He had the good fortune to be married to April and is the proud father of Mckinney, Maxton, and Alastair. He loves to cook, ride his bikes, nerd out on Star Wars, Podcast, and enjoy craft beer or fine bourbon.

Pastor Christina came to Grace in February 2022 after serving in her first call as the solo pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in Shelby, halfway between Asheville and Charlotte. She also worked as a part-time hospital staff chaplain and has completed the clinical pastoral education (CPE) needed to become eligible for board certification for chaplaincy. She earned her MDiv at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN (2013) and her undergraduate degree at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. (1992) Prior to entering full-time pastoral ministry, Pastor Christina worked in nonprofit fundraising and communications for fifteen years. She’s married to Jamie, a teacher and houseparent at Christ School, an Episcopal boys’ boarding school in Arden and they have two adult children, Casey and Em and a menagerie of dogs (3), a cat and VW buses (4). They live in Mills River.

Born in Torreon, Mexico, Pastor Oviedo had a sense of calling to Christian Pastoral Ministry at age 15. He was a student at Seminario Teologico Bautista Mexicano after high school graduation in Mexico City in 1980. He came to the US in 1989 to pursue graduate theological studies and was ordained to Pastoral Ministry in Dilley, TX, in 1989. Pastor Oviedo graduated Valedictorian from Hispanic Baptist Theological Seminary in San Antonio with a Diploma in Theology in 1992. He also graduated from Wayland Baptist University (Plainview TX) – BSOE – Christian Studies in 1993; Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity with a Master of Divinity in 1999; and University of North Carolina-Asheville with a Master of Liberal Arts in 2001. After completing studies at Southern Seminary, he was ordained in the ELCA in 2014.

Greg brings more than 36 years of nonprofit management experience with the YMCA and the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, the last 26 years in the camping field. He has a BA from Wilmington College in Business Administration and Youth Agency Administration with a minor in Accounting.Greg is in charge of operations, including building use and maintenance, membership data, support staff and finance. Greg and his wife Nancy live in Brevard with their three children, Breana, Ashley and Jonathan.

Burton earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Greensboro College and a Master of Sacred Music degree from Southern Methodist University. He began piano lessons in elementary school and began playing hymns for the Men’s Bible class at his church when he was in middle school. Some lessons from the church organist convinced him during high school that he wanted to study music in college. In 1995 he received a fellowship award to study with composer Alice Parker in New York City. He has written and arranged music for organ and for chorus published by Hinshaw, Warner Brothers and G.I.A. He began writing plays in 1994 and to date more that 65 of his scripts have been published. Many of his scripts are particularly appropriate for middle and high school students. Burton is honored and blessed to be a part of staff of Grace Church.

Jill, a lifelong Lutheran and member of Grace, brings a solid faith foundation combined with parenting skills honed by her four children, excellent organizational experience from the business world, and a deep passion to support parents in nurturing faith within their families.Jill earned a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing from American University in Washington DC. She spent 13 years in business before having her family and becoming a stay-at-home mother and was active as a volunteer in her children’s schools. Jill has been a teacher for 3 and 4-year olds, a substitute preschool teacher at Grace and has spearheaded the theme development and execution of numerous successful fundraisers at Atkinson Elementary School in Hendersonville.As Director of Children and Family Ministry at Grace, Jill leads and directs programs for children from birth through elementary school (5th grade) including their families. She provides programs or develops new ones as necessary to meet the spiritual needs of children and their families.

Serving in congregational youth ministry since 2002, Anne joined our Grace Lutheran staff in November 2010. She is a native North Carolinian and has strong roots in the Lutheran church receiving her Bachelors degree from Lenoir-Rhyne University, Masters Degree in Children, Youth and Family Ministry from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN, in 2009, and has also worked on staff as a camp counselor at Lutheridge.Anne’s passion for ministry with youth and their families focuses on celebrating our God given connections by weaving vibrant faith keys together: caring conversations, devotion to God, service to others and rituals/traditions. Youth are the church NOW, not the just the future, and they become adults of faith by seeing adults of faith in action. This is why it is so pivotal to have our youth in the center of the life of the congregation. We must assist parents in fulfilling the promises made at their child’s baptism. Our programs for youth do not make their group a separate organization from the church family, but they help our youth serve their congregation and community. Anne is thankful for her team ministry role at Grace, serving and caring alongside parents and other adult members as advocates with and for the youth of Grace.

Beth Ann loves being Grace’s Preschool Director! She has worked with children and families since 1992. She started her family-centered journey by supporting breastfeeding moms, became a Preschool teacher and Aftercare care provider, was the director of her own children’s home care, and, in 2001, began her career as a Preschool Director at Grace. The Preschool Director position is a culmination of all her life experiences, human resource manager and trainer, counsellor, facilitator, project manager, mission director, and public relations. Her life’s purpose is to make a difference in society by helping make the world a better place to live in now and in the future.Beth Ann has been married to her best friend, Brian since 1988 and has three amazing children! She loves to spend time with family and travels all over the world. AIn her down time, she runs, dances, hikes and camps, enjoys reading, knitting, and watching theater, music, and movies. She is grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to our community and children’s lives!

A native of Henderson County, Ami comes to Grace Lutheran Preschool with many years of customer service, sales and marketing experience. She graduated from UNC-Asheville with a BA in Marketing and Business Management. She manages preschool communication, finance and public relations. Her two teenage daughters keep her busy with school and social activities.

Jolie manages all church communications, attends to church member and visitor needs, and assists with church administration. She earned a degree in Psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and is also certified in paralegal studies. Prior to her working with Grace, Jolie worked in a variety of nonprofit organizations. Jolie is a transplant from the west coast with her husband and rescue dogs. She spends her time hanging out with her dogs and hubby, as well as volunteering in the community.

Dave and his wife, Beth, have been active members of Grace for a number of years. Dave has long shared his expertise and experience in video as a volunteer by providing CDs of worship for homebound members, recording and uploading sermons to YouTube, and producing videos for preschool and other ministry events. His responsibilities include scheduling & producing videos to support the ministry of Grace, directing the live streaming worship services, and training others to serve in the various support roles essential for this ministry to flourish and continue.

Ruthie is the liaison between church members, staff and the treasurer. She assists with finance accounts payable and check posting.

Chris has been involved in Grace's finance office since 2014. She also serves on the Finance and Stewardship Committee. She sings in the choir and plays in the bell choir and is very involved at Grace, having served on council and regularly attends book studies. She is married to her husband, Ken. She is a retired critical care/surgical nurse. She loves spending her time gardening, watching sports, and now watching grandchildren playing sports.

Nicola was born in Swansea South Wales and went to Culinary College in Neath. She was traveling around the US when she ended up in Cocoa Beach, FL and lived there for many years with her son and daughter. They moved to Hendersonville and have loved the area. Nicola has worked in some department in the food industry her whole life. She loves to cook and feed people. She and her family love exploring the area and hiking the wonderful trails. She has been working with Grace since 2019, preparing and serving at the Oasis congregate dinners, and cooking a monthly meal for Boys and Girls Club from the Grace kitchen.

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