Our Team

Our Pastors

Kris Perkins

Senior Pastor

Kris Perkins served as Co-Pastor of Triangle Grace since September 2021. In March 2022, Kris transitioned into senior pastor as Pastor Ray Cobb retired after 34 years at TGC. He attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Hamilton, MA. Kris was later hired to serve as the first Family Minister at Park Street Church in Boston, MA. There, he provided oversight for family ministries and a leadership role, providing pastoral care for the ministers, implementing directional decisions for the life of the church, crafting Sunday worship services, hiring and reviewing staff, developing leadership retreats, and addressing other growth points within the church. Kris is excited to be leading Triangle Grace whose members have a heart to grow in their love for God, local outreach, student involvement, community life, and numerical size.

Jeff Spainhour

Associate Pastor for Youth and their Families

Jeff Spainhour joined the Triangle Grace staff in June 2003. Jeff is a native of Raleigh, NC and attended East Carolina University. Jeff did his seminary training at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and graduated with the M.Div. degree. The focus of his ministry is with middle and senior high youth and their families and college-aged young people.

Molly Williamson

Associate Pastor for Spiritual Growth and Discipleship

Molly Williamson joined Triangle Grace as Associate Pastor in June 2021. She grew up in New Jersey and got her undergraduate degree in English and Spanish with a minor in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. She earned her M.Div. and a M.A. in Religious Studies from Duke University. Molly is excited about helping disciples grow spiritually through small group ministries that build community and accountability, studies that promote reading scripture with care and expectation, and programs that encourage the faithful to engage with our communities and our world in Christ-like ways.

Our Staff

Nancy Holton

Director of Children's Ministries

Nancy Holton serves as Director of Children's Ministries at Triangle. She oversees planning and staffing for our Sunday morning nurseries and clubs. She also oversees a host of volunteers for our weekday and seasonal programs such as Wednesday Clubs, VBS, and many others. She coordinates a large number of dedicated volunteers that disciple and encourage our children and families in their walk with Christ. Nancy holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and regularly participates in International Network of Children’s Ministries conferences and workshops on spiritual formation. Nancy has been involved in the teaching ministry of TGC for thirty years as preschool teacher, elder and Children’s Director. She and her husband, Jesse, have two children.

Karis Jackson

Director of Communications

Karis grew up a Presyterian minister's daughter in North and South Carolina. Graduating from East Carolina with a degree in nutrition & dietetics, Karis loves to prepare nutritious meals for her friends and family. Karis and husband, Michael, and their three children have been members since 2012. She designed and oversees our website, designs print materials, organizes and disseminates updates on the life of the church via social media and publishes the weekly E-News.

Lori Hicks

Director of Music Ministries

Lori joined our staff in August of 2023. She holds a Bachelors from Kentucky State University, a Masters from Bowling Green State University, and a Doctorate from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Dr. Hicks brings to Triangle Grace years of musical training and a wealth of leadership experience. She was formerly the Director of Opera at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Lori is native of Detroit, Michigan and loves spending time with her son Daniel. 

Nikki Goss

Director of Administration and Operations

Nikki is the Director of Operations and Administration. She is a graduate of Chowan University and grew up in Durham and at Triangle Grace Church. She has served on both the Diaconate and Session and has been involved with our children and youth as well as our outreach teams throughout her years here.

Jessica Strowd

Middle School Youth Director

Jessica Strowd grew up in Pittsboro, North Carolina, and at Triangle Grace Church. She is a graduate of North Carolina State University in Agricultural Science. Along with being in youth ministry she enjoys working as a kindergarten teacher's assistant as well as coaching competitive cheerleading. Jessica's and her husband, Kennedy love spending time with their two children.

Matt McLaughlin

Assitant Music Director

Matt joined TGC in the fall of 2006 and has been an active member in the music ministry since.  He and his wife, Heather, were married at TGC in 2010. Matt and Heather live in Hillsborough with their daughters Nora, Ellie and their two german shepherds.

Rich & Lisa Lamb

YOUNG ADULT LEADERSHIP

Rich and Lisa Lamb serve as a transitional ministry team overseeing our ministries to young adults. Rich and Lisa have served with InterVarsity for over 20 years in New England and California. Rich has written an IVP book on the importance of community life and continues to invest himself in the lives of young adults as a mentor and Bible teacher. Lisa has worked with Rich in InterVarsity. She has served as a Professor of Homiletics at Fuller Seminary and interim pastor. Most recently Rich and Lisa have been living in Malaysia as missionaries teaching at St Paul’s Theological College, the Bible College of Malaysia, and Alpha and Omega International College of Malaysia.

Alana Scott

Director Triangle Grace Preschool

Alana graduated from Bridgewater College with a BS degree in Middle School Education. She taught seventh-grade language Arts for nine years in Stafford County, VA, and also coached girls' field hockey and track.  Alana and her husband, Bill, have two children, Colleen and David.  After the birth of her daughter, Alana retired from teaching to be a stay-at-home mom.  In 1999,  Alana and her family moved to Durham.  Both of Alana's children attended TGP and their positive experiences at the preschool helped Alana decide to join the TGP staff in 2003 as the Kindergarten teacher.  Beginning in June 2015, Alana became the Director of TGP.  Alana loves to read, bake, garden, and spend time with her family. Click here to access our preschool website. 

OUR SESSION

The Session is the governing body of the local congregation in the Presbyterian Church. The Session is made up of the pastors and elders who have been elected by the congregation from the congregation. Each elder serves a three-year term. The Session is responsible for providing spiritual leadership for the congregation. Current elders are:

CLASS OF 2024

Aaron Messer - Small Groups

Randy Hartwell - Welcome

Eric Rodgman - Children's

Ashley Marx - Personnel

CLASS OF 2025

Bob Bradley - Global Missions

Beth Murphy - Cong. Care

Noah White - Youth

Nancy-Anne Potts - Fellowship

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Richard Draffin - Adult Education

Todd Palmer - Finance

Bruce Dykstra - Facilities

Tyler Dice - Children's

OUR DEACONS

The Board of Deacons is an elected body that serves in conjunction with the Session to carry out the mission and ministry of the church. The deacons have primary responsibility in the areas of local service, facilities and finance. Current deacons are:

CLASS OF 2024

Taylor Thurman - Finance

Anna Grieco - Cong. Care

Julie Hotchkiss  - Newcomers 

CLASS OF 2025

Dan Fuchs - Facilities

Penny Bitsas - Senior Adults

Martina Gargard - Young Adults

CLASS  OF 2026

Jodie Lee - Special Events

Jodie Mayton - Visitation

Jenny Shafer - Local Outreach

Steve Tapp - Sanctuary Support