Rev. Aurelia Dávila Pratt: Lead Pastor
Named by Sojourners as one of “Ten Christian Women Shaping the Church in 2022”, Rev. Aurelia Dávila Pratt is a pastor, writer, paradigm-shifter, and sacred spacemaker. She is an imago-dei enthusiast who finds real joy in helping people live into the fullness of their God-given divine image.
Aurelia is the Lead Pastor as well as a founder of Peace of Christ Church. She is co-host of the Nuance Tea Podcast and the author of A Brown Girl’s Epiphany: Reclaim Your Intuition and Step into Your Power (Broadleaf Books, 2022). Aurelia has also contributed articles for the Alliance of Baptists, Good Faith Media, Baptist Women in Ministry, Progressing Spirit, and the Austin American Statesman.
An alumni of George W. Truett Theological Seminary (MDiv, 2012), Aurelia was the recipient of the Robert Jackson Robinson Preaching Award for her graduating class. She is also a graduate of the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work (LMSW, 2011) and currently serves on their Board of Advocates.
She has also previously served as chair of the board for the Nevertheless She Preached conference as well as co-chair for the Religious Liberty Council of the Baptist Joint Committee.
Aurelia lives in Cedar Park, Texas with her husband of 16 years, Lyle, and their seven year old daughter, Cosette. Find her on Instagram @revaureliajoy where she is reimagining faith and theology via spoken and written word. Learn more about her or find her work on her website: www.revaureliajoy.com
Naomi Young: PeaceKids Pastor
Naomi is a Romanian immigrant raised in the South. She’s a soul connector, student of spirituality, nature lover, and art enthusiast. She has a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an emphasis in Play Therapy and School Counseling. Naomi has worked with children in various ways for more than 20 years. Combining her love for children with divine teachings has been so rewarding for her.
She currently enjoys expressing herself through digital art. You can follow her @EvolveLarisa and @mandalament for her latest creations, where she combines aspects of spirituality and writing into her pieces. Naomi, her husband Steve and kids, Eve and Eko live in Pflugerville.
Rev. Jared Montes Slack, Pastor of Sunday WorshipSomehow, for the last 20 years Jared has made a living off loving people. Whether as a pastor, a higher education professional, or a non-profit fund developer, his passion for helping others find themselves through service to others has remained constant.
After moving to Central Texas in 2012 to be an Associate Pastor with The First Baptist Church of Austin, Jared became a community leader amongst downtown nonprofits and faith communities organizing to better support Austin’s unhoused community. In 2020, Jared was asked to join The Other Ones Foundation, a local homeless services agency, as their Director of Relationships and Giving. Just recently he joined the team at I Live Here I Give Here as their Senior Director of Development.
As a music leader for Sunday gatherings at Peace, Jared hopes to make space for us (including himself) to connect with our soul and with one another.
Jared loves thrifting, baking whenever/whatever he wants, camping, fly-fishing, and obsessing over Austin FC, Liverpool FC and Formula 1. Jared has been married to his wife, Sarah Zeringue since 2017. She is a local theater actress and the greatest pet-parent you’ll ever meet.
Rev. Matthew Hanzelka: Pastor of Community Care
Rev. Brittany Graves, Creative Preaching Pastor:
Rev. Brittany Graves is a writer, reiki practitioner, dreamworker, and all-around advocate. She is passionate about empowering people to lean into unlearning, decolonizing, and dreaming as radical resistance. Brittany is co-host and co-creator of Nuance Tea, a podcast redefining what it means to be clergywomen of color and inviting listeners to steep into their power. She is an energy work enthusiast, plant lover, and a trauma-informed inspiration who enjoys leaning into the beauty of taboo conversations by making them normal. To keep up with Brittany follow her on Instagram @ambitiouslybrittany & join her Patreon community at www.patreon.com/revbrittanygraves
Rev. David Stippick, Creative Preaching Pastor:
Rev. David Stippick is a native of Georgetown, Texas and has worked in churches in Central Texas for 16 years. He holds a B.A. in Bible and an M.A. in Youth Ministry both from Howard Payne University, and has completed Level I and Level ll Clinical Pastoral Education Units. David believes that all people are created as whole and good in the image of the Divine, and one of the key functions of a faith community is to help people discover what this looks like in their own journey. David is thankful to be a Spiritual Friend to anyone, and is especially drawn to those who are processing grief. Once bothered by the rigidity of some “High Church" practices, such as preaching according to a Liturgical Calendar, he now finds comfort in practicing this sacred art. He has been enjoying reconnecting with God by participating in the life of the church, as well as individual Spiritual connection and growth within the Peace of Christ Community. He has been married to Hillary for ten years, and they have three children, a cat, and a dog. He asks that you pardon his occasional holy curse word.
Rev. Dr. Jonathan Davis, Preaching PastorJonathan is a pastor who loves to think, work, and dream creatively in his various roles in ministry. He has led worship in congregations and for conferences in Texas and Virginia for nearly two decades, and has authored over one hundred worship songs, some of which he’s still proud of after the journey of faith de/re-construction. He sees life as a journey full of possibilities and brings his passions to a variety of ministry contexts, including serving as the Director of Communications and Marketing for Fletcher Seminary in San Antonio and owning a web design and hosting company that serves progressive churches and nonprofits nationwide. Jonathan also serves as Director of Development for the Integer Network – an international non-profit coaching network helping individuals and organizations worldwide lead with greater authenticity, connection and wholeness. He is the author of Sea Change: Equipping Rural Churches for the Tides of Cultural Upheaval, and his articles and columns have appeared in outlets nationwide, including in Baptist News Global and Good Faith Media. Jonathan holds a B.S. in Communication Studies from Howard Payne University, a Master of Divinity Degree from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Logsdon Seminary where he received the Bratton Family Ministry Award. He is married to Audrey Davis and a proud father to Eli, Andrew, and Aaron. Read more about Jonathan and his work at www.drjonathandavis.com or connect with him on social media.