The Rev. Dr. Jon Shuler, Ph.D. Senior Pastor

Dr. Jon Shuler has served churches in England and the United States for more than 35 years, and in 1994 founded the North American Missionary Society (NAMS). With the birth of the Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA) in 2000, Jon planted King of Kings Church in Charlotte, NC, and began the King of Kings Missionary Network the following year. He served as Rector at Church of the Ascension, Knoxville from 1984-1993.

After graduating from the United States Military Academy (West Point, NY), he earned a Post Graduate Diploma in Theology and a Doctor of Philosophy in Church History at the University of Durham (Durham, England). He was ordained as a priest in 1974.

Jon’s heart for evangelistic outreach and developing congregations of missionary followers of Jesus Christ is well known throughout the worldwide Anglican Communion. He has assisted in planting more than 100 new Anglican churches, and is often asked to teach at seminaries and conferences on church planting, parish growth and leadership development.

He has also given leadership to evangelistic missions around the world. “Thank-you, Canterbury” in ’97, the “Archbishop’s Mission to Kampala, “ Uganda in ’04, “Camino de Santiago Mission,” Spain in ’06, are some of the missions he has led. Most recently he participated in “On the Move,” Beijing, China in ’08.

Jon and his wife Cynthia have been married for more than 40 years, and have three grown children—Chris, Joel, and Jessica—and two grandchildren—Christopher and Blakely Elizabeth.

The Rev. Michael McDonald Assistant Pastor

Mike joined the New Grace staff as Assistant Pastor in January 2008 as a recent graduate of Trinity Seminary in Pittsburgh. After earning a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1997, Mike worked as an engineer for the Turner Construction Company in Chicago.

In 1999-2005 he held youth staff ministry positions at several churches. His most recent staff position was as Youth Pastor at Church of the Holy Spirit/renamed HopePointe (an AMiA affiliated congregation) in Houston from ’02-’05. He was ordained into the priesthood in June of 2008. Mike and his wife Heather have two daughters.

Jay Wright Pastoral Musician

In his role of Pastoral Musician at New Grace, Jay leads all of the music programs which serve to support the congregation’s worship. He has a passionate interest in liturgical theology, and is eager to see a renewal of the arts, especially music, in Sunday worship.

Jay is working on a Doctor of Worship Studies degree at The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies (IWS), and already earned a Master of Worship Studies from IWS. His undergraduate work was at West Texas A & M University, where he earned a Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition. Jay and his wife Amy have three children: Isaac, Josiah, and Olivia.

Paul Morales Pastor of Youth & Families

In November of 2008 Paul joined our staff as Youth Pastor bringing a wealth of experience, gifting and wisdom. Paul grew up in Chicago and Pittsburg, then spent over two years in the Air Force. He studied marketing and management at Robert Morris University, then attended culinary school and worked as a chef in Pittsburg.

In 2001 Paul began volunteering in youth ministry at Prince of Peace Episcopal Church, and recognized his life’s passion. He attended Trinity School for Ministry, and in 2006 earned a Master’s degree in Mission and Evangelism with a focus on youth ministry through Rock the World. As a full time staff member at Prince of Peace, Paul wore many hats, something he was gifted to do, but his passion is ministry to teens.

Paul and his wife Kristti have five children: Chase, Noah, Ethan, Jaydn, and Chandler.

Shelley Tebo Assistant Pastor of Children and Youth

Shelley, or "Miz Tebo" as the children of New Grace call her, has been part of this church family for more than 30 years, coming for the first time as a child when her family moved to Orange Park in 1972. She is a graduate of Western Carolina University, and taught pre-school in Orange Park for a number of years. Shelley was part time staff at New Grace for several years, helping to lead the pre-school/nursery program. Now she not only works with our younger children, but she assists Pastor Paul Morales in discipling teen girls in gender-specific ways a male leader can't.

"New Grace Church is a very special place for me and my family," says Shelley. "Not only was I raised in this church, but my children were born and raised here as well. This is our home!" Shelley's family includes Megan, 19, a sophomore at FSU, Paige, 17, a senior at Fleming Island HS, and Brandon, 14, an 8th grader at Pinewood Christian Academy.

Clay Hamrick Pastoral Assistant

Clay Hamrick helps to oversee New Grace Pastoral Ministries and Mercy Ministries. To quote Clay, “God has put on my heart to connect with New Grace, to train, equip and send missionary followers of Jesus Christ into their ‘mission fields,’ wherever that may be.” Most recently Clay’s personal ‘mission field’ was serving as the Director/Missionary at Hope Outreach Ministry for Every-1, Inc. (HOME, Inc.) HOME is a Jacksonville inner city Gospel ministry whose goals are to seek and save the lost and help those in extreme need.

In addition to his part time position with New Grace Clay is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Gordon Conwell—Jacksonville to “be as prepared as possible for future ministry” and “to shape and refine gifts in personal evangelism, discipleship, and preaching.” He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Jacksonville University and until 2003 was in management with Gulf Atlantic Equipment Company.

Clay and his wife Rosanna have been married almost 16 years and have seven children—Russell, James, Sydney, Anna, Sarah, Caleb, and Joshua.

Frances Nichols Parish Manager

Frances is our Parish Manager. She joined our staff in 1981, and so brings years of experience to our team. Frances is married to Larry Nichols, and has one grown married son and two grandchildren.

Susan Glade Membership Secretary

Susan is our Membership Secretary. She earned a degree in English and history from the University of Texas. Susan and her husband “Buzz” have been members of New Grace since 1981. They have three grown married children.

Jan Rowell Parish Secretary

Jan is our Parish Secretary. Her husband Jerry has been on staff in Baptist churches for over 30 years. They came here from Palm Coast where she was the Administrative Assistant at First Baptist Church. She and Jerry have four grown children and three grandchildren.

Barbara Mercer Co-Director of Nursery/Pre-K Programs

Barbara is a Co-Director of our Nursery/Pre-K programs with Shelley Tebo. She also directs a Mothers’ Morning Out program for toddlers called “Busy Bees.” Barbara and her husband Ray have three grown children.

Michelle brings excellent attention to detail to the many special projects on the New Grace calendar. She and her husband David moved to Florida from Denver, CO, in 1996.

Michelle is a graduate of Jacksonville University with a major in music and a minor in communications. She has been teaching voice for more than 10 years, and has experience directing youth choirs, children’s choruses and leading worship. Michelle and her husband Joe live on Fleming Island, and have one daughter.