Staff & Leaders

The Friendly Faces You'll Meet At Grace.

Tim Wright

Senior Pastor

Tim Wright is the pastor of Community of Grace in Peoria (Phoenix) AZ, which was founded in 2005.  He has been an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Pastor since 1984.  He has trained pastors and church leaders throughout the U.S. and around the world and has written 6 books. He and New York Times Best-Selling Author Michael Gurian (THE WONDER OF BOYS; THE MIND OF BOYS; BOYS AND GIRLS LEARN DIFFERENTLY) have worked together since 2006, which has led to the creation of several tools for calling boys into manhood including the rite of passage program, FOLLOWING JESUS: A HEROIC RITE OF PASSAGE FOR JR. HIGH BOYS, and for calling girls into womanhood, including the rite of passage program: FOLLOWING JESUS: A RITE OF PASSAGE FOR JR. HIGH GIRLS.  His latest book, SEARCHING FOR TOM SAWYER: HOW PARENTS AND CONGREGATIONS CAN STOP THE EXODUS OF BOYS FROM CHURCH, offers parents, church leaders, and educators a blue-print for calling boys to follow Jesus into manhood.

Staff

Jose Valenzuela

Associate Pastor

Jeff Wright

Director of Church Operations

Laura Chiarenza

Admin Director

Irene Avalos

Staff Accountant

Nancy Schwander

Children’s Ministry Director

Kristen Pumo

Nursery Director

Chip Wilson

Youth & Family ministries Director

Brita Hammit

Women’s Ministry Director

Israel Morales

Audio Engineer

Tony Lake

Director Of Worship

Lise Hopson

Performing Arts Director/Worship Assistant

Rylee Hilfigure

Choreographer

Amy Palmer

Children’s Choir Director

Bryana Peckham

Hospitality and Office Assistant

Jack Petty

Worship & Hospitality Support

Suzanne Price

Facilities Maintenance

Carlee Hopson

Family Ministry Assistant

Michelle Halonen

Admin Consultant

Diane Wright

Media Director

Greg Lawton-Wilson

Volunteer Coordinator

Board of Director's

TINA NUNZIATO-CRUZ

President

GREG CASKEY

Board Member

Jon Burgess

Vice President

Rick Brittain

Board Member

Brandon Scholtz

Board Member

Carlotta Turman

Treasurer