LEADERSHIP TEAM
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
SEAN ROCHE
Senior Pastor
 
Pastor Sean Roche was born in the Philadelphia area. Following years of substance abuse, he found sobriety at 21. Six years later, while attending Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia, and after wrestling with the truth claims of the Bible, he came to a personal saving relationship with Jesus Christ after reading Josh McDowell’s “More Than a Carpenter.” He worshipped and served in various roles at Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia for many years. He met his precious wife Jennifer as they were both doing street witnessing, and they were married in 1999. The couple were missionaries to Mexico for a season before having three (now teenaged) children named Grace. Elijah, and Simeon. Sean has a Master’s of Theology from Veritas International University.  It is his continuing passion to strengthen the brethren through expository teaching as well as reach the lost with the amazing love and grace of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ!
 
Contact Sean at: sroche@gccnt.org
 
 
 
BRYAN PETERS
Elder
 
Bryan is a graduate of Northwestern Lehigh School district and Word of Life Bible Institute. He has served in various capacities at Grace Community church. He is passionate about seeing people come to a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ and encouraging people to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is a volunteer fire fighter and has helped coach his son’s football team. Along with his wife, Lisa, he has raised 3 adult children and 3 children at home of which they homeschool. Bryan’s life Bible verse is Jeremiah 33:3 – Call to me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things which you do not know.
 
 Contact Bryan at:
 
 
 
JIM TOBIAS
Elder
 
Jim received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemical Engineering from Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA and holds a Master of Business Administration in Fundamentals of Marketing Management from Cornell University’s School of Marketing Industrial Labor Relations.  He is passionate about creating and executing on the various roles within the technical, graphical and audio worship ministries at Grace Community Church.  He loves participating and administrating in small group studies and firmly believes that as we put our spiritual gifts together and work collaboratively; we become more than the sum of our parts, and become positioned to do the very thing Jesus commanded us — which is to grow in our capacity to love, to invest in the lives of others and expand His Kingdom here on earth!  Along with his wife, Michelle, they have raised seven adult children while still raising their youngest child who is nine. They enjoy spending time with their nine wonderful grandchildren. One of Jim’s favorite and life Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
 
Contact Jim at:
 
 
 
RAY SUMNER
Elder
 

After leaving the US Army, Ray began a downward spiral that only the direct intervention of God could have stopped.  Ray was rescued by Jesus Christ through the ministry of Calvary Chapel.  Ray and his lovely wife Kathy began to attend a local Free Methodist church where Ray was first ordained as a Local Licensed Pastor. After a few years of pastoral ministry, the Lord led Ray to plant a new Calvary Chapel in rural Virginia and Ray pastored that church for several years.  Ray started a chaplaincy program with the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office, and this enabled Ray to become police chaplain through the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.  Ray was deployed by BGEA into New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina where twice he was able to minister Jesus to the hurting. After turning the ministry in Virginia over to another pastor, the Lord moved Ray and his family to Edmond, Oklahoma and then to Slatington, Pennsylvania.  Ray and Kathy continue to serve the Saints of the Lord and host a mid-week Bible study. 

 
Contact Ray at:
 
 
 
ERIC SMITH
Elder
 

Eric grew up in a Christian family that served in different fields of ministry. He accepted the Lord as a child, seeking the certainty of Salvation he saw in his parents, grandparents, and other believers. He met his wonderful wife, Stephanie, while attending a youth Bible Study during his freshman year of college. Shortly after, they ended up team-leading that group and helping out at other young adult ministries. With more than ten years of marriage and two children, they have taught in Christian ESL, young married couples, and most recently Jr. Church at Grace. They continue to enjoy serving together as a family, in any capacity, wherever there is need. Eric serves to point people to the steadfast truth and true rest, which is only found in an ever-growing relationship with Jesus. Along with ministry, Eric works in maintaining electronic communication systems and has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology.

 Contact Eric at:
 
 
 
JEN ROCHE
Women’s Ministry Leader
 
Jen got saved as a high school senior from a background that involved Wicca. Soon after she was serving on the mission field in Mexico.  She married Sean in 1999 and the two have served in various ministries ever since. Besides loving on her three awesome kids, Jen looks forward to ministering to the ladies of Grace Community as they all are rooted and grounded  in the love and grace of God. 
 
 
Contact Jen at:
 
 
 
JASON MARCANTE
Youth Ministry
 

Jason loves working with youth and showing them who God is by faithfully teaching them the scriptures and exemplifying the character of Christ. He has experience working in the Bethany Church youth program.  He also started a youth ministry at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, and is very active as a coach for the Athletes for the Cross Sports Ministry. He loves his family, football, and hanging out with friends.

Contact Jason at: