OUR TEAM

As the staff and leadership of Grace Community, our number one goal is to serve. We see the best example of servant leadership in the life of Jesus Christ. He had a humble heart, put the needs of others above his own, and generally had a great love for those around him.

Our desire at Grace Community is to be a people that reflect God's glory, this starts with our leadership. We are real people, with all the blemishes and scars that real people have, but we have been saved, remade, and transformed by Jesus' love!

Below you will find a list of those on staff at Grace, however that doesn't take into account the literally hundreds who serve at Grace Community on a regular basis. The staff is here to be a resource, an encouragement, and available to walk alongside you as we experience God's plan unfolding around us.

ROB STRONG - LEAD PASTOR

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Personal Bio: I was born in Nebraska but raised in a distant suburb of Minneapolis, MN. At 18, I moved to the Chicago area to attend Wheaton College and eventually Wheaton Graduate School. It was at Wheaton I met Susan and we eventually married in 1994. Since then, we have brought 4 children into the world and that pretty much keeps us on our toes. Also in the year 1994, we moved to Connecticut where I began my ministry career and we were there until arriving here in the Boston area in 2007. Our family loves hockey, soccer, and snowboarding (except for Susan who is the lone skier). We also try to get to a beach at least once every week in the summer months … so we love that too! On a personal note, I enjoy being a pastor and writing. And Grace Community is a great church to serve and do both. 

Ministry Bio: As I rode in the back seat of my parent’s car on my way to my first year of college, I was convinced I was going to be a lawyer. My how things have changed. It was in my college years that I discovered that I loved three primary subjects. One was communicating via speaking. So my first major was in communications. Second, I love history. And the third love was philosophy. It was when I stumbled into my first theology class that I learned that theology is essentially the study of history and philosophy combined into one. I couldn’t get enough! So my second major and my master’s degree is in theology. I then spent thirteen years in Connecticut serving at my first church as the youth pastor (8 years) and then the teaching pastor (5 years). I was able to experience a healthy, growing community during that time. Eventually, God nudged myself and my family towards a new role in a new church and that led me to Grace Community in 2007 to serve as their Lead Pastor. I love the church family hear and the passion for the region. After the first few years here, now, things are really starting to come together. Awesome!

Your perfect day would look like: Our family loves the beach. Loves it! So anytime we can make our way to Crane Beach, it is a perfect day.

Favorite Sports Activity: For the outdoors, I enjoy Golf, Snowboarding, or Waterskiing. Love to watch Bruins Hockey and Patriots Football.

Favorite Movie: I don’t know why, but it’s “A Few Good Men.” Whenever it is stumbled upon on TV, my wife will find me frozen in place watching.

Favorite Movie Line: “I get paid to be suspicious when there’s nothing to be suspicious about.” The Firm. “He wasn’t even there. An important piece of information, don’t you think?” A Few Good Men. “Did you order the Code Red?” A Few Good Men

Favorite TV Shows: Parenthood, Parks and Rec.

Favorite Singers/Bands: Coldplay, The Fray

Favorite Restaurants: Gibbit Hill. For chains I still love Chili’s.

Favorite Verse: Acts 8:26-27 paraphrased: “And angel of the Lord told Philip to go … and so he did.”

People I Would Love To Spend The Day With: The person I’m most fascinated with in the Bible is Philip (from the book of Acts, Chapter 8). I wish I could go back in time and travel next to him. I want to hear his passion for Jesus and to witness the way he would interact with people.

MATT BEATTIE - EXECUTIVE DRIECTOR

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Personal Bio: I have been happily married to Michelle since 2006, and we live in Lowell, MA. We spend a lot of time hanging out with friends, enjoy the warmer summer months and vacationing in warmer climates. Michelle also runs her own flower design business, www.michellebdesign.com, designing arrangements for weddings and events. We have one daughter, Joanna, born in April of 2012 and 2 cats, Noel and Frank. Before working at Grace Community I received a degree in photography from Rochester Institute of Technology, and in management from Northeastern University; and worked in landscape maintenance for 9 years. I am passionate about Jesus Christ, and the freedom and joy that I have experienced in Him!

Ministry Bio: I spent time in Rochester, NY and attended a church that awoke in me a love for worship. When I came home I joined the worship team at Grace, and spent a few years serving and learning some of the ropes under Fred Budd, our awesome worship leader at Grace Community in the mid 2000's. Eventually I took over as worship leader, and what began as a job with very basic responsibilities and few hours, has grown into a full-time role encompassing Worship, Communications, our Starting Point ministry, and managing the staff and setting direction in the church. I love my job at Grace Community, and it is clear that God orchestrated things to give me a job serving people in a way that I absolutely love.

Your perfect day would look like: A big breakfast, followed by a trip to the beach and an evening spent with friends around a fire.

Favorite Sports Activity: I love playing soccer, pickup football, and mountain biking

Favorite Movie: The Thin Red Line, Exit Through the Gift Shop, Braveheart

Favorite TV Shows: Arrested Development, 30 Rock, Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy

Favorite Singers/Bands: Robbie Seay Band, Arcade Fire, Elevation Worship, The Roots, Bon Iver

Favorite Restaurants: MT's Local, Buckley's Great Steaks

Favorite Books/Authors: Jonathan Franzen, David Mitchell, Ann Patchett, Francis Chan, 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series (George R.R. Martin), 'Switch' (Chip and Dan Heath). 

Favorite Verse: Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." 

People I Would Love To Spend The Day With: Michelle, Zach Walrond, Rob Strong, Joseph (from the bible)

JAKE SCOTT - ADULT MINISTRY PASTOR

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Personal Bio: I am the father of 2 and the husband to one. No "big love" here. I am originally from Indianapolis, IN, but came to MA via Cincinnati. I enjoy reading and writing, but am generally not that great at either.

Ministry Bio: I have been "in ministry" for over 6 years, always in student ministry. Grace is the third (but awesomest) church I have worked for. I really enjoy the leadership, relational, and teaching aspects of church ministry.

Perfect Day: My perfect day would include most of the following, in no order: sleeping in, watching a duke game (preferably live), margaritas, pestering my wife, wrestling with my son, grossing said son out kissing my wife, reading at Starbucks, playing sports, cake ( the food not the band), sore muscles I earned exercising.

Favorite movies: Dark Knight, Jurassic Park, Godfather 1 & 2, The Incredibles

Favorite Quote: "Leadership is influence, nothing more and nothing less."- John Maxwell

Favorite TV shows: Avatar: The Last Air Bender (with Kemly), The Walking Dead, Pardon the Interruption

Favorite Sports Activity: All of them, basketball is my one true sport love

Favorite Restaurant: Filo's Cucina

Favorite Musician: Jay-Z. David Crowder, Matisyahu, Matt Beattie, John Emery, George Fields

Favorite Authors: Scot McKnight, Peter Rollins, Rob Bell, Suzanne Collins

Favorite Verse: Job 40:15-16 specifically in KJV

People I Would Love To Spend The Day With: Coach K, Peyton Manning, Peter Rollins, Harper Nellie Scott

PRISCILLA SELLERS - DIRECTOR OF CHILDRENS MINISTRIES

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Personal Bio: I live in Hudson, NH with my husband, Laine, of 31 years. We have 2 wonderful, grown, married children (very dear daughter in-law and son in-law) and 2 adorable grandchildren. We absolutely love being grandparents! I have worn many "hats" throughout my life besides being a fulltime mom and wife. I worked in the banking industry for many years then followed my passion and worked as a preschool teacher and eventually as a director of a part-time preschool program. I have a degree in Early Childhood Education and plan to begin seminary in September 2012. Laine and I both love road trips and since we are both American History "buffs" (especially the Civil War era) we love vacationing and visiting historical sites. 

Ministry Bio: I made a comitment to follow Jesus in 1979. Since then I have served in various ministries throughout the years at Grace Chapel in Lexington. Some of those ministries include Food Pantry, Children's Ministry, Special Needs, Youth Ministry and 6 missions trips. I was also involved in many Bibles studies and part a wonderful life community group. Since coming to Grace Community in April of 2011, I have worked fulltime as Director of Children's Ministries. It has been an amazing transition and the most wonderful ministry experience yet! I am so grateful that God has strategically and intentionally led me to this place in my life and to serve in this capacity. God is so very good!

My perfect day would look like: A lake house (with a deck overlooking a lake!), morning sunrise with a perfect cup of coffee, a great book and quiet solitude followed by a hike and a quiet evening spent with those I dearly love.

Favorite Movie: Pride and Predjudice (actually, any Jane Austin film!) or any period piece chick flick!

Favorite TV Shows: Basically - The Food Network! The Office (Steve Carell seasons!)

Favorite Restaurants: Morton's Steakhouse, Cafe il Cepresso

Favorite Books/Authors: NT Wright, CS Lewis 

Favorite Verse: John 19:30 - "It is finished."

TOBIAS MARX - PUTREACH DIRECTOR

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Personal Bio: So I am “The Tobe”, and it seems I will enter my 40’s this year. If you would have told me 10 ½ years ago that I would be a father of 4 and married, hm, well, let’s just say I would have laughed out loud. So, like I said, I am married to “The Me”, also known as Emily (she is absolutely gorgeous and awesome, btw.), and we have 4 incredible smart and good looking kids; Gretchen (8), Audrey (6), Dylan (4) and Heidi (3). I used to be a Chef but found my way into ministry. I grew up in Germany, which explains that accent I have. Emily is from California, and we moved to New England about 4 years ago. About 2 ½ years ago I got involved with Outreach at this awesome church, and now I am the outreach director of that awesome church.

Ministry Bio: Hmm, well. I guess God chose me out of all people to take care of his vision for outreach at grace community church.

Favorite Sports Activity: watching football (does that count?), play tennis

Favorite Movie: anything James Bond

Favorite Movie Line: “do it” Starsky & hutch

Favorite Quote: “Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Favorite TV Shows: Hawaii 5-O, leverage

Favorite Singers/Bands: Moby, Mega-lo-mania, Tom Waits, David Crowder Band and so much more

Favorite Restaurants: Moonstones, Emily's

Favorite Books/Authors: Crazy Love, Toxic Charity, radical / Bell, Chan, Jesus

Favorite Verse: James 4:17

People I Would Love To Spend The Day With: Emily, my father, Bono

KRISTINE REGO - DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MINISTRIES

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Personal Bio: I grew up in Wilmington MA and started attending Grace Community with my family in 1994. I have been very blessed to call this my church home. After highschool, I attended school at Eastern University in Pennsylvania, graduating in 2009 with my degree in youth ministry and communications. Some of my favorite things are time with my family and friends, reading, blogging, camping with friends, traveling to new (and old) places, Dunkin Donuts, going to the beach and spending time with the kids in the student ministry!

Ministry Bio: While attending Eastern University, I volunteered at Church of the Savior in Wayne, PA for three years in the junior high ministry. Through time with the students there, I discovered my passion for working with teenagers and encouraging them towards Christ. After I graduated, I began working at Grace Community in the student ministry. It has been a great experience coming back home to work here. I love serving in a ministry that was so valuable in my life when I was a teenager.

Favorite Restaurants: The Cheesecake Factory, The Eggroll Café and Olive Garden.

Favorite Books/Authors: Anything by Beth Moore!

Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

MARY ALLEN - OFFICE AND FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR

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Personal Bio:  I was born in Stoneham, MA, grew up in Littleton, MA, and attended college on the Northshore of Boston - I've been a New England girl all my life!  While in high school, my family attended Grace Community Church and I made some life-long friends in the youth group that my husband and I enjoy hanging out with today (like Matt Beattie, our Executive Director).   My husband, Shawn, and I have been married since 2010.  We share the same love for friends, family, acting goofy, and working in ministry with teens (the last two go together well!). I graduated from Gordon College in 2003 with a degree in Communications and enjoy sharing my relationship and journey with God through writing.

Ministry Bio:  I spent the summer after I graduated from college on staff at Berea, a four-season Christian Camp and Conference Center in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire.  It was the first time that I'd ever set foot on their site or worked in ministry, but after just a few weeks I was hooked!  There were gifts and abilities that I didn't know I had that God brought into focus for me and he began developing a love in my heart for full time ministry.  After that summer, I came home to Massachusetts, where I worked in retail for a year and returned to Grace Community to attend church and volunteer with the youth group.  In the summer of 2004 I was back at Berea, where I ended up staying for the next 8 years, transitioning from a summer position to full-time staff.  It was there that I later met my husband, Shawn, when he came to work as a counselor in the summer of 2009.  He had just graduated with a degree in youth ministry and also had a heart for working with teens.  We now both volunteer at Grace with the high school youth and love it.

Your perfect day would look like:  Waking up in a house on a lake, eating breakfast and enjoying a large cup of coffee with my husband while looking out over the water.  We'd then have friend and family over, grill out for lunch (and dinner!), and alternate games of beach volleyball with dips in the lake.  It would end with everyone gathered around a campfire, roasting marshmallows and hanging out.

Favorite Movie:  Dear Frankie, Lars and the Real Girl

Favorite Quote:  "To love a man means to see him as God intended him to be." - Dostoevsky

Favorite TV Shows: White Collar, The West Wing, Chopped, Leverage

Favorite Singers/Bands:  Needtobreathe

Favorite Restaurants:  La Carretta for Mexican, Thai Smile (Plymouth, NH), Tuscan Kitchen for Italian, and Gillies (Bristol, NH) for classic, awesome hole-in-the-wall-place breakfast food. 

Favorite Books/Authors:  Philip Yancy (esp. "Prayer"), Beth Moore (her Bible studies), C.S. Lewis (the non-fiction stuff)

People I Would Love To Spend The Day With:  (Other than my husband) right now it would be the Matron of Honor from my wedding, Rebecca, and her two kids, Summer (age 5) and Miles (age 3), who are hysterical and delightful!  It's been too long since I've last seen them (I used to live across the street from their house).

PATTI QUIGLEY - CHILDRENS MINISTRY COORDINATOR

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Personal Bio: Patti Quigley, I was born in Baden, Germany, and raised in Massachusetts. I graduated from Northeastern University, BSBA dual major Human Resources Management and Management. I am married 13 years, with 2 children, a cat and a bearded dragon (according to my son, the dragon does not fly, nor does she breathe fire, in case you were curious).

Ministry Bio: God brought me on an adventure I never thought I’d take, 15 plus years serving in children’s ministry in one way or another, but never thinking about a leadership role. I’d gone to school for Business Administration and after the birth of my first child, quit “Corporate America” and pursued motherhood. Starting with volunteering in the classroom, holding babies and singing songs with toddlers, for me it naturally led to volunteering as a coordinator of volunteers. God, of course, knew there was much more in store. After the birth of my second child my family arrived at Grace Community. I assisted with preschoolers, kindergarteners and even 5th graders (who totally petrified me at the time). Then I jumped right in, and participated in VBS, Winterfest, and even taught Children’s Church alongside my husband for an entire school year. Four years ago, God called me to a part time paid ministry position here at Grace. 

This past year the role I live out here at Grace has adjusted just as the faces have changed, but one thing remains, children are an integral part of church. The 52 or so hours of direction a year they receive now, Nursery to 5th Grade, plays a role in shaping their future. “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he won’t depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6. My heart leaps to hear a child or parent share what they’ve learned or seen lived out loud by a child. It’s nothing I’ve done or any one person here at Grace, God receives all the glory for every heart here at Grace Community who is won over to Him… big or small.

I can’t wait to see what God has in store next!!! Come check us out, even if you don’t have children or know any 5th graders!

Favorite Quote: “I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.” William Allen White

Favorite Restaurant: Any place with fine Italian

Favorite Verse: Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.”

DAVE ASTOLFI - DIRECTOR OF PASTORAL CARE

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Personal Bio: I am the second of five children, grew up in Danvers, MA, (a North Shore suburb of Boston), and have lived in New England all my life (in Mass all but about two years).  I attended UMass, Amherst, where I met and married my wife, Cathy. God has blessed us with three children, and one grandchild (so far). For the past 33 years, I have worked for MIT Lincoln Laboratory in computer chip research. Now, after going to seminary, I am transitioning to vocational ministry. Family is very important, and I enjoy our annual camping vacation in Maine with extended family. 

Ministry Bio: Since Giving my life to Christ in high school, I have spent most of my life serving God in various ways. I have served in churches as a lay leader in almost every position there is, from trustee to deacon/elder, from junior high youth group leader to missions committee. When I was in my early forties (mid-life crisis?) I felt the need to spend the rest of my life in work of eternal value. I started attending seminary part-time, and after 12 years finally graduated with an mDiv. from Bethel Seminary of the East. During the seminary years, I served as a pastoral intern, first at Grace Community, then at The Evangelical Congregational Church of Tyngsboro. This latest lap around the track has brought me to Grace Community again. My passion is building community - building up the people of God so that they are mature in Christ and equipped for ministry. We got your back!

Your perfect day would look like: Get up late (these days sleeping until 7 is sleeping in), have breakfast in a diner (there’s something about a diner), go for a hike (love looking at God’s creation), eat lunch on top of a mountain, sit a little, talk with good friends a little, supper on the grill (did someone say grilled chicken?), play board games with family and friends. Any time spent talking and hanging out with my wife is a good day.

Favorite Sports Activity: hiking, running (I need to get more regular) and frisbee

Favorite Thing to do: gardening, board games, spending time with family

Favorite Books/Authors: C.S. Lewis, Eugene Peterson, John Stott, Richard Foster, J. R. R. Tolkien

Favorite TV Shows: I like documentaries

Favorite Singers/Bands: Grace & Caperings

Favorite Restaurants: Papa Ginos, anyplace with a buffet (I like choices)

Favorite Verse: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”  - 2 Corinthians 4:7