KEVIN KRIESEL

Pastor

Pastor Kevin D. Kriesel has served in Farina, Patoka, Blue Mound, and Benld before coming to Nashville. Born in Minnesota, Kevin was a member of the US Air Force and worked in non-profits before pursuing his call to ministry. He was married to his wife Dorothy for almost 42 years before her death, and they share three daughters together (Sarah, Amanda, and Melissa) who he is delighted to live closer to as they live in Mascoutah. You can see him around town with his Great Pyrenees, Dorra.

Kourtney Hake is a lifelong member of the Grace UMC family and is thrilled to care for Grace's youth and children! Kourtney has been an educator since 2014 and currently teaches eighth-grade students at Sparta Lincoln School in Sparta, Illinois. She has also taught all levels of high school, as well as first-year writing at the college level. She is the author of “Their Stories, Their Voices: Using Personal Narrative to Empower Student Writers, Grades 6-12,” co-authored with Paige Timmerman. Kourtney is also a dog-mom, a fierce lover of Jesus, and proud Aunt to Ella and Rollie.

KOURTNEY HAKE

Youth Director

TANYA STEWART

Financial/Office Manager

"I am honored to introduce myself as the new Office Manager at Grace. It is a blessing to step in to this role and serve alongside such a wonderful community. My goal is to help ensure that our church operations run smoothly so that we can continue to grow in faith and serve on another effectively.

I look forward to getting to know each of you and supporting the incredible work happening here at Grace!"

BECKY STYNINGER

Director of Music and Worship

Becky is a native of Mattoon, Illinois and attended Millikin University where she studied music. She and Mark were married in 1987 and have 3 children; Brock, Bryce and Bridget. Becky is the owner and operator of Becky's Music Studio in Nashville where she teaches piano. She also serves as the music director at Nashville Primary School and is a church pianist. She is a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Nashville and loves music and playing the piano. Her other hobbies include watching the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas Jayhawks, traveling, and spending time with her twin grandbabies.

MICHAEL REYNOLDS

Custodian/Maintenance

Meet Michael, our resident Mr. Clean at the church! Armed with a degree in Supply Chain Management and a knack for wrangling databases, he's like the Sherlock Holmes of logistics. But life threw him a curveball in 2023, leaving him jobless. What did he do? Well, with his trusty sidekick (his wife, Wynnie), they embarked on a home business adventure while Michael became the coolest school bus driver in town, courtesy of Robinson Transportation.

Now, with their nest officially empty (except for their furry zoo – three dogs and two cats), Michael is the undisputed ruler of the fishing waters. But beware, his catches are so scarce that if we relied on them for sustenance, we'd be on a strict diet of air and sunshine! Yet, he keeps casting his line, not for the big catch, but for the sheer serenity of being one with Mother Nature. Catch him if you can, but make sure to bring your own snacks!

JENNIFER SZOPINSKI

Food Pantry Coordinator

Jennifer Szopinski has called Grace UMC home her whole life and feels blessed to serve as the Food Pantry Coordinator, helping to share God’s love through food and fellowship. Before stepping into her current role in Human Resources at Washington County Hospital, Jennifer worked for BCMW, where she helped support families in need across the community. Jennifer is the proud mom of three daughters who inspire her daily and remind her of God’s goodness and grace.