Leadership
Teams

Our Leadership Teams oversee the spiritual, administrative,
and outreach functions of the congregation. They are
devoted to the three E's (Encounter, Empower, Embrace).
Pastors
Elders
Deacons
GP Staff

Pastors

John Zayas

Organizational Executive Pastor
Pastor John has pastored for over 25 years, and has led efforts in community development and serving God and our neighbors.

Angelina Zayas

Pastor
Pastora Iliana has led in the church for 25 years, and is also the CEO of the GAP Community Center. She leads efforts in multiple areas, while keeping God at the center of it all.

John Eric Zayas

Lead Pastor
Pastor John Eric manages events for church ministries, supervising church volunteers, and assisting with all church services. He prioritizes spiritual growth through worship, prayer, and staying in the Word.

Elsie Rodriguez

Pastora Española
Pastora Elsie serves as an Elder of the church and is also the Pastor for the Spanish ministry. Elsie’s mission is to share the Love and message of salvation to those she encounters.

Elders

Tony Mercado

Elder
Tony Mercado serves as a GP church Elder. He with the rest of the Elders and Pastors are responsible for the spiritual direction and growth of the Church. He also leads a Wednesday night men's Bible study, leading them through discussions and prayer time and offering ongoing counsel. 

Eddie Irrizarry

Elder
Eddie Irrizary has served in the church for 15+ years, and has been a great leader at GP. He has led discussions on ways to improve our work as church leaders and has been devoted to his time in prayer and ministering the Word of God.

David Rodriguez

Elder
David Rodriguez, Sr. serves as an elder at Grace and Peace, responsible for teaching and leading the congregation, and administering to the church body as a pastoral guidance. He has been serving in the church for 15+ years. 

Jose Villareal

Elder
Jose serves as an Elder at the church. During his 16 years at the Grace & Peace he's had the pleasure of serving as a Bible study leader, kids church teacher, Sunday morning greeter & a Deacon.

DEACONS

Larry Waites

Deacon
Larry is a Deacon and a member of G+P church Board of Directors. Deacon Waites also facilitates a virtual (online) Tuesday Night Bible study along with his wife Joanne and two other church members.

Michael Aument

Deacon
Mike serves as the head deacon. He is an active member of the elder and deacon board with a focus on developing and overseeing the church finances and stewardship.

Harry Pena

Deacon
Harry Pena is a deacon, member of GP, and volunteers with the GAPCC throughout the week. He uses every moment he can to share the gospel and evangelize.

Lashunda Lott

Deacon
Lashunda serves as a deacon at Grace and Peace Church, a youth leader for The Element, and leads Grace and Peace Young Adults group. There is a invitation for young people to know the goodness of God, to raise each other up as we become independent, live in community with each other, and to share truth through our stories and testimony.

Staff

David Barreto

Youth Director
Before stepping into his role as Youth Ministry Director, David was a part of the Element Youth Ministry when it was founded. He loves to serve and support our young people. He strives to share the gospel through holistic relational ministry and be a mentor in any capacity.

Carina Barreto

Youth Director
Starting as an Elemental, Carina has always desired to lead as a youth director. She has served in the church for 10+ years, and has grown as a youth leader through Element and other youth camps.

Stephanie Feliciano

Kid's Ministry Director
Stephanie has been serving in Kid’s ministry for 8+ years. There’s many things that she enjoys about the ministry, but the most fulfilling thing is to be able to see the spiritual growth of the children and their families.

Rachel Mercado

Finance Administrator
Rachel loves to worship and is part of the prayer team.  After retiring from the corporate sector, she happily works with the finances of the church and the community center.

Staff

Sam Barreto

Worship Pastor
Pastor Sam Barreto has served as a worship leader for 30+ years. He pursues Jesus and seeks to become more like Him both on and off the stage.

Niyah Gomez

Creative Director
Niyah serves as the social media marketer at GP. She creates graphics, posts to our social media, and assists with any other tech-related projects. Church communication is key, and Niyah strives to make sure everyone feels included in all things GP.

Josh Xavier Velazquez

Music Director
Josh is our Music Director who strives to prepare a space for a passionate and life changing worship experience. He directs in pursuit of growth and freedom, acknowledging the various expressions of worship. His aim is to gather the right chords but also gather the right people.

GP Ministry Leaders

Pastor John Eric Zayas

Lead Pastor + Midweek Leader
Pastor JohnEric Zayas has been faithfully shepherding the Grace and Peace family with a heart for teaching the Word and equipping believers to live it out. His passion for creating spaces where people can encounter God in a deeper way is the heartbeat behind Midweek Circles.
Midweek

David + Carina Barreto

Youth Directors
David and Carina have been serving as youth leaders for over 5 years. Starting as Element youth, it has come full circle for them, and they have committed their lives to serving the youth in Chicago.

Element

Stephanie Feliciano

Kid's Ministry Director
Stephanie has been serving in Kid’s ministry for 8+ years. There’s many things that she enjoys about the ministry, but the most fulfilling thing is to be able to see the spiritual growth of the children and their families.

Larry + Joanne Waites

Virtual Study Leaders
Joanne and Larry Waites have a deep love for God’s Word and a passion for helping others grow in their faith. Together, they lead our Virtual Bible Study, creating a welcoming space for people to connect, learn, and be transformed by Scripture—no matter where they are.
Wednesday Link

Staff

Destiny + Rey-Nathan Gray

Young Adults Ministry Leaders
Destiny and Rey-Nathan have a heart to see young adults grow in their faith, build lasting community, and boldly live out their calling. As leaders of our Young Adults Ministry, they create a space where 18–30-year-olds can connect, be discipled, and discover God’s purpose for their lives.
YA

Erica + Sammy Barreto

Prayer Room Ministry Leaders
Erica and Sammy Barreto carry a deep passion for God’s presence and a desire to see His people transformed through prayer and worship. As leaders of the Prayer Room Ministry, they create an atmosphere where hearts are stirred, faith is strengthened, and God’s Spirit is welcomed to move freely.
PRAYER ROOM

Dan Gray

Becoming GP Ministry Leader
Dan Gray has a passion for helping believers build a strong and lasting walk with Christ. As the leader of the Foundations Class, he creates a welcoming space for new and seasoned believers alike to deepen their understanding of the Bible, grow in spiritual maturity, and confidently live out their faith.