Pastor Ben Kifer
Greetings in Christ! I am Pastor Ben, and I’m thrilled to serve God in this community! My family and I moved to Raleigh in June of 2021, and my first Sunday with Grace was July 4th. I was Baptized February 8th, 1983 and Ordained into the ministry of Word and Sacrament in February of 2013. I have spent my whole eight plus year career in North Carolina and am glad to call Raleigh home. I grew up in the Midwest, in Chicago and Iowa. I moved back to Chicago as an adult before attending seminary. I received Bachelor of Arts Degrees from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL, in 2005 in History and English. I lived briefly in the Phoenix, AZ area before moving on to attending Seminary at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, CA. I graduated in 2012 with a Masters of Divinity degree, and was approved for Candidacy. I see God’s hands at work throughout this journey, leading me here step by step. I am so grateful to be husband to Stacey and father of two amazing little girls.
Vicar Natalie Cook
Grace and peace to you! I am Natalie Cook, Grace Lutheran’s Vicar of Intergenerational Ministry beginning in 2024. I am from West Columbia, SC. I graduated from Presbyterian College in 2016 as a psychology major and religion minor. I completed my Master of Divinity studies at Lenoir-Rhyne's Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in December 2020, and I walked at graduation in the Spring of 2021. I got my start in ministry in outdoor ministry. It was at camp where I developed my best pastoral care skills, while living in Christian community, and serving God’s “kids” of all ages. For fun, I like to spend time outside in God’s good creation hiking, cycling, or kayaking. I like to catch up with friends, go camping with my family, and play with my dog. Presbyterian College’s motto is, “While we live, we serve,” and I try to live that out daily. It pairs well with our mission statement here at Grace, “To seek the fullness of life in Christ, for all people,” because when we are upholding that mission, we are loving our neighbors.
SK Chipley
Worship Organist & Pianist: SK serves as our Organist and Pianist. She accompanies our choirs and participates in worship planning with our Director of Music and Celebrate Mission Team.
Ann Goldfinch
Director of Music: Ann is our Music Director. She directs the children, youth and adult choirs, plans weekly worship services, and works with congregation musicians of all ages to prepare special musical offerings for worship.
Lynn Hess
Director, The School of Grace: Lynn is the Director of The School of Grace, a non-profit ministry of Grace Lutheran Church. Lynn was one of the founders of The School of Grace Preschool which has been educating children since 1995.
Whitewater Grigsby
Office Manager & Live Stream Technician Whitewater is responsible for our church operations, facility management and church communications. He also produces our Sunday morning live streams, manages our YouTube channel, and assists the church with other A/V needs.