Who We Are

I was born into a Christian family and, although I had many seasons of personal rebellion and doubt, I trusted Jesus with my life because He was always faithful to my mother and father, who love me and taught me to follow Him.  Throughout my life, the Lord has shown incredible mercy and kindness towards me and continues to rescue me from the trap of my selfish desires.  In school, I studied music and theology.  I married my wife Laura in 2004 and we have seven children.  We  moved to Philadelphia because we were called to become part of a new church to be planted in South Philadelphia, which became Grace and Peace.  I work as a principal at a classical Christian school and play tennis in my leisure time.  I am very thankful for how the Lord has provided for my family and given us an opportunity to serve Him at Grace and Peace. 

Like many others in our community, I am a transplant to Philadelphia. I first became a believer in my teens, but I have found that I am perpetually learning more about the grace of Christ and also experiencing it. Much of that has come from spending time with fellow Christians and with my family. Other favorite activities include being in the outdoors, food, and a good book.

I grew up with two Christian parents who shared the gospel with me.  And even though I always believed in God and His Gospel, it didn’t penetrate into my whole life.  I was the classic compartmentalized Christian, one life to live on Sunday and another one to live the rest of the week.  It wasn’t until I was in college that God stripped away, one by one, all the things I had relied on as acceptable expressions of my faith.  And when I was finally at the end of myself, I truly realized that God is all we have in this life, and He is the one who satisfies us and redeems all that we do or have done.  I live in South Philly with my wife and four children, and I help lead the music ministry at Grace and Peace.  We believe God called us here so He could continue to work on us, sanctifying us so that we can be a witness to an urban community that so desperately needs him, and doesn’t even know it.

I’m Griff, and I live in South Philadelphia with my wife Michelle and daughter Hosanna.  I’m a huge Eagles fan, I love to read, and collecting vinyl records is a favorite hobby of mine. I grew up in a family that loved Jesus and told me that Jesus loved me! I had no problem believing that Jesus loved me, I just hoped that he was real. Careful study of the Old and New Testaments continually brings me to the most profound conclusion – the Jesus who loves is the Jesus who lives, and reigns today. I try to live my life for King Jesus, but often fail. But he has plenty of grace for me, and for you too!

My name is Joe Sinagra and I’m one of the Elders at Grace and Peace Community Church.  Calling myself “Elder” may sound like I’m something special – like I’m “extra holy” –  but I’m just a regular guy with a regular life outside of church.  I have a wife (Jessica) and six kids (Rosemary, Carmellina, Joseph, Peter, David and Penelope).  I teach at a local high school and I rent a row home in South Philly – there’s nothing particularly holy about that!  I did not grow up in a Christian home.  I was led to faith in Christ when I was in college.  I spent most of my life growing up feeling like I “didn’t belong.”  After learning about the deep love of Christ and His acceptance of me despite my shortcomings I was convinced that this was what I had been waiting for all my life.  I gave my life to Him and have never regretted it.

Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, I spent my childhood years in a northern suburb of Chicago before moving to Philadelphia in the 1990s. While I did grow up in a home where I went to church every Sunday with my parents and siblings, I did not experience a true conversion until I was 17. After my conversion, I realized living a traditional Christian life didn’t save me. God saved me through the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.  I am extremely blessed to be married to my wife, Amy. Together we have four awesome children, Jedidiah, Isabelle, Leah, and Malachi. We live in South Philly where we welcome any opportunity to serve God through the help of the Holy Spirit. Outside of spending time with family, I enjoy cycling, traveling, and watching a TV series on Netflix.

I am a South Philadelphian and a Philly sports fan.  I am a husband to my wife Mary.  I am a father to my two daughters (Gianna and Evelina) and my son (Anthony).   These things are very special to me, and I truly struggle with the temptation of finding my identity in them.  Ultimately, the things in my life that I hold dear are earthly provisions given to me by God, and it is Jesus Christ where my identity is found and to whom I am thankful.  This would not have been my ‘bio’ ten years ago, but God graciously intervened in my life during a very difficult time when I became a single father to my daughter who was two years old at the time.  He called me to himself, rescued me from one of the darkest personal periods of my life, protected me, and provided me with a loving family and a church home in Grace and Peace, of which I have been a member since day one.  I am humbled and honored to serve through my role as a deacon.

I’m a lifelong Christian, who began to spiritually grow at the age of 35!

I grew up very active in church life, but I was very aware that something was missing.    After drifting away during my college years, God used the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 to draw me to back himself.  The horrors of that day deeply troubled me and revealed that I did not have a vital connection with my Creator.  When I began attending a church where the Bible was clearly proclaimed and started reading it myself, I could no longer deny the bad news: my sin against God is NOT OK.  But I also began to understand the GREAT NEWS: Jesus has personally paid the debt of my sin so that I can have life-giving fellowship with God Himself.   “I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20). I live in South Philadelphia with my wife Christine and our two sons, David and Andrew.

I was born into a Christian home and spent the first four years of my life in Seoul, South Korea before moving to New York City in 1981. I spent a lot of time at church while growing up, but it mainly consisted of playing with friends, singing in the choir, and memorizing Bible verses. Then, in my teenage years, I finally started to understand who Jesus was and what He had done for me. The years that followed were an amazing but often challenging period of learning to surrender my life to Him. My sometimes wandering journey eventually brought me to Grace and Peace in early 2015, where I help lead the church’s music ministry. My wife, Meridith, and I live in South Philly and we enjoy singing together as I play the piano, watching thought-provoking movies, and learning to cook new dishes, especially Korean ones.

I grew up in a Christian home and came to Christ early in my life, but because of a introverted nature remained isolated in my faith.  My family went to a large church and it was easy to stay lost in the crowd until I joined a Christian theater group, where I had fellowship with other Christians and met my wife, Lisa.  At GPCC we continue to grow in our relationships with Jesus and our neighbors as we raise our children, Addison and Liam.

Hey! I’m Christina, and I moved to South Philly in the fall of 2015. I came to study biblical counseling, which has been a joy, but what I didn’t expect was to find home. Grace and Peace has become that home. I grew up in the church, but not until I became a young adult did God’s grace and love really sink into my being. I work for an organization where I get to support individuals and families who are preparing to live and serve overseas to make Jesus’ name known in places where it’s not yet known. My passion and desire is to see more people experience the abundant life that is found in the Lord. I enjoy navigating the city on my bike, attempting various art projects, and talking about Jesus and what he’s done in our lives.