Staff - Meet Our Team

Deb Groff is a Board Certified Biblical Counselor (BCBC) through the American Association of Christian Counselors and is a graduate of Shippensburg University. Deb primarily focuses her counseling to women and also coordinates the scheduling and intakes for all the counselors at GCC. She has attended GCC since 2001 and has enjoyed being involved with many ministries and has been on staff since 2012. Deb is married to Jeff, and they enjoy spending time with 4 daughters and their families, which include 16 grandchildren.

Natalie Grager was hired on staff in March 2021 as the Administrative Assistant to the Lead Pastor and Church Administrator. Natalie and her family started attending in 2013 after being invited by her parents, Doug and Deb Miller. Natalie is married to Todd. They have two children, Avery and Coen, that attend school in the Penn Manor School District. After being a homemaker for years, Natalie was excited to become part of the GCC team because of the love they each have for the church family and the passion to help introduce people to Jesus and walk with them as they grow deeper in their faith. Natalie enjoys cooking, reading, working out, campfires, going to the cabin, watching her kids sporting events and being with friends and family. Her favorite scripture is Lamentations 3:21-23 because of the reminder that even though we are still sinners He continues to be merciful.

Cristina Winchell serves as Assistant Director of Youth and Communications and is a Lancaster Bible College Graduate with a BA in Youth & Young Adult Ministry and Biblical Studies. She enjoys meeting new people and empowering students to walk confidently in the footsteps of Jesus.

Cristina is proud of her New Jersey upbringing and is still hunting to find a good bagel in Lancaster County. She takes any and all recommendations. In her free time, she enjoys hammocking, hammocking, and finding new places to hammock. Make sure to find her on a Sunday and say hi!

Alyssa Mayersky has been a part of the Worship Ministry at GCC for over 20 years, and joined the staff as Worship Director in 2016. Gifted with creativity and a pastoral heart, Alyssa loves to not only create beautiful experiences for people to meet face to face with God, but encourage young adult women to embrace their divine calling, follow God’s commands, and become mature in their faith.

Alyssa married Ryan Mayersky June 30, 2017 after having met Ryan at GCC. She graduated from West Chester University with a Vocal Performance degree and piano minor in 2013. Alyssa spends most of her free time with family and friends, writing music, reading, recording, filming videos, and hiking.

Carl Butler serves as Financial Coordinator. Carl retired after 43 years of working with the IRS. Carl loves being part of a Spirit led staff who work as a team serving the Lord. In his free time, you can find him watching philly sports and playing mini golf.

Darin Esterly serves as the Music Department Coordinator at Grace Community Church. Darin always considered a life in music, but instead chose a career in air traffic control with the US Air Force and Federal Aviation Administration. He came to know the Lord while serving in the USAF, and since then, often felt a pull to ministry. Upon leaving the FAA, relocating to Lancaster, and finding GCC, he joined the worship team. Serving let to volunteering time which helped create the M&A Department Coordinator position. He found the perfect calling to serve the Lord by serving people through music. Darin hold an Associates in Air Traffic Control from Community College of the USAF, a diploma in Castilian Spanish from Defense Language Institute, and is a graduate of the FAA Academy, Oklahoma City, OK. He’s married to Sally and has one son Ethan. He enjoys driving steam locomotives at the Strasburg Railroad.

Anita High was hired on staff in May 2022 as the receptionist here at GCC. Anita and her husband Tim started attending Grace about 3 years ago after attending special events with their son and daughter-in-law, Justin and Shayla High. They also have a daughter, Rebecca High.

Anita enjoys reading, gardening, and all things art (music, films, and dance to name a few). She has an associate degree in Biblical studies from Lancaster Bible College. She is currently enrolled in the Colson Fellows Program at GCC where she is being challenged by the “renewing of her mind” to engage in cultural issues. Colson Fellows represent Christians from every walk of life who desire to understand the culture and know how to live and act faithfully within their respective spheres of influence.

A slightly unusual life verse was chosen at age 16 while at “training camp” with Teen Missions in the “jungles” of Florida where she faced a literal 12 foot wall. Psalms 18:29 says- “with your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.” While not involved in sports in her teens, Anita found running in her late 30’s to be of great help in mental health as well as physical health. Although not currently running, she took the challenge of a marathon in 2013 and counts that finishing medal to be proof that we are often capable of more than we think. Acts 20:24 finishes with- “my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

Bill Hershey, a US Marine veteran and retired Director of Lithography, joined the staff in 2017 after serving a few months as a volunteer on the Facilities Team. He was saved at the young age of 13 and rededicated his life to serve in 1968. He loves that God led him to a behind the scenes position to watch how God is blessing GCC.

Sharleen Dunn retired from RR Donnelley and joined the staff in 2020 after serving for a few years as a volunteer. Sharleen feels blessed to be a part of the GCC family and is dedicated to serving the Lord with her life. Sharleen has one son, grandson, and great-grandson.

Joyce Horning serves as our Virtual Assistant – Database Management. Her goal is to have accurate information for every congregant’s profile as well as tracking attendance to allow for excellent Pastoral care. She works with our various ministries to research and implement new processes for a better experience for all.

Joyce and her husband Randy met when they both worked at First National Bank of Strasburg and were married in March 1981. They have been attending GCC since June 2012, becoming members in October of that year. They have 2 children, Jessica who is married to Pastor David Julian, and Jason married to Angela, and have been blessed with 4 grandchildren. They love spending time with family. She and Randy enjoy taking vacations on their motorcycle, and so far, have ridden through 41 states and Nova Scotia. She also works part-time for Sunny Slope Tree Service and in addition to that, as an Historical Studies Tour planner for her children’s high school alma mater in California. In her free time she likes to, who is she kidding, she has no free time!

Joe serves as a custodian at GCC. Joe loves being able to keep the church clean for those coming to use the space and loves being a part of the vision of helping people know and follow Jesus. In his free time, Joe loves gardening, cooking, and playing with his grandkids. 

Melanie serves part-time in the counseling department.  She grew up in Lancaster County as a pastor’s kid, receiving solid Christian parenting and teaching in the home and church.  During undergraduate studies abroad in Kenya and Europe, she felt and grew in God’s compassion for the poor.   Since graduation from Messiah University, she has served cross-culturally among African orphans and vulnerable children and their families in Latin America.  In between missionary service in Colombia and Los Angeles, she attended Fuller Seminary and received a Master’s degree in Intercultural Studies.  Upon her return to Lancaster County in 2017, Melanie served as a bilingual (Spanish) school-based therapist in York City.  She currently works in the Community Health Department at LGH, supporting children, and other family members, impacted by a loved one’s substance use.  Her experience and witness of God meeting people, and herself, in the midst of unforeseen circumstances and hard realities enables her to be a steady, loving presence alongside others. Melanie has three daughters, Samaya (16), Genesis (14), and Kayla (9) and resides in Millersville.  Melanie longs to help others discover they are beloved children of God, deepen their knowledge and understanding of God’s truth, and experience healing and wholeness in Jesus Christ in the ups and downs of life.

Josh Marcroft serves as the Pastoral Assistant of Discipleship and Assimilation at GCC. He has a passion to get people connected to the local church as well as teaching the Word of God. He completed his undergraduate degrees in Pastoral Ministry and Biblical Studies and earned his MDiv through Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In his free time he enjoys reading, running, and playing games with friends.

Tommy is a senior at Lancaster Bible College where he is majoring in Pastoral Ministry and minoring in business.  He is a Captain of the Men’s Soccer Team and is the President of their Fellowship of Christian Athletes on campus.  Tommy grew up on the wrong side of the river in York, but has now left the dark side.  He enjoys watching Pittsburgh Sports, playing guitar, and staying out of trouble with his friends.  He helps out with the Youth Group at GCC focusing on the Junior High students, and you will see him and his friends here worshipping on Sundays!