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
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.
Helen Sawyer
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.
Lo Crowder
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.
Roger Odel
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.
Ana Sachetto
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.
Matt Torcasso
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.
Elizabeth Dawson
Elizabeth Dawson came to Grace Church in 2006 with her husband, Pastor Adam Dawson, after getting married and being called to move to NC. She has been a steady part of the community ever since: she has served as a small group leader, Step 3 leader, Freedom Groups ministry team, Women’s Development Group leader, and a volunteer with both Grace Kids and Grace Students.
With degrees in philosophy and math, Elizabeth loves bringing depth and clarity to all of her endeavors. She runs two small businesses—one as a postpartum doula supporting new moms, and another managing the cleaning of medical facilities.
She is passionate about encouraging women as they grow spiritually and emotionally, helping them discover their purpose, and walking with people through seasons of grief or pain with compassion and hope. She also finds deep meaning in caring for her own family—supporting her husband's calling and raising her children with intention so they can grow into the fullness of who God created them to be.
As a mom of six and a former homeschooler of ten years, Elizabeth has learned to find peace and joy in the midst of work and chaos. When she isn’t serving at Grace, working or running her household, you can find her enjoying coffee, foreign films, travel, and dry humor—or periodically dominating competitive jigsaw puzzles. Above all, she delights in fostering moments where people feel seen, encouraged, and invited to grow into the fullness of who God created them to be.
Laura Nutt joined Grace Church in 2018. Before moving to North Carolina, she spent two years serving in overseas missions. At Grace, Laura has been involved in a variety of ministries, including Freedom Ministry, First Impressions, and leading small groups such as Step Three.
Laura is passionate about helping others grow in their understanding of the Bible and loves equipping leaders to feel confident as they walk alongside others in their faith.
Outside of church, Laura manages conferences, which gives her the opportunity to travel. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, exploring new restaurants in Durham, and adventuring with her husband, Will, and their beloved pup, Buster.
Email: lwnutt2@gmail.com
Phone: (757) 814-5931
Preferred contact method: text
Will Nutt is grateful to have joined the Grace Church family in 2014. Soon after getting plugged in, Will experienced a healthy community that fostered growth and development in his personal faith that produced many milestones at Grace, including getting water baptized.
As someone who has benefited greatly from the care and mentorship he has received within the Grace Church community, he greatly values helping leading others in their spiritual formation.
Will enjoys serving in the Freedom ministry and building up young men into healthy strong leaders through small group leading, mentoring and applied theological study.
Will and his wife Laura at Grace and they enjoy connecting with other couples and serving together in various capacities at Grace Church.
Email: Willyn81@gmail.com
Phone: (740) 605-6881
Preferred contact method: text
Katie Munn is originally from southern Illinois. She has been coming to Grace Church since 2018 (though she briefly attended while in college well before that). She currently serves with Grace Students as a high school small group leader. She loves to encourage others and see all generations grow in their relationship with God.
When not at Grace, Katie works as a logistics leader for a local nut butter company, enjoys spending time with her family (including her husband Garrett and their cat Simba), reading, crocheting, and venturing around the Triangle and Alamance County.
Email: ktknepp91@gmail.com
Phone: (704) 798-9960
Preferred contact method: text or email
Garrett Munn was born and raised in North Carolina. He has been coming to Grace since 2021. Garrett has served in a variety of areas over the years but has found his passion serving the youth every Wednesday at Grace Students.
Garrett’s love for people shows in everything he does. He continues to build up the next generation and anyone he comes in contact with.
When he is not at Grace you will find him at home loving on his cat Simba or trying a new coffee shop with his wife Katie.
Email: garrettmunn@gmail.com
Phone: (919) 441-5309
Preferred contact method: text or email
Lisa Oechsli has been a long-standing member of Grace Church since 1988! Over the years she has served in several leadership capacities such as small group leader, Step 3 group leader, women's mentoring, women's development group leader, and prayer team coordinator. Lisa has a heart for supporting women and encouraging them to grow in their relationship with Jesus and with others, but also for helping them find a place in their spiritual family to get connected and flourish using their God-given giftings and strengths.
Lisa also enjoys reading, gardening, and using her administrative skills by helping her husband Bernie manage his company, plus doing part time work for a realtor and a contractor. She and Bernie have four young adult kids who are all active in serving Grace Church as well.
Email: fathersgirl61@gmail.com
Phone: (919) 260-6142
Preferred communication: text or email
