A Plurality of Leaders

At GraceSLO, we're committed to a plurality of leaders.   We believe this is God's design to both protect and bless the local church.  GraceSLO is an elder-ruled, staff-led church.  What that means is that elders oversee the vision and direction of the church, the hiring of staff, the budget and major decisions, but the Ministry Staff gives leadership to the day to day operations of the church. 

Below is a list of our current Pastors, Ministry Staff and Elders . . .

Pastors

Tim Theule
Lead Pastor

tim@graceslo.org  
805.543.2358 x 106

Tim was born and raised in Southern California. He trusted Jesus Christ as a child and was actively involved in Campus Crusade for Christ throughout high school and his college years at UC Santa Barbara. After receiving a B.A. in Business Economics at UCSB, Tim went on to pursue a Masters of Divinity degree at Talbot School of Theology. Before coming to Grace, Tim served for 10 years at the Evangelical Free Church of Laguna Hills. During that time, he was both licensed and ordained by the Evangelical Free Church of America. After  a wild and wondrous soul-searching process, sensing the clear call of God, Tim became Grace's fifth Lead Pastor in March 2003.

Tim is passionate about the power of the Gospel to transform lives, families and communities here on the Central Coast! He's committed to the centrality of the Gospel, the doctrines of grace, relevant expository preaching, and authentic, multi-generational community. His desire is that Grace become "a church in the community, for the community" as we live and apply the Gospel throughout all life, in all relationships, in all circumstances.

Tim and his wife, Susie, were married in 1993. Susie is a licensed clinical psychologist and Tim's balancing factor in ministry. Together they have four great kids; Sage, Eden, Ezekiel and Haaken. In his free time, Tim enjoys surfing, mountain biking, reading and gardening. (Read more about Tim HERE)


Ken Peet
Family Ministries Pastor

ken@graceslo.org   805.543.2358 x 104

Ken trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior at the age of 7, at home with his family.  He made a key recommitment in his junior year of high school at Hume Lake Christian Camp.  He graduated from Cal Poly in 1977, majoring in social sciences.  He married Judi in 1978 and began serving high school students at Grace in 1979. 

Ken and Judi have two grown children, Jennifer, who is married to Jake, and is on staff with Campus Crusade in Santa Barbara and Jeremy who is married to Elizabeth, and is on staff with High Desert Church in Victorville, CA.

Ken has served here at Grace as Youth Pastor from 1992-2007 and is now serving in the role of Family Ministries Pastor.

Brandon Hall
Student Ministries Pastor

brandon@graceslo.org  
805.543.2358 x 132

Brandon grew up on the Central Coast. He trusted Christ as his personal savior at a young age with his parents. God used his youth pastor and small group leader to challenge him to make his faith in God his own. It was after a leadership training camp at Hume, that God revealed to him that He had called him to full time ministry. Reflecting on how God had used these guys in such a powerful way in his life he decided to see if God was calling him to be a Youth Pastor. He spent the first few years out of High School serving as a youth intern at Atascadero Bible Church. It was there that God revealed to him that he had given him a heart to minister to the youth. He can’t help but share the good news of God’s grace and peace with students.

He finished his B.A. in Biblical Studies from San Diego Christian College in 2008 and started serving in San Diego as the Youth Director at First Baptist Church of San Diego. He married his beautiful bride in June 2009 and they both love to be outdoors skating, surfing, biking and running.  Their first child, Micah, was born in 2012.

Al Streder
Worship Pastor
 
al@graceslo.org  
805.543.2358 x 107

Al, Tanya and their three children, Paul, Jordan & Katie, came to Grace in June, 1992.  After earning his Bachelors of Music in 1977, he taught music in the public schools-one year in the Chicago area and three in the San Jose area.  During the 70's Al and Tanya were quite involved in the touring ministry of the Continental Singers, and in late 1981 Al accepted a position in the Continental office, where he worked through the end of 1989.  While with the Continentals he also served as music director at a small Baptist Church.  Al and Tanya have been able to work and serve together in and outside of the church.  Both are members of the SLO Symphony and also involved as coaches with SLO Youth Symphony.

Jeff Jennings
Pastor of College and
Growth Groups 
jeff@graceslo.org  
805.543.2358 x 110

Jeff was raised in a Christian home and came to faith at a young age. He had the privilege of attending a Christian school through high school, which led him to a love of literature. After receiving a B.A. in English Literature, and a secondary education teaching credential from Cal State Fullerton, Jeff went on to complete a Master of Divinity degree at Talbot Seminary.

It was during Jeff’s undergraduate years that he sensed a call on his life to ministry that was confirmed by others within his church. He served for 10 years at Christ Community Church of Laguna Hills before accepting the call as Pastor of College and Growth Groups at GraceSLO in 2012.

He met his wife Robin on New Years Eve in 2003, right after she graduated from Biola University with a degree in Elementary Education. They were married in 2005 and blessed with their daughter, Evangeline, in 2009. In his free time, Jeff enjoys playing guitar, running, reading, traveling, and spending time with his family. He has a passion to see people’s lives and hearts have radical encounters with the Gospel of grace!

 



Dr. Leon Maksoudian
Lay Pastor

leon@graceslo.org
   805.543.2358 x 110
Y. Leon Maksoudian was born in Bourj-Hamoud, Lebanon to his Armenian refugee parents, Levon and Osanna Maksoudian. He was the youngest in a family of 6 children. He received his elementary education in various Christian schools and his high school education at the Aleppo College high school for boys, all in Aleppo, Syria.

Upon graduation from high school, Leon came to the United States to pursue his college education. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from California State Polytechnic University in June of 1957 and became a lecturer at Westmont College in Santa Barbara in the Fall of the same year.

In the fall of 1958 he began his graduate studies at the University of Minnesota and earned his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Leon returned to his Alma Mater in San Luis Obispo, in the fall of 1963 and taught mathematics and statistics courses until his retirement in 1999.

Leon was married to Lorraine (nee Spoors) while a graduate student in Minnesota and they have 3 married children, Sharon, David and Ruthie all of whom live in the area. Leon and Lorraine have seven grand children.

Leon and Lorraine have been involved in the ministries of Grace Church since 1964. Leon has served at Grace Church in various capacities including Church Treasurer, Deacon, Elder, Lay Pastor and Spiritual Counselor. Leon has had the privilege to serve the Lord at Grace during the tenures of all its 5 Senior Pastor
 

Ministry Staff

(listed alphabetically by last name)


Julianna Cementina
Events Director

julianna@graceslo.org 
805.543.2358 x 114

Julianna grew up in San Luis Obispo and has been attending GraceSLO since infancy.  After attending college at Biola University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with an Emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Biblical Studies, and a brief internship in Athens, GA, Julianna returned home to SLO and begin working as an administrative assistant at GraceSLO. 

Julianna has always had a passion for events and hospitality (a trait she inherited from her Georgia-born mother).  At Biola, she was the University Events Intern and has been helping friends and family coordinate major events and weddings for many years.  In her role as Events Director, Julianna will head up the major events involving the entire church congregation throughout the year, as well as manage all community events held at the facilities and coordinate weddings and bereavement services for the church.

In her spare time, Julianna loves spending time with her family, cooking, watching Disney movies, and volunteering with the high school ministry.


Josh Ernstrom
Middle School Director   

josh@graceslo.org 
805.543.2358 x 103
Josh was born and raised in San Luis Obispo.  He first attended Grace Church at 10...days old.  Growing up with his mom as the church organist and father as an elder, Josh was practically raised here at GraceSLO.  He became a Christian at age 5, then truly grew in his relationship with Jesus Christ while attending the Youth Group at Grace Church.  Josh graduated from Biola University with a major in Communications (Film and TV emphasis) and a minor in Biblical Studies.
 
Josh has a passion for Middle School students and has been volunteering and working with this age group at Grace Church since 1995 (longer than the current middle school students have been alive).  He is married to Ashley Ernstrom, a San Luis Obispo local, who also works with the Middle School Ministry. Their son, Elliot, was born in 2012.

Scott Head
Worship Ministry Assistant
scott@graceslo.org   805.543.2358 x 103
Scott was born and raised in San Ramon, California in the East San Francisco Bay Area. He was raised in a Christian home and accepted Christ at and early age. He and his wife Carly grew up together in San Ramon and were married in August of 2009.  He graduated from Cal Poly in 2009 with a B.S in Industrial Technology along with a music minor.

Scott grew up with a love for music first playing the trombone in the 4th grade and then the guitar later on in high school. Scott spent 2 years at Diablo Valley College in the Bay Area before going to Cal Poly to finish his degree. There he played in the DVC Jazz Band while also working as the Worship Intern at Canyon Creek Church in San Ramon. He got involved with Campus Crusade for Christ while attending Cal Poly leading the worship ministry there for 2 years. He also played trombone in the Cal Poly Jazz Band. He has spent summers at Mount Hermon leading the music programs for Redwood Camp, the elementary and Jr High camp and then Ponderosa the high school camp.

Scott was also a member of the Pat Little Band from 2007 until 2010. Apart of that group, Scott and the band played at numerous churches, Spirit West Coast and spent a summer apart of Flood Church in San Diego as the house worship band.

Scott also works for iFixit, an e-commerce business based in SLO.
 

Dori Iunker
Children's Ministry Director
dori@graceslo.org
805.543.2358 x 109
 

Dori has a Bachelors Degree in Child and Family Development and a Masters Degree in Education: Counseling & Guidance. She has worked for the public school system and in the social work field working with troubled youth. She has a passion for foster care, adoption and above all else showing children the love of Jesus Christ. Dori married her husband Larry in 1984. They have five children, three by birth and two by adoption.

Dori made a recommitment to the Lord in 1988 and has been serving as the Children's Ministry Director since July, 2001.


Debbi Weeks
Women's Ministry Director

debbi@graceslo.org
805.543.2358 x 118
Debbi and her husband, Matt, met at Grace Church. They've been married since 1985 and have two children, Seth and Rebekah. Debbi came to San Luis to attend Cal Poly in 1978 and graduated in 1983 with a degree in Graphic Design.  Debbi started attending Grace in 1980. She has been involved with college leadership, AWANA, Home Bible Studies, Adult Sunday School classes and now has found her home in Women's Ministries. God has given Debbi a real heart for the women at Grace and in our community. She especially enjoys spending one-on-one time with women. Debbi trusted Christ as her savior when she was 11 at a Billy Graham Crusade - the first time she had heard the gospel. That same day, her only sibling, her older sister, also trusted Christ. From that time forward her family became actively involved in the local church and in growing their relationship with Christ.
   

Governing Elders 

elders@graceslo.org

Wayne Brown, 805.783.2012 (Chairman)
Dave Burns, 805.441.5214
Scott Morton, 805.542.9814
Wayne Peterson, 805.543.3068
Steve Potratz, 805.215.3900
Tim Theule, 805.543.2358
Todd Talley, 805.542.9630
Donny Valliere, 805.783.2323
 

Non-Governing Elders 

Jim Jeffrey 
Ron Johnston 
Leon Maksoudian
Ted Malley
Kenall Mattina
Rick Ernstrom

 

Administrative & Support Staff

Debbie Johnston, Business Administrator, ext. 123, debbiej@graceslo.org
Emily Cairns, Admin.  Assistant, ext. 124, emily@graceslo.org
Carolyn Caldwell, Admin.  Assistant, ext. 119, carolyn@graceslo.org
Lynde Carrington, Admin.  Assistant, ext. 129, lynde@graceslo.org
Christina Carroll, Graphic Designer & Webmaster, christina@graceslo.org
Lisa Lewis, Admin. Assistant, ext. 121, lisa@graceslo.org
Sarah Phillips, Receptionist, ext. 101, sarah@graceslo.org
Paula Richardson, Accountant, ext. 108, paular@graceslo.org
Cyndie Hamley, Bookkeeper, cyndie@graceslo.org
Craig Hughes, Facility Maintenance, ext. 127, craig@graceslo.org
Andrew Garcia, Facility Manager, ext. 112, andrew@graceslo.org