On June 18, we will join together with members of our extended church family from Grace Mosaic and Grace Meridian Hill for our annual Network-Wide Members’ Meeting. As part of this special meeting and worship service, we will vote on welcoming new members into leadership positions at Grace Downtown.
Ahead of this meeting, please take some time to get to know the candidates. On this page, you’ll find introductions to each of the candidates who Grace Downtown members have nominated for leadership.
Leslie Brettschneider [-]
Candidate for Deaconess
Leslie has been at Grace Downtown for a total of 5.5 years, over two separate occasions. She has twice served as a Community Group leader and also on the Set-up Team. Leslie works for N Street Village, one of our church’s partner ministries.
After being raised Catholic, Leslie came to faith in high school but truly began pursuing the Lord while at a Christian college. Leslie is constantly challenged to not assess her own worth as something determined by accomplishment, status, or reputation. She is growing in her understanding that the cross proves both her absolute worth and her utter unworthiness.
Joe Iwaskiw [-]
Candidate for Deacon
Joe has been a part of Grace Downtown for 3 years and has lived in the DC area his entire life. He has served as a Community Group leader, and on the Mercy, Set-up, and Affordable Housing Teams. Joe is an architect by trade and enjoys playing basketball.
Joe grew up in a Christian home but lived a double life for a time, justifying his immoral life decisions by using God’s grace cheaply. Through a health crisis, Joe experienced fresh grace and recommitted himself to God. In the last few years, he has grown in unexpected joy.
Meg Montee [-]
Candidate for Deaconess
Meg first joined the Grace Downtown community when she moved to DC in 2004 and then again after she returned from graduate school in 2012. She has served as a Children’s teacher, a Community Group leader, and a leader of the Affordable Housing Team. Meg works as a linguist and loves talking to people about their regional accents.
Meg’s faith became her own when she lost her father to cancer. Even as an adolescent, she recognized God’s grace in the midst of loss and pain. She came to know God as her loving and faithful Father, and is thankful for His kindness in both the joys and sorrows of life.
Ben Mosteller [-]
Candidate for Deacon
Ben and his wife Leslie have attended Grace Downtown since August of 2014. Ben has been part of a community group, the Missions Review Team, and the Mercy Team/Our Table ministry. Ben teaches high school social studies and enjoys any sport with a net.
Ben prayed to accept Christ at an early age. Trying in his own strength to be a “good person” to please God and his family led to a time of doubting his faith. Through God’s grace and talks with godly people in his life, Ben came to an assurance of salvation – trusting in the sufficient work of Christ. More recently, Ben is growing in being more mindful in his prayer times.
David Raimer [-]
Candidate for Elder
David has attended Grace DC since he moved to the District in 2009. He has served as a Community Group leader and as a member of the Missions Review Team. David is an attorney with a passion for U.S. history, Giants baseball, and Notre Dame football.
David grew up in a Christian home and came to faith at an early age. Over the years, his faith grew and deepened through various opportunities to live in Christian community and delve into the riches of church history. David has been increasingly reminded that God is able to use our brokenness and inadequacies for His purposes.
Anna Ready [-]
Candidate for Deaconess
Anna has been in DC for 9 years and joined Grace Downtown in 2013. She has served on the Set-up and Social Events Teams and has co-led the Women’s Sexual Wholeness Ministry. Anna also mentors a 12-year-old girl through Little Lights, a partner ministry of the church.
While Anna knew Jesus from a young age, she spent years relying on Jesus when seasons or circumstances were hard, but on herself when life was easy. Four years ago she experienced a trial that caused her to root her identity firmly in Christ and as a child of God who is worthy, wholly and dearly loved, and blameless in his sight.
Stephen Saunders [-]
Candidate for Deacon
Stephen Saunders has been attending Grace Downtown for the past eleven years. He has participated in various ministries, including Community Group leadership, Welcome Team, mission trips, and the Mission Review Team.
Stephen grew up in a family that was very active in their church. He felt a draw to faith, but held onto his own “abilities” to save himself before accepting Christ at the age of 19. Stephen is growing in his perspective of God through visits to Grace DC’s global mission partners as he experiences God in other languages and cultures.
Guy Vallhonrat [-]
Candidate for Deacon
Guy started attending Grace Downtown in 2007 and became a member of a community group shortly thereafter. In his time at Grace, he has led his Shaw neighborhood community group and the Set-up and Eat & Meet Teams. Guy’s favorite pastimes are snow skiing and bike riding
Guy experienced God working on his heart through a bible study he attended in Pensacola, Florida. He learned what it really meant to follow Jesus and make him the Lord of his life. As a Christian, Guy continues to grow in his knowledge of God’s word and in understanding of how he can participate in serving the DC community alongside the church.