GraceLife Leadership

Jimmy and Ramona Currence

Jimmy is the Lead Pastor of GraceLife, overseeing the administrative and day-to-day operations of the church, coordinating the various ministries for GraceLife, and preaching. He has a passion for helping people find their place and calling in the kingdom of God. Prior to coming to Columbia to help start GraceLife, Jimmy was a Youth Pastor and Worship Pastor in North Carolina. After graduating college, he served on a church planting team in Romania where he met and married Ramona.

Before entering vocational ministry, Jimmy was a middle and high school band director. He is a graduate of both Appalachian State University and Shenandoah Conservatory. Jimmy is a pianist, loves music and outdoor sports like hiking, backpacking and white water rafting. He and Ramona have been married since 1996 and have a passion to travel. They have three sons and a daughter: Christian, Nathanael, Caden, and Sophie.

Kent and Laine Fancher

Kent is the worship pastor for GraceLife, where he oversees the worship team and serves as the primary worship leader. He began playing guitar and singing in high school where his focus turned to worshipping God soon after becoming a Christian. Kent has a desire to lead others to worship and connect with God. As huge believers that worship isn’t just a Sunday morning activity, He and Laine share a passion to worship God in and through every day life and to pass that on to others.

Before moving to Columbia, Kent served as a worship pastor in Ohio and Arkansas. They have been married 29 years and have three grown children: Nathan, Allie and Anna Carol. Together, they enjoy jogging, gardening, and traveling. They also love spending time with family and friends and making new friends.

Ryan & Melisha Meredith

Ryan and Melisha are the leaders of GraceLife’s student ministries, GenIgnite and RUSH Campus Ministries. Their desire is to inspire a passion and love for God in middle and high school students and to help them see their place in God’s kingdom.

Prior to coming to South Carolina to be students at Columbia International University, Ryan and Melisha were both originally from the Midwest and graduates of Pittsburg State University (Kansas). While at PSU, Ryan was a 3-year starter and 2-year team captain as a defensive end for Pittsburg State Gorillas. He earned a multitude of athletic and academic awards while completing his degree in Business Management. Melisha and Ryan served as the student leaders for multiple campus ministries while at PSU, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Ryan and Melisha have been married since May 2005 and have two children, Lydia and Judah. They are avid outdoor sports enthusiasts and love to go camping, hiking and hunting, and are always up for throwing a good party.

Elise, Joanna and Amber

Elise, Joanna and Amber share in the leadersip of Worldchangers, the children’s ministry of GraceLife. This team coordinates everything from the teaching in children's church to the fine details of running the nursery. They do it all with a vision to see children established in their faith in Jesus Christ. Their desire is to provide children with a safe and loving environment during services and to use age appropriate activities to help them discover their role as Worldchangers!