Sean and his wife, Billie, started Grace Church in 2005 with a couple of their spiritually disconnected neighbors and 3 college students. It took four years to reach 100 people, but then they began to grow rapidly. Grace is now in four locations, has sent out 9 church plants since 2009, and baptized more than 1,200 people in the Boston metro area. They just sent out their latest planting resident and are now interviewing for their next one.

Heidy Tandy serves as the Senior Director of Discovery for Stadia. Through her experiences in 18 years in higher education and church leadership, Heidy helps guide leaders to discern, in the context of community, their calling, competencies, readiness and role in starting a new church. She also is passionate about empowering women to thrive on the journey of starting a new church. Heidy has been married to her husband Josh for 17 years and they have 2 rambunctious and awesome children.

Beatriz Torres, together with her husband Sergio, planted SOMOS Church in El Paso, Texas. (www.somoschurch.cc). In addition to pastoring, Beatriz is the founder of “SOMOS Girl,” a women’s organization committed to empowering women of all ages and backgrounds. Beyond her impactful work, she cherishes her role as a loving mother to three children and as a devoted wife to Sergio. 

Sergio Torres is the lead pastor at Somos Church (www.somoschurch.cc) Born in El Paso, Texas, and raised in Juárez, Mexico, Sergio brings a unique perspective to his role. Beyond his dedication to the church, he is a loving husband to Beatriz and a proud father of three wonderful children. Sergio is passionate about building a multicultural and multigenerational church that reaches those who are far from God.

Tim Celek lives in Costa Mesa, CA with his wife of 40+ years, Sue. In 1988, Tim planted The Crossing Church, and over 30 years had the opportunity to see the Crossing grow, reflect, and impact the coastal community of Orange County. On the church’s 30th birthday, Tim intentionally handed off leadership of The Crossing Church. During Tim’s tenure, The Crossing Church resourced 5 new churches, which makes Tim’s role of Senior Director of New Church Growth with Stadia (www.stadia.org) the perfect fit for this Harley-loving church planter. Tim enjoys sailboat racing, and when he isn’t on boats or motorcycles, he loves to spend time biking and building Legos with his grandsons (and their moms, who happen to be Tim’s daughters.)

Matt serves as Stadia’s Chief Operating Officer. He lives in North Beach, MD and is married to Becky Murphy with two kids, Ariella & Rex, and one dog: Ravenclaw. Matt has been a part of four church plants in the DC/Baltimore metro area. Matt was previously the Executive Pastor for Revolution Church in Annapolis, MD, and before that, was the Project Manager for the Siemens Center for Applied Medical Imaging MRI R&D group at Johns Hopkins University.

Betsy Spring is a teacher, speaker, singer, songwriter, musician, consultant, advocate, and carrier of Good News! She believes that every person has a unique community where their gifts and talents are discovered, cultivated, and then implemented to create space for others.

She loves to encourage and work with youth and young adults who have a passion or desire to create through the arts, where they learn discipline, practice, creativity, and develop community.

Betsy also thrives in creating community with women at various stages of life, professionally, academically, financially, and spiritually.