My path to church work wasn't traditional. I studied finance at Temple University in Philadelphia. Landed at JP Morgan on Wall Street. In 2008, I moved to Hoboken, NJ. I came for the walkable streets and proximity to friends. I stayed for something I didn't expect.
I stumbled upon a new church plant called Hoboken Grace (then known as Church at Hoboken). It took me some time to get involved, but everything changed when I joined my first small group. That's where my faith and walk with God deepened. I was surrounded by men who loved God and loved others well. I knew I wanted that kind of community in my own life.
A year later, I started volunteering with Chris High, the lead pastor and founder of Hoboken Grace. I began working on the Dinner Groups, starting with just 5 groups in 2009. What started small has grown into something I never could have planned.
In December 2012, I left my investment banking job on Wall Street to build community full time.
I've always wanted to create community, not just participate in it. Over the years, it's become clear that my purpose is to help people belong.
Building a thriving small group system isn't about having a huge budget. It's about creating something scalable and sustainable that helps people grow and connect. At Hoboken Grace we've done just that. Even as a cash-strapped church plant, we built a system that continues to thrive today, with over 70 groups in a congregation of 1,400. Our people move a lot. It's a transient city. And still, over 70% of our Sunday attendance is actively enrolled in a long-term small group.
I want to help people put their faith into action. I believe we're designed for more than showing up on Sundays. Real growth happens in community.
I work with church leaders, small group pastors, and lead pastors who want to build a real small group culture. If you're new to groups, or if you're a lead pastor who wants your congregation to actually apply what they hear on Sundays, I can help.
The churches that benefit most are church plants, small, and medium-sized churches. Churches that are ready to move past a come-and-go culture and into something that sticks. I help churches build group systems that grow with them without breaking the bank.
The first step is an honest look at where your groups are today. Together, we figure out where you want to go and build a clear roadmap to get there.
I've been where you are. I didn't just build a group system from the ground up. I grew with it. I've been through every season of a church, from scrappy plant to rapid growth. I don't have a mega-church budget behind me. I know how to build systems that work for small and medium churches. My goal is to coach you in creating something that scales as your church grows.
In 2013, I connected with a man named Mike Mack. Mike ran Small Group Leadership for over 20 years. He wrote 8 books. He co-founded smallgroups.com, which became a Christianity Today property. He was the person writing for individual group leaders when few were.
Mike saw something in me. He told me I had a voice worth sharing. He encouraged me to write, to teach, to get my ideas out of my local church and into the broader conversation.
Mike passed away in August 2023. And there has been a void ever since. Most likely always will be.
I'm not trying to replace Mike. Nobody can. But I'm stepping into the work he championed: helping everyday leaders build groups that create real community.
A church where people actually know each other. Where your congregation doesn't just attend, they belong. A system that grows with you, run by everyday people who care about each other and care about the church.