I want a Coach
Small Group Leaders — we’re here for you! Our coaching team exists to encourage and equip each of you, so the people you lead can experience true connection, genuine care, and lasting spiritual growth.
What We Do
Build Connection – Equipping you and your group with practical tools to foster authentic community.
Provide Care – Guiding you and your group members toward supportive resources and clear next steps.
Support & Grow Leaders – Offering prayer, encouragement, and direction.
How to Connect
We want you to know who we are and how to reach us. Each coach below is available if you’d like to connect directly. Feel free to reach out to the person you feel most comfortable with or contact any of us for support—we would love to help.
Meet Your Chapel Hill Team:
Melissa Kennedy came to Grace Church in 2010 when she moved to the area to attend the UNC School of Social Work. Although she still misses the North Carolina mountains, she has loved making Hillsborough home. Since 2013, she has served the Triangle community as a professional counselor.
Over the years at Grace, she has worn many hats - starting out on the First Impressions and Student Ministries teams, then moving into small group leadership and coaching other leaders. Currently, she and her husband, Andrew, are most involved in Freedom Ministry and Restore Ministry. Melissa also serves as Lead Small Group Coach, where she encourages and equips leaders to create healthy, Christ-centered communities.
Melissa has a heart for cultivating trauma-informed, empathetic environments where people experience safety, belonging, and care. She loves supporting leaders as they navigate group and relational dynamics, helping them connect members to professional or pastoral care when needed, find resources, set healthy boundaries, and care for their own well-being while they lead.
When she is not at her counseling practice or serving at Grace, you will most likely find her chasing after her two kids with coffee and a good book (or two) in hand.
Email: melissagraykennedy@gmail.com
Phone: (704) 692-6274
Preferred contact method: email
Helen Sawyer is originally from the UK, she has lived in the States for 25 years. She has run many small groups over that time, and has been a part of small groups at Grace for the last 6 years. She has led campaign small groups with her husband Simon, and small groups focused on prayer. Helen and Simon are currently leading and teaching "Second Half Strong", a small group for the 50+ age group which focuses on making the most of the second half of your life for the Glory of God.
Helen's main passion for small groups is to see people learning, growing and doing something new with the Lord.
Email: helenpsawyer@gmail.com
Phone: (919) 619-3141
Preferred contact method: text or email
Lo Crowder is originally from Winston-Salem, NC, and has been part of the Grace family since 2016, when he moved to the area. Over the years, he has served in many roles—leading small groups, coaching leaders, serving on the Dream Team, and stepping in wherever needed. Today, he primarily serves with Growth Track, guiding new members as they take their next steps to get connected at Grace. Lo has a true passion for leadership, coaching, and mentoring others.
Outside of Grace, Lorenzo works as a manager at a law office in Raleigh, where he oversees the firm’s finances and operations.
When he’s not serving or working, you can usually find him cheering on UNC football and basketball, the Durham Bulls, or a Canes hockey game. He also enjoys traveling, spending time at the beach, discovering new restaurants, and listening to live music—especially jazz.
Email: lo.crowder@icloud.com
Phone: (919) 360-3320
Preferred contact method: text or email
Roger Odle is a retired pastor. He has led many Bible Studies over the years both self-created and book directed. He has a great desire to help people learn to study the Bible for themselves without being told what it says. He desires to see a person get excited about new insights to God's Word and how to apply them to their life and others.
Roger and his wife Rosemary have 2 children, 5 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild on the way. Family is very important next to God.
Email: rwodle54@gmail.com
Phone: (919) 491-4299
Preferred contact method: text or email
Ana Sachetto moved to Chapel Hill in 2022 to work at UNC doing biomedical research. In 2023 Ana joined Grace Church. During the past years, she served in different areas of Grace, including Grace kids, First Impressions Team, Growth Track, small groups, outreach and Connections.
Ana’s main focus is to help people connect to each other and find spiritual family! She cares deeply about people of all ages and backgrounds.
Outside of church, you can find Ana enjoying life with her two dogs Luna and Clark.
Email: anatsachetto@gmail.com
Phone: (919) 259-2662
Preferred contact method: text or email
Matt Torcasso has been a member of Grace Church since 2010. Over the years, he has served in a variety of roles and currently serves as one of our Shepherding Elders as well as leading Financial Peace University.
Matt has a heart for helping others. Whether in his professional life as an IT Director or in ministry settings, he thrives on guiding others through challenges, encouraging them to take next steps, and building environments where people feel supported and equipped. He especially enjoys coaching leaders as they balance faith, family, and calling.
When he’s not serving at Grace, Matt loves spending time outdoors camping, hiking, or fishing, or tackling home improvement projects—all while enjoying life with his wife, Rachel and their four boys.
Email: torcasso.matt@gmail.com
Phone: (919) 649-0025
Preferred contact method: text