Our Ministry Team

At Grace Lutheran, ministry is a shared calling among our staff, leaders, and the congregation.

Meet the Staff

A man wearing glasses, a black suit, a white clerical collar, and a watch, seated with hands folded on a table, smiling at the camera.

Pastor Ben Kifer

Greetings in Christ! I am Pastor Ben, and I’m thrilled to serve God in this community! My family and I moved to Raleigh in June of 2021, and my first Sunday with Grace was July 4th. I was Baptized February 8th, 1983 and Ordained into the ministry of Word and Sacrament in February of 2013. I have spent my whole eight plus year career in North Carolina and am glad to call Raleigh home. I grew up in the Midwest, in Chicago and Iowa. I moved back to Chicago as an adult before attending seminary. I received Bachelor of Arts Degrees from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL, in 2005 in History and English. I lived briefly in the Phoenix, AZ area before moving on to attending Seminary at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, CA. I graduated in 2012 with a Masters of Divinity degree, and was approved for Candidacy. I see God’s hands at work throughout this journey, leading me here step by step. I am so grateful to be husband to Stacey and father of two amazing little girls.

Contact Pastor Ben

  • Ann Goldfinch

    Director of Music

    Ann is our Music Director. She directs the children, youth and adult choirs, plans weekly worship services, and works with congregation musicians of all ages to prepare special musical offerings for worship.

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    SK Chipley

    Worship Organist & Pianist

    SK serves as our Organist and Pianist. She accompanies our choirs and participates in worship planning with our Director of Music and Celebrate Mission Team.

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    Lynn Hess

    Director, The School of Grace

    Lynn is the Director of The School of Grace, a non-profit ministry of Grace Lutheran Church. Lynn was one of the founders of The School of Grace Preschool which has been educating children since 1995.

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    Whitewater Grigsby

    Office Manager & Live Stream Technician

    Whitewater is responsible for our church operations, facility management and church communications. He also produces our Sunday morning live streams, manages our YouTube channel, and assists the church with other A/V needs.

Ministry Teams

  • Celebrate Team

    To celebrate God’s presence among us.

    This team oversees: worship services, adult and youth choirs, organist, accompanists, altar guild, instrumental groups, and home devotions.

  • Connect Team

    To connect God’s family with one another by providing meaningful opportunities for members of the congregation to meet together.

    This team oversees: Communal meals of all kinds, small group gatherings and celebratory receptions.

  • Equip Team

    To equip and educate God’s people to be lifelong faithful disciples.

    This team oversees: Stewardship program, Sunday School for Adults and Children, Vacation Bible School, First Communion, Faith+Life Confirmation, Confirmation camps and retreats, Agape Day Camp, youth groups, book club and college student care packages.

  • Invite Team

    To invite and welcome all people into a relationship with God and with the congregation of Grace Lutheran Church.

    This team oversees: Communicating to the community through multi-media, congregational pictorial directory, website and social media, visitor care, Women of the ELCA and The School of Grace.

  • Share Team

    To share God’s love within the congregation, the community and the world.

    This team oversees: service for and the financial support of North Raleigh Ministries, PLM Families Together, Habitat for Humanity, Helen Wright Center, Caring for Creation, CROP Walk, Amazing Graces, Card Ministry, Grace Endowment, and the Grace Memorial Garden.

  • Stewardship Team

    We believe that we are an important part of something bigger than ourselves alone, and that we can do more together than we ever could alone.

Ready to get involved?