music coordinator - Carlyle aguren

Carlyle was born and raised in Texas before attending the University of Arkansas where he met his wife Nellie. Carlyle was on staff with Young Life, a Christian outreach ministry for adolescents, in Fayetteville, AR from 2013-16. He and Nellie moved to San Antonio in August of 2016 for Nellie to pursue her master’s degree in mental health counseling from UTSA. 

Carlyle is the Area Director for Young Life in northwest San Antonio. Nellie, having finished her counseling degree, now enjoys working at home as she cares for her family and volunteers with Young Life. 

Carlyle and Nellie have three beautiful children - Katiisia (2014), Katii (2015), and QJ (2016). They also have an energetic lab mix named Cookie.

Carlyle and Nellie love Chipotle, college football, live music, and The Office.

Administrative Coordinator - Brooke Johnson

Brooke is from a small town in central Illinois. She graduated from Truman State University in Missouri and then was off on her next adventure, the United States Air Force. Brooke met her husband Brad over a foosball table right here in San Antonio at Randolph Air Force Base, and it was the start of a great adventure that has taken them all over the world. The Johnsons have two daughters, Abigayle (born in 2005) who is headed to Schreiner University after high school graduation and Rebekah (born in 2008) who will keep her parents busy with sports and activities for another 3 years. 

Brooke loves coffee, reading, being outside, and enjoys watching most sports; her favorite teams to cheer for are the St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Avalanche. As a family, the Johnsons like board games, movie nights, and just spending time together with their crazy golden retriever! They have been plugged in at Trinity Grace for almost 4 years, and look forward to deepening relationships and continuing to serve TGC.

church PLanting Resident - Rev. Adam Lopez

Adam and Kindell Lopez are high school sweethearts from Bridge City, a small southeast Texas town near the Gulf coast. They both earned business degrees from Lamar University in Beaumont. After graduating, they moved to Houston, where Adam served as a police officer from 2006 to 2016. In 2016, Adam and Kindell moved their family to St. Louis to attend Covenant Theological Seminary, receiving an MDiv 2020 (Adam) and Master of Arts in Ministry - Counseling 2023 (Kindell). Adam and Kindell have four children - Fallon - a new Baylor Bear (2005), Asher (2009), Shaylee (2012), and Ezra (2019).

In 2020, Adam took a call at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Cedar Park, where he served as Assistant Pastor. In 2023, Adam and Kindell are moving their family to San Antonio to labor as Assistant Pastor of Church Planting at Trinity Grace in hopes of planting a new church in the Far West Side of San Antonio. 

Adam enjoys running and exercise, listening to and playing music, enjoying new and diverse foods, reading good books, hIking and outdoor activities with family, family board game nights, cheering on our favorite sports teams. hanging out with friends and family, and traveling to new places as they have the opportunity.

Children’s Ministry Coordinator - Brittany McCanlies

Brittany McCanlies was born and raised in San Antonio. She attended Schreiner University where she met Jacob. They got married the weekend before they graduated college and moved back to San Antonio to begin working as an 8th grade math teacher for 4 years. Jacob and Brittany have 3 children: Gus(2019), Shane (2021), and Dean (2022).

When asked what she hopes God will do through our Children’s Ministry Brittany says, “In the coming months and years, I hope the kids of Trinity Grace come to know and give their lives to Christ. It would be so wonderful to see our kids find joy in learning more about Christ and his Word.”

Brittany and her husband love all things hiking, craft beer, and reruns of Friends.

Pastor - Rev. Michael Novak

Michael and his wife, Rachel, are both originally from Memphis, TN. Michael attended the University of Tennessee - the other UT. While Rachel attended Covenant College in Chattanooga, TN. Before moving to Texas, Michael attended Covenant Theological Seminary (MDiv) where he studied the Bible, theology, and counseling. Michael is currently engaged in pursuing a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree in ministry and organizational leadership.

Michael served as the RUF Campus Minister at Trinity University from 2010-2017 where he worked to reach and equip college students with the Gospel.

Michael and Rachel have three children, Caleb (born in 2008), Abigail (born in 2010), and Katherine (born in 2012). They enjoy being outdoors, taking visits to the park, watching movies, and finding unique restaurants to enjoy a good meal. Michael also enjoys running, golf, and college football. Michael and Rachel would love to meet and get to know you.

Assistant pastor of youth & family - Rev. Ben tharp

Ben grew up in a small town outside of Houston, Texas, and Elisa grew up outside of Washington D.C. The two of them met while students at Covenant Seminary. Ben and Elisa both graduated in 2016, Ben with a Master’s of Divinity and Elisa with a Master’s of Christian Education. 

Ben and Elisa moved to San Antonio in December of 2022, and are very excited to serve the families and students of Trinity Grace, and the surrounding community. 

Ben and Elisa have a little girl named Nora, and another little one due in June! The Tharp’s love to be outside, taking Nora and their dog Bonnie to the park, and having people in their home for a meal.

RUF Campus Minister at utsa- Rev. Lee Wright

Lee & Sarah Wright both graduated from Covenant Seminary in 2012 with Masters of Divinity and Masters of Arts in Counseling degrees. Lee spent six years as RUF Campus Minister at University of Central Florida before moving to San Antonio. In his years on campus, Lee has seen God at work through the ministry of RUF. 

One of the surprising ways God is working through RUF is seeing how impactful hospitality has been for students. Serving on large campuses, the Wrights have had small groups of students in their home weekly for several years now. The Wright children, Tillie, Margot, and Max, always enjoy time with their college friends, and students being in the Wright’s home seems to ease the ache of anonymity on campus.

Ruling Elders

Also called shepherds, Elders provide spiritual oversight to the church. They help with "soul care," protect the content of teaching, and provide direction for the church.

Garfield Green

Garfield grew up in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and moved to San Antonio after graduating from Arizona State University in 1995. He worked as a civilian contractor for the Air Force prior to attending seminary at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served in various ministry positions. He and his wife Stephanie were married in 2000 and have six children: Emma Catherine, Garfield III, Elizabeth, Shepherd, Westley and Colter. Their children have a menagerie of pets, too prolific to be named here. Garfield runs the Landscape and Construction company he launched in 2005. Their family loves traveling, hiking, and camping, as well as read-alouds and board games. The Greens are looking forward to deepening their relationships with other believers at Trinity Grace over the coming years and helping to reach the San Antonio area with the gospel.

Jim moore

Jim was born in Florida, but he spent most of his life in Texas. He met his wife Martha in medical school where they both graduated in 1988 and married just after graduation. Jim practices as an internist doing hospital-based medicine in San Antonio.

Martha and Jim have three adult children, Jameson, Jonathan, and Rachel and enjoy spending time with them as well as traveling and training their golden retrievers.

Martha and Jim, have been been involved with Trinity Grace from its beginnings and have enjoyed seeing the energy and growth in a new church and are excited about the gospel reaching and renewing the Northwest area of San Antonio.

Jeremy Mueller

Jeremy grew up in Mitchell, South Dakota. He attended Oklahoma Wesleyan University (B.S. Biology) and South Dakota State University (Pharm.D.) and has been a pharmacist since 2005. He and Paige were married in 2005, lived in Anderson, SC for three years, followed by nine  years in Sioux Falls, SD and arrived in San Antonio in the summer of 2017.

Jeremy is the manager of Avel eCare Pharmacy which provides remote pharmacy service to hospitals throughout the United States. Outside of work, he is an active member of the Deerfield HOA board, an aspiring real estate investor, officiates at swim meets and assists Paige with the homeschooling of their children.

Jeremy & Paige have five children: Bethany (born in 2007), Carsten (born in 2009), Abby Catherine (born in 2011), Will (born in 2013) and Meredith (born in 2015). Their family enjoys traveling, spending time with friends, visiting state parks and playing games.  

Shane Riggs

Shane grew up in a small town in northeastern Maryland and moved to San Antonio in 2014. He met his wife Janna here in San Antonio, and they have been happily married since 2017. They  have two children (Enoch and Ruth). Shane attended Grove City College and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and works for the United States Air Force. Shane’s passions are caring for patients, educating medical students and residents, and walking with others in addiction recovery. He loves spending time with his family, hiking, climbing, reading and learning. He and his family look forward to serving and growing in relationship with others at Trinity Grace and in San Antonio.

Dave Sisk

Dave is a native Texan who grew up in the Houston area. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and subsequently served as an Army engineer officer for 7 years, deploying in support of Operation Iraq Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Dave met his wife Cheree in 2007, and they were married a few months before his second deployment.  After returning from Afghanistan, he attended Redeemer Seminary in Dallas and served as a college minister at Hill Junior College in Hillsboro, TX.  Dave has been in the oil business since 2011 and an entrepreneur since 2013. Seven years ago, the Lord provided an opportunity for him to start Streamline Innovations, a clean technology company that services the oilfield and other industries. Dave serves as the treasurer at Trinity Grace Church, leads a neighborhood group, and is a TGC Kids volunteer. Dave and Cheree have five children, Madelyn, Will, Nolan, Emmett, and Jude. He enjoys spending time with his family and working with his sons on home projects.

Matt Valdes

(Shepherding elder, not currently on the session)

Matt is a native of central Texas, growing up in San Marcos. He met his wife of 13 years, Elizabeth, while attending Texas A&M University. They have four children: Sophia, Henry, Jack and Ethan. Matt is an optometrist and Associate Professor at the University of the Incarnate Word and enjoys hiking and running with his family. They have been attending Trinity Grace Church for the past three years, where Matt has enjoyed serving on the Sunday Operations team, as a neighborhood group leader, and as a TGC Kids volunteer. Matt and his family look forward to continuing to support TGC in pursuit of its mission and vision of reaching and renewing northwest San Antonio. 

Deacons

Deacons serve the church by meeting physical needs - from organizing financial assistance for members in need to caring for our facilities. They help the church cultivate and apply generosity.

Jim Devries

Jim is a native of California, born in Modesto and raised in southern California. He is the youngest of seven children born to immigrant parents of the Netherlands. In 1972 he met Martje Oostinga and they married a year later. Jim and Martje have 3 children: Christopher, Sarah and Emily; and 3 grandkids: Emke, James and John Gill. Jim has been an owner/operator in the trucking business since 1984 and the car hauling business since 2000, which continues to this day. Jim and Martje have been a part of Trinity Grace Church since the beginning and enjoy serving this body of Christ and getting to know those who worship at Trinity Grace.

Greg okeson

Gregory Okeson was born in Minnesota and grew up in Temple, Texas, which is north  on I-35 between Austin and Waco. Greg has two older brothers, both living in different parts of Texas. He graduated from Baylor University and currently works as an IT Analyst for a bank. Prior to his current job, he moved around for work and school and has lived in several places such as Kansas City, MO, Grand Forks, ND, and Denver. CO. While in Colorado, he lived for four years in Winter Park and Fraser. During this time, he worked as a ski instructor and patroller at the Winter Park Ski Resort. Needless to say, he enjoys skiing and other snow related activities. In his free time here in Texas, he likes to read, exercise, and learn about computers.

Greg has been a member of Trinity Grace Church for four years and was a drummer in the worship team for several years. He is still the backup drummer but is more involved now in set-up with the Sunday Operations Team. Prior to living in San Antonio, he was a member of Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Cedar Park, TX. Greg looks forward to serving the body of Christ at TGC.

Jaeik Song

Jaeik grew up in San Jose, California, after immigrating from South Korea as a preschooler. Jaeik graduated from UCLA and started in Information Technology while living in Los Angeles. Jaeik moved back to San Jose, met Kathleen at church, and they were married a few years later. Kathleen spent most of her childhood in San Antonio.

Jaeik currently works remotely for an internet security company and has previously worked in biotech, pharmaceutical, internet, and retail industries. Jaeik fixes things and works to prevent them from breaking again.

Jaeik and Kathleen have two daughters, Nora and Siobhan. Their family loves watching movies, reading, and cooking/eating. Jaeik also enjoys photography. They have recently adopted a puppy named Flame.

Jaeik and his family started attending Trinity Grace shortly after moving to San Antonio in the fall of 2021. Jaeik served in a number of ministries at his previous PCA church in California. Jaeik and his family especially love being able to spend time with the church family at retreats. Jaeik and his family are looking forward to continuing to support Trinity Grace in service and mercy.

James Watson

James and his wife, Barbara, are both originally from Northeast Tennessee. They were high school classmates and both attended the University of Tennessee (the original UT). They have two married children (Emma and John) and nine grandchildren now living in Minnesota and Tennessee. James served as a deacon in two PCA churches in Tennessee, and now serves as coordinator of our Sunday Operations Team.

James and Barbara got to Texas as quick as they could (2016) to enjoy retirement and grandchildren. The grandchildren have moved, but retirement is ongoing. James works part time as a volunteer at the Golf Club of Texas and receives playing privileges and guest discounts in return. We enjoy exploring the Texas Hill Country and it’s rich history, culture and beautiful scenery.

We were members of Redeemer PCA for two years after we moved to San Antonio. We’ve enjoyed being a part of the start of Trinity Grace and look forward to serving with you to make the love and grace of Jesus Christ known to all we meet.