John Sweet / Senior Pastor
John grew up in Lakeland, Florida, graduated from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama and Reformed Theological Seminary (back to FL), then ministered in Brooklyn, New York, for a decade as a pastor and church planter in a neighborhood centered multi-congregation network. Most recently he served as assistant pastor at Grace Marin in the San Francisco Bay Area. Having missed the middle of the country in their journeying, he and Kathy, (married in 2001) and their three children—Micah, Asher and Kate are glad to be starting a new chapter here at Grace + Peace in Austin.
Avery Kelly / Director of Parish & Adult discipleship
Avery comes from Carrollton, Georgia, having moved there for college after growing up in the West Georgia area. He felt a call to the ministry late in high school and graduated from the University of West Georgia with a degree in philosophy before attending Birmingham Theological Seminary where he will graduate in December 2023. While interning part-time at his home church and going through seminary, Avery worked at his alma mater in the advising department of the college of business. He and his wife, Allison, were married in 2016, and they have a daughter named McKinlee. In his free time he enjoys reading, cooking, and playing board games. Avery and his family are excited about the opportunity to make their home with the Grace + Peace Austin family!
Mac Meador / Minister of Music
Mac is originally from Fort Worth, Texas. He is a graduate of The College of William and Mary (2013), studying International Relations. After college, he moved to Washington D.C. to be the college minister of Fourth Presbyterian Church. While he was there though, he felt the Lord was calling him to pursue and study music in the church. He moved to Charlottesville, Virginia to complete an internship in Art and Worship.
After that year, he moved to Austin to come on staff at Grace + Peace as the Worship and Art Director. He is one of 5 kids, most of which are spread across the southern United States. He spends much of his time writing music, reading in coffee shops, and pretending he still has a shot at making the NBA.
Joey Perez / Student director
Joey spent the first ten years of his life living in Georgetown, Texas before moving to Austin. Having come to know the Lord through Student Ministry his Junior year of High School, he knew that this was something he needed to pursue in his own life. After graduating from McNeil High School, Joey started serving as a volunteer leader in a Student Ministry where he serve diligently while pursuing his degree in Next Generation Ministries from Liberty University. In the process Joey met his wife Laura and had two daughters - Elliott and Selah. Joey is very excited about being here at Grace + Peace doing Student Ministry while receiving his Masters of Divinity from Vida House! In his free time you will find Joey taking up illustration/graphic design commissions, playing with his children, or listening to music.
Laura Perez / Director of children’s ministry & Administration
Laura was born and raised right here in Austin, Texas. She has a BS in Elementary Education from Abilene Christian University and also studied Child and Family Ministry while she was there. Laura is very passionate about ministering to children of all ages. She has served in various aspects of children’s ministry for the past 10 years. Laura worked as the Children’s Program Coordinator for a local nonprofit, and most recently was an elementary school teacher. She felt God calling her back to a career in ministry full-time, and was eager to accept the position of Children’s Ministry Director here at Grace + Peace. Laura and Joey have two daughters - Elliott and Selah, and their family also serves as Onsite Coordinators with Apartment Life Ministry. In her free time, Laura enjoys crafting, hiking, baking, and spending time at coffee shops.
Alisha Ligon / Facilities & Sunday Operations Manager
Alisha was born in Nevada and roamed the forty wild desert acres that her parents owned with her older brothers and three dogs until the age of six. Then her parents convinced her and the boys that moving to California was a good idea (by literally bribing them with cash). Since her parents worked in construction and had been investing in property during the housing market crash of 2008, the Richardson family lost their home and livelihoods. This brought the family to northeast Texas where living expenses were cheaper and her parents were able to get odd jobs now and then. Alisha worked with her parents for a few years in construction, completed her GED at sixteen, and started community college at seventeen. Alisha finished her BS in pure mathematics at Oral Roberts University and proceeded to teach myriad math subjects in all the grades of high school. She taught for five years and then resigned to pursue art professionally at the encouragement of her supportive husband, Nate Ligon. She is an oil painter who paints people, pets, places, and even pretty possessions (like bottles) with an aim toward realism. Alisha's passion for serving others has led her to many volunteer opportunities including teaching 6th-7th grade Sunday school at Church on the Rock in northeast Texas, painting murals for a school in Tulsa Oklahoma, working as a "big sister" at girl's group home, and teaching young volunteers how to do drywall with Building Compassion. She is excited for the new and unexpected opportunity to work in ministry as the church's Facility Manager, and looks forward to getting to know the Grace and Peace family even better.