Leadership & Staff
WHO WE ARE
Jesus-Ruled. Elder-Led. Congregationally Accountable.
Get to know the men and women who lead and serve Mercy Church. See what they are passionate about and what they do day-to-day to serve the body.
Leadership Team
Lead Pastor
Spence Shelton
pastorspence@mercycharlotte.com
Spence is a UNC-Chapel Hill graduate and earned his Masters in Divinity in Biblical Languages and Christian Ethics at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He planted Mercy Church in 2015, where he currently serves as Lead Pastor. Spence loves being in the mountains and traveling with his wife Courtney and their four children.
Executive Pastor
Jake Greer
jake@mercycharlotte.com
Jake oversees the executive staff who lead the operations and ministries at Mercy Church. He has a degree in Bible, Theology, and Pastoral Leadership from Multnomah Bible College in Portland, Oregon. He enjoys woodworking, anything by Eugene Peterson, and spending time with his wife Meredith. He loves his 4 kids and going on popup camper adventures with the family.
Pastor of Campuses
Rashard Barnes
rashard@mercycharlotte.com
Rashard graduated from Texas Tech University, has a Master of Theology from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Educational Ministry in Executive Leadership from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has a passion for helping churches develop cross-cultural unity. He and his wife Meghan have three kids, and he loves to cook.
Director of Operations
Mandy Foster
mandy@mercycharlotte.com
Mandy oversees all church operations, including finance, human resources, facilities, and systems. She provides executive-level leadership and facilitates team-building among our staff team. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from Western Carolina University and enjoys going on adventures to new places with her husband Ryan and their two kids.
Pastor of Discipleship
Josh Jones
josh@mercycharlotte.com
Josh oversees our Groups and Equip ministries. He is passionate about helping people take their next step in following Jesus. Originally from North Dallas, he graduated from both Texas A&M and Dallas Theological Seminary. Josh and his wife Ashley have three children. He loves to spend time outdoors hiking in the mountains or with his family on the beach.
Pastor of Sending
Scott Urbanek
scott@mercycharlotte.com
Scott is passionate about impacting the darkness in our world. He graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University, has his Masters of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has a Doctorate of Ministry in Executive Leadership from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to Jessica, and they have five kids. Originally from Florida, he loves all things Miami Hurricanes and hanging out with friends.
Staff
Providence Road Campus
Associate Campus Director
Blake Templeton
blake@mercycharlotte.com
Blake shepherds our Providence Road campus and is passionate about getting people meaningfully engaged through our Next Steps processes. Before transitioning into full-time ministry, he was a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Blake has played guitar for Mercy Worship since Mercy began. He married his high school sweetheart Michele, and they have a daughter and twin boys.
Worship Leader
Lauren Celaya
lauren@mercycharlotte.com
Lauren leads worship for our Providence Road campus and is passionate about leading people to the feet of Jesus through worship and song. Originally from Phoenix, AZ, she attended Vanguard University of Southern California. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, finding new food spots in Charlotte and practicing hand lettering and calligraphy.
Northeast Campus
Campus Pastor
Darrick Smith
darrick@mercycharlotte.com
Darrick graduated from North Carolina Central University and earned his Master of Arts in Christian Ministry at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is passionate about evangelism, mobilization, and leadership development. He loves to bake and is a big foodie. He and his wife LaShonna have three boys.
Associate Campus Director
Noah Aderman
noah@mercycharlotte.com
Noah leads worship and shepherds our Northeast campus. He desires to see people known and cared for deeply. He is passionate about helping people love the Lord with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength. He is massively extroverted, and loves spending time with his wife and growing family, and rooting for the Buffalo Bills year round.
Union County Campus
Campus Pastor
Mike Herman
mike@mercycharlotte.com
Mike Herman is originally from Monroe, NC. He is married to Whitney, and they have two beautiful girls. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, spending time with his family, and going to the beach.
Mercy Families Associate
Becky Bender
becky@mercycharlotte.com
Becky is a Charlotte native who has attended Mercy since 2017 and on staff since 2019. She got her degree in Education with a concentration in teaching those with special needs. She has a passion for helping kids of all ages and their families be transformed by the Gospel. She spends her time enjoying the outdoors with her amazing husband, adorable baby girl, and german shepherd.
Discipleship
Students Pastor
Brett Bouldin
brett@mercycharlotte.com
Brett oversees our middle and high school ministry. With a passion for people, he loves helping them understand how the Gospel of Jesus Christ intersects with their story. He is a Charlotte native. He and his wife Marlee have a daughter named Lila. If he could have one superpower it would be that he knew every world language.
Mercy College Director
Trey Gouch
trey@mercycharlotte.com
Trey is passionate about helping people live out their faith with confidence so they can reach their sphere of influence. He is originally from Charlotte, received his undergrad from Appalachian State University and Masters of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, coffee, cooking, and dominating in pickleball.
MercyKids Director
Madison Hipp
madison@mercycharlotte.com
Madison Hipp delights in partnering with families as they teach children how to know God and His great love for them. Originally from Kannapolis, she has degrees from both UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC Charlotte. In her spare time, she enjoys power walks with friends, conversations over coffee, and frequent trips to the library...her library card is one of her most prized possessions!
Groups & Equip Director
Tanner Powell
tanner@mercycharlotte.com
Tanner manages our Community Groups and Equip Ministry, which include Connect Groups, Men’s Bible Studies, and various classes and forums. He is passionate about leadership development and equipping people for ministry in everyday life. Tanner graduated from NC State with a Mechanical Engineering degree and has a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He enjoys drinking specialty coffee and spending time with his wife, Sydney, and their two daughters.
Women's Ministry Director
Abby McClellan
abbymcclellan@mercycharlotte.com
Abby is passionate about creating spaces for women to engage with Jesus and learn to be disciples of him! She is a Colorado native who began her college years at Colorado Christian University and finished her degree at UNC Charlotte after getting married to her husband, Chris. She is mom to three boys. Her favorite things include eating street tacos, taking a long walk with a friend, and sipping coffee.
Mobilization
Mobilization Team Leader
Sarah
sarah@mercycharlotte.com
Sarah is passionate about helping others enjoy Jesus and join Him as He invites every nation, tribe, and tongue into His Kingdom. She's originally from Austin, TX and loves the beautiful NC seasons, introducing friends to her cat Fin, and being the first one on the dance floor at wedding receptions.
Mobilization Team
Garren
garren@mercycharlotte.com
Garren wants all believers to cross cultural barriers for the sake of the gospel. He is from Gastonia, NC, loves biblical theology, and cooking anything in his cast iron pans. He is married to Erin.
Mobilization Team
Nate
nate@mercycharlotte.com
Nate is passionate about encouraging and equipping others to obey Christ as multiplying disciple-makers. He is originally from Round Rock, TX and attended Texas A&M University. In his spare time you can find him perfecting his pourover, playing some sort of sport, or getting lost on a hike.
Mobilization Team
Sadie
sadie@mercycharlotte.com
Sadie longs to help people grow in their love for Jesus and their love for the nations. She's originally from Mocksville, NC. She enjoys being an aunt, spending lots of time outdoors hunting and riding four-wheelers.
Operations
Content Director
Jack Guthrey
jack@mercycharlotte.com
Jack leads our creative communications and technical efforts. His passion is to leverage media and production for the flourishing of the local church. He is originally from Tennessee and tries to spend as much time as possible outdoors, away from technology and media. He and his wife Bailey have a son.
Finance & HR Manager
Reid Davis
reid@mercycharlotte.com
Reid is passionate about serving Mercy Church in supporting excellent financial stewardship while advancing God’s Kingdom. He and his wife, Rhonda, celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary this year! They have 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren. Reid cherishes family time and trips to the lake, the mountains, or the beach.
Communications & Brand Manager
Jessica Cockrum
jessica@mercycharlotte.com
Jessica helps maintain the visual identity and integrity of communication at Mercy. Originally from Roxboro, NC, she moved to Charlotte with an English degree from UNC-Chapel Hill to help plant Mercy in 2015. She is passionate about helping people make things look and sound better! In her free time, she loves to spend time with her husband, Nate, cook new recipes, and watch movies with friends.
Audio, Video, Lighting Technician
Seth Manly
seth@mercycharlotte.com
Seth loves everything music and plays guitar, bass, and keys. He and his wife Lydia have a Bernedoodle named Stella who is the life of the party! Seth studied at Liberty University and is excited to be within driving distance of so many college football Saturdays!
Operations Assistant
Sarah Won
sarahwon@mercycharlotte.com
Sarah, her husband JJ, and their daughter have been in the Charlotte area for a while but recently moved to Matthews! Sarah loves the outdoors and can be found bringing homegrown veggies or homemade goods as her gifts for any occasion. As a house divided between an Appalachian and Chapel Hill Alumni - you can find Sarah and JJ vacationing in Boone while cheering on the Tar Heels simultaneously!
Support
Assistant to the Pastor of Sending
Kaitlyn Peterson
kaitlynpeterson@mercycharlotte.com
Kaitlyn grew up in Biddeford, Maine, and moved to Charlotte to attend college at UNCC. She loves all things outdoors, playing card games, and traveling with her family. She is married to Chase, and they have twin girls.
Assistant to the Pastor of Campuses & Pastor of Discipleship
Allison Ramsey
allison@mercycharlotte.com
Allison is originally from the suburbs of Chicago, IL, and has lived in the Charlotte area since 2016. She loves spending time with friends, playing games, and knitting when she has time. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Nate, and has four children.
Assistant to the Lead Pastor
Michele Templeton
michele@mercycharlotte.com
Michele serves our church as assistant to the Lead Pastor. She grew up in Matthews, NC and married her highschool sweetheart, Blake. If she's not chasing around her three kiddos, she'd like to be reading!
Residents
Worship Resident
Morgan Dellacona
morgan@mercycharlotte.com
Morgan is passionate about helping people use their gifts to serve and glorify the Lord! She is from Kernersville, NC, and attended UNC Charlotte. Morgan loves anything that involves sunshine and exploring Charlotte!
Discipleship Resident
Claire Kern
claire@mercycharlotte.com
Claire is passionate about connecting people and helping others learn more about who the Lord is and who he created them to be. She is a Charlotte native and enjoys hosting people in her home, cooking, baking, reading, and spending time outside.
Mercy Students Resident
Carter Graham
carter@mercycharlotte.com
Carter assists our middle and high school ministry and is passionate about helping students experience the full joy of the Lord! He is originally from Dobson, NC and attended UNC Charlotte. In his spare time, he enjoys disc golf, pickleball, and cooking for his wife!
Mercy College Resident
Avery Long
avery@mercycharlotte.com
Avery loves seeing students come to know Jesus through discipleship! She is originally from Florida and graduated from Florida State University. In her free time, Avery loves cooking for her friends, taking photos, and spending time near any body of water!
Mercy College Staff & Mercy Residency Associate
Sarah Meadors
sarahmeadors@mercycharlotte.com
Sarah is passionate about caring for others. She is originally from Raleigh, NC and graduated from UNC Charlotte in 2021. In her spare time she loves spending time with her husband Josh, her friends, and taking care of her houseplants.
Mercy College Resident
Kacy Rhyne
kacy@mercycharlotte.com
Kacy is passionate about building relationships and connecting with other people! She went to UNC-Chapel Hill and lived in Chicago for a few years after graduation. Kacy loves doing anything active and spending time with her nieces!
Church Planting Residents
Church Planting Resident
Joseph Anderson
janderson@mercycharlotte.com
Before taking his next step in following Jesus of planting Kingdom City Church in 2024, Joseph led our Mercy Northeast campus, and was a core member in its launch. He has a Masters in Church Planting from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing further education. Joseph is married to Kaylon and has two children.