ASSOCIATE PASTOR
Guillermo married in the year 2006 to his beautiful childhood friend Norberta. And they have two beautiful daughters, Johanna of 10 years and Grace of 7 years, who both attend the Arlington school. Guillermo and his family have worked for more than seven years as Hispanic pastors. They started a Hispanic church in Winchester and now they feel happy to start and be on a new mission in Lexington with Embrace. They trust in our Lord Jesus Christ that he will do the work, as he has done before. They hope that Iglesia Abrazo de Dios is of great blessing to all and that God embraces all in a supernatural way.
Guillermo se casó en el año 2006 con su Hermosa amiga de la infancia Norberta. Y tienen dos hermosas hijas, Johanna de 10 años y Grace de 7 años, las dos asisten a la escuela Arlington. Guillermo y su familia han trabajado por más de siete años Como Pastores Hispanos. Comenzaron una Iglesia Hispana en Winchester y ahora se sienten contentos de empezar y estar en una nueva misión en Lexington con Embrace. Ellos confían en nuestro señor Jesucristo que el hará la obra, como lo ha hecho antes. Esperan que Iglesia Abrazo de Dios sea de gran bendición para todos y que Dios Abrace a todos de una manera sobrenatural.
PASTOR OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION AND ADMINISTRATION
Originally from East Tennessee, Kristina married her Lexington-native husband, Ted, and began to call Kentucky home in 2015. That same year, Kristina graduated from Asbury University with a B.A. in Christian Ministries and Communications. She is now pursuing both the Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Leadership degrees at Asbury Theological Seminary. In addition to her work at Embrace and her studies, Kristina fulfills her call to ministry as a singer-songwriter and speaker. Through her songs, her sermons, and her research focuses, Kristina shares with others her passion for personal and communal spiritual formation. She loves walking with people who are burnt out and weighed down, towards discovering the real, enlivening, and freeing presence of God right in the middle of the discouragement and stuckness that different seasons of life can bring. Her first professional recording project, Get Going EP can be found on iTunes, Amazon, or Spotify under her maiden name (Kristina Conner). She can also very likely be found enjoying guacamole, a good book, or the combination of mint and chocolate on any given day.
WORSHIP LEADER
Chris married his High School/College Sweetheart Sarah in 2008, and has an awesome son named Cooper! Chris earned his Bachelor's Degree in Educational Ministries from Campbellsville University in 2008, where he was a member of the Men's Soccer Team. Chris has been leading worship in some capacity since his high school days and loves using his musical gifts to lead people into God's presence. In addition to his role at Embrace, Chris is currently a middle school math teacher at Winburn Middle School and an assistant girls soccer coach at Frederick Douglass High School. When he's not cleaning the house, doing laundry/dishes, mowing the lawn, fixing broken things, etc., Chris loves to watch/play all varieties of sports, go on hikes, eat delicious delicacies, watch a good movie on the couch with Sarah, and tinker in his garage workshop.
CHURCH COOK
Paula loves to love on people and her favorite way to do so is by filling their bellies with a warm meal. She loves on people this way every Monday night by cooking a meal for The Gathering at Embrace. She has two teenagers and it's her favorite years thus far. Paula worked at Scott County Schools for 14 years, but recently answered God's calling to serve at Scott County Hospitality House in Georgetown. She is the Case Manager & Volunteer Coordinator. This is an extended stay transition program for homeless women & children to assist down each avenue to become a productive and independent part of society once again. Love one another, just as I have loved you. -John 13:34
MINISTRY INTERN
A Lexington native, Landon is a graduate of Tates Creek High School and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management at the University of Kentucky. Landon served on summer staff at Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center as a counselor in 2017 and 2018. While on staff at Aldersgate, Landon felt a call to ministry and was drawn toward the youth of Embrace and Common Good. He loves talking sports and music with the youth but is also passionate about empowering and encouraging them to step into all of who God has created them to be. In his free time, Landon loves to play basketball, go hiking, and cheer on his Kentucky Wildcats. He is excited to contribute towards the ministry of Embrace, especially to the youth, while discerning his call to ministry.
LEAD PASTOR
John has been married to his wonderful wife Laura since 2005. They live in North Lexington and are passionate UK basketball fans. John grew up as a preacher’s kid in Tennessee and Kentucky. His father is currently the pastor of First UMC in Georgetown, KY. John earned his Masters of Divinity from Asbury Seminary in 2013. He enjoys good food, music, sports, and the outdoors. Laura is the Executive Director of Common Good, a ministry that she and John founded in 2011. Common Good focuses on Christian community development work in the neighborhoods that surround Embrace. John and Laura are passionate about urban ministry and working with people from different cultural backgrounds. John is excited to see where God takes Embrace!