Meet The Grace Church Leadership Team

Aaron Syvertsen

Senior Pastor

After working for five years at a financial firm in NYC, Aaron joined the staff in 2015 and enrolled into the M.Div progam at Southern Seminary. In January 2017, Aaron became the Senior Pastor at Grace, and his main responsibilities are setting the vision and direction of the church along with the elders, leading the staff, preaching, and shepherding the congregation. Aaron has been married to Rochelle for 8 years, and they have four children, Kaden (6), Brinley (3), Graham (1) and Loren (1).

What Is Your Hope for the Ministry and People of Grace Church?

I desire to see the people of Grace Church increasingly see themselves as God sees them in Christ, in a way that stirs their affections for the glory of God and fuels their love for others around them.

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Francis Park

Youth Director

Francis has been a member at Grace Church for five years and has served in the Missions Committee and Elder Board. In July of 2020, Francis joined the staff and became the new youth director, ministering to the youth in 6th to 8th grade (LifeGate) and 9th to 12th grade (Common Ground). Francis has been married to Michelle for 18 years, and they have triplets: Nathan, Claire and Caleb.

What Is Your Hope for the Ministry and People of Grace Church?

I pray that our church will continue to be gospel-centered in every way and cultivate a family of one body of Christ. My hope is to equip and empower the youth to become active members and contributors in the church, and have mature members of the church come alongside to disciple the next generation.

Mary Capalbo

Communications Director

Mary grew up attending Grace Church. She married Brian in 2012 and they moved to FL. In 2014, they moved back to NJ and soon after became members of Grace. Mary has always had a passion to see people connect to the Lord and to each other, so in the Fall of 2018, she excitedly accepted the position of Communications Director at Grace Church. Along with occasionally leading Bible studies and classes at Grace, Mary oversees all communication that comes in and goes out of the church.

What Is Your Hope for the Ministry and People of Grace Church?

My hope for the people of Grace is that they feel a sense of belonging and community. I pray that our church is a place where they can be vulnerable and open to receive God’s grace and forgiveness and to respond to these gifts by extending and sharing the same grace, forgiveness and hope they have in Jesus with others.

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Meghan Polanin

Children's Ministry Director

Meghan has always had a passion for working with young people and joined the Grace Church Staff in the role as Children's Director in January of 2018. She has the task of organizing all practical aspects of running a children's ministry, preparing volunteers and equipping the parents of Grace Church to disciple their children. Meghan has been married to Steve for 9 years and they have three children, Naomi (7), Elliot (5) and Joshua (1).

I long for our children to know, love and follow Jesus! I want them to grow into adults who have a deep understanding of the Bible, an awareness of God's abundant mercy and a longing to become more like Jesus everyday. It is my desire that our parents actively engage with their children in worship, prayer and Bible reading at home so that the whole family grows closer to Christ.

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AJ Graves

Creative Director

AJ grew up attending Grace, and in 2016, joined staff as the Creative Director. As Creative Director, AJ was in charge of handling all digital content of the church, as well as the stage designs for each sermon series. Over time, AJ has taken more of a hands-on role in handling the tech elements of the digital service, and ensuring things run smoothly and efficiently. In 2019, he married his wife Melissa, and they reside in Hawthorne.

My hope for Grace is to continue utilizing the tools available with technology, while remaining true to our traditional roots, and Gospel-preaching foundation.

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Ilya Maslov

Worship Director

Ilya came on staff as Music Director in 2006.

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Christi Scarpa

Director of Women's Ministries

After spending 10 years in the Elementary/Preschool teaching world, Christi’s love for connecting with women and sharing the Bible led her to join the Grace Church staff in January 2020. As women’s ministry director, her main responsibilities are organizing women’s events, teaching classes, and meeting with women one on one. Christi and her husband Dan have three children, Johnny (9), Joe (7), and Lila (3).

My hope is for the women of Grace to gain a deep love for our great God and His Word. It is my desire to equip women with tools to study the Bible and engage with our community of believers to build each other up for Kingdom work. I hope to see the people of Grace come alongside one another to dig deep into God’s Word and have the confidence to walk boldly where God calls.

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Rich Biswurm

Bookkeeper

Rich is a long-time member of Grace Church and has served in various ministry roles including Elder, Sunday School teacher, Grace Group Leader and Recovery Group Leader. He is a CPA and has served as the churches part-time bookkeeper / accountant since 2011 recording and processing the daily expenses & payments as well as preparing the monthly Financial Reports for the Board of Elders.

Rich is married to Suzanne and they have 3 grown & married children: Jordan, Megan and Keller - all who attended Grace throughout their childhood.

It is important to me that our church is unified and thirsty for God’s leading personally & corporately and is genuinely and consistently teaching, modeling, caring, loving and discipling in the name of Jesus in a way that makes others want to know more about it.