Deacon Chet Conner - Director - RPM (Men's Ministry)
Karla McDonald - Asst. Director - Lighthouse
Debbie Brooks - Director - KidzSpace Nursery
Roz Crews - Director of Music Ministries
Chrystal Robinson - Young Women Ministry
Deacon Deric Robinson - Facilities Manager
Yvonne Barnes - Director LightHouse Outreach
Yvonne's bio:
Tell us about your family: I was born in Brooklyn, New York but lived most of my life in Baltimore City and County. I have one brother, two adult daughters and one granddaughter. I also have elderly parents (biological father deceased), aunts, uncles and cousins.
Tell your salvation story. When and how did you become a Christ-follower?: I became a born-again Christian in April 1979. I was led to the Lord and baptized by a Christian Pastor that lived in my neighborhood.
Year you joined the GraceWay Church leadership team.: I joined the GraceWay Church leadership team in April 2010.
What do you enjoy about your leadership role?: Helping and serving women and children that are in need and less fortunate than others at the homeless shelter, which is spiritually rewarding to all of us. I enjoy working with the team of women in the Lighthouse Ministry and I thank God for their generosity and support as I coordinate contacts and visits to the homeless shelter with Bibles, literature, home-made meals, clothing and gifts. I also enjoy encouraging and bringing hope through counseling to those in need.
How has God equipped you to serve in your leadership role?: God has blessed me with His gifts of discernment and exhortation. He has also re-opened the door of education for me (since dropping out of college years ago) to graduate next year (2012) with my BS degree in Psychology and pursue my MS degree in Counseling. I will use God’s gifts and education to serve in leadership as He guides me.
What do you like most about GraceWay Church?: Teaching of the Word of God, great ministries, loving Christians and good fellowship.
Your favorite Scripture, and why?: Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. This is my favorite scripture because it’s the one that God used to speak to my heart when I was at my “rock bottom” with much trauma and drama in my life and feeling afraid and helpless.
Favorite quote or saying?: One of my favorite sayings is: “Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light.” My favorite quote is scriptural and is Psalm 46:10: Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
Tristin Howze - Director - KidzSpace
Kenny Matthews - Director of Youth Evangelism
Lakia Barnes - Co-Director - BOLD InC (Young Adult Ministry)
Lakia's Bio...
Tell us about your family: I have a six year old daughter
Tell your salvation story. When and how did you become a Christ-follower?: I was brought up in the church learning about Jesus from a very young age. When I was about 5 or 6 years old, I invited Jesus into my heart. In retrospect, I can see how the Holy Spirit was present throughout my childhood and teenage years, but it wasn’t until my early 20’s that I truly developed a personal and intimate relationship with God. I learned that I needed to be fully surrendered to God and seek His will for my life. I have grown so much closer to God and although it’s been a challenging journey it’s been so worth it!
Year you joined the GraceWay Church leadership team.: 2010
What do you enjoy about your leadership role?: I enjoy many things about my leadership role, but what I love most is the bond the young adults have developed! It’s great to be able to encourage, pray for and serve alongside one another! We are young Christians who are committed to God first, but also love to have fun!
How has God equipped you to serve in your leadership role?: I have a strong desire for fellowship with other Christians. I have a passion and talent for event planning.
What do you like most about GraceWay Church?: I love that it’s a church that preaches and teaches the Word of God and truly shows genuine love.
Your favorite Scripture, and why?: “Fear not for I am with you. Be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10 This verse has encouraged me so much in tough times. I love knowing that God is sovereign, omnipresent, my help and the source of my strength!
Favorite quote or saying?: “Fear not for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are Mine.” - Isaiah 43:10 This scripture gives me so much security, peace and joy!
You can find Lakia on Facebook by searching: Lakia Barnes
Mother Evelyn Bell - Church Mother & Prayer Warrior
Tria Brooks - Church Secretary, Co-Director BOLD, InC (Young Adult Ministry)
Debbie Brooks - Director LightHouse Women's Ministry
An excerpt from a testimony of Debbie’s life…
At the age of ten, Grandma would be furious as the neighborhood boys gathered on my front steps with my girl buddies and me.I never knew why she reacted this way until later in life.My mom and dad separated when I was very young.Dad was still very much involved in my life.However, the life that my mom lived impacted me most because I stayed with her.My mom was not a Christian.She enjoyed having parties.It was her weekend ritual.My mom had at least two live-in boyfriends (not both at the same time).I felt safe when they were around.When they broke up, I was devastated.There would be others in between, but nothing serious.
There was a lot of drinking and getting drunk at home.By the time I turned twelve, I had physically developed past other girls my age and started hanging out with people who were three to four years older than me.These teens partied like my mom.I began to experiment with drugs and alcohol.It started with beer, then to stronger drink leading eventually to marijuana.I started to take on some of my mom’s habits.At the age of twelve I also became sexually active.I had my first child out of wedlock at the age of thirteen and my second at age fourteen—the father of both children was only fifteen.
I had no one to teach me right from wrong.My grandma knew better, I guess that’s why she became upset when the boys wanted to "play" with me.As a child myself, I now had adult responsibilities.My first child got sick one month after birth and developed Cerebral Palsy. The father of my children was selfish, controlling and abusive.With all of the emotional drama going on in my life, I not only drank to have fun, I drank to ease my pain.I was a lost and wounded young girl, whose life was ruined, that is, until Jesus Christ got a hold of me!
Several years later Debbie would trust Jesus Christ as her Savior and God would begin a transformation process in her life that continues to this day.In fact, Debbie would marry Pastor Chuck Brooks and together they would have a total of seven daughters and one son.After more than 28 years of marriage and marrying off two children (so far), God has kept a desire in Debbie’s heart to reach out to single moms.
Deric Robinson - Maintenance
Mike Washington - Janitorial
Arlene Barrett - Food Service
Pat Taylor - Church Treasurer
Pat's Bio:
Tell us about your family:I have a lot of other people's children; four sisters and one brother, three nieces, three nephews, five great nieces and four great nephews
Tell your salvation story. When and how did you become a Christ-follower? I grew up in a Christian home and understood the value of prayer. My mother was a prayer warrior and my father challenged us with questions from the Bible. His favorite was, “What came first the chicken or the egg?” My eye was really open to the Gospel and Jesus at the age of 32 when I was able to answer my Father’s question.
Year you joined the GraceWay Church leadership team: August 2006
What do you enjoy about your leadership role? Growing spiritually through serving other; planning events, and organizing.
How has God equipped you to serve in your leadership role? I have been blessed with skills, additional training, encouragement from others, a computer, also an organized work space.
What do you like most about GraceWay Church? The Teaching sermons
Your favorite Scripture, and why? John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." God has a house that holds a mansion just for me
Favorite quote or saying? "The Lord is my Shepherd and I shall not want." It reminds me that GOD has given me all that I need, and to be content.
Mel Melton - Transportation
Lemar Woodford - Audio/Visual Engineer
Chuck Brooks - Senior Pastor
Let me tell you a little about myself:
God saved me at the age of 18 years old. My wife Debbie and I have been married for almost 32 years. We have seven daughters, one son, one daughter-in-law, two son-in-laws, and six grandchildren. We have been a home schooling family for more than 25 years.
God called me into the ministry of preaching and teaching in 1983. I became a church-planter and an ordained as a pastor in 1994. I’ve attended WashingtonBibleCollege in Lanham, MD. I have degrees in Electronics Technology, Information Systems Management and currently pursuing a Masters degree in Theology and Christian Studies from Union University in Tennesee. Two of my favorite passages of Scripture are Ephesians 4:11-16 and 1 Peter 4:10.
MAY 2013 
