Our Team

David and Kathleen Whitehead

David Whitehead is the lead pastor of GRACE. He and his wife Kathleen have been in ministry for over 27 years and bring a diversity of experience to Grace. As a former atheist, he has helped many Christians understand mainstream culture. As a former business owner and corporate employee, David understands the pressures and demands of the work world. As a former professional musician, David has toured internationally doing concerts in churches and university campuses. As the national director of Campus Harvest, he has helped local churches across the East Coast establish college ministries. As a short-term missionary leader, David has led teams of people to Africa, Europe and Asia. As an associate pastor on staff with local churches, he understands the challenges that church leaders face. David also serves as a coach for the Redeemer Church Planting Center in Manhattan. Kathleen has effectively ministered to women from all walks of life. She has been a partner with David as a musician, on the mission field and in serving people with the gospel. David and Kathleen have two daughters and live on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

You can contact David at [ dave@gracenyc.org ] and Kathleen at [ kathleen@gracenyc.org ].

Visit David's Weblog

Charlie Albertell

Charlie Albertell is the Associate Pastor of GRACE. Pastor Charlie was a youth minister for nearly 20 years. His experiences aided in keeping him culturally relevant while keeping him young at heart. As a teenager growing up in a NYC suburb, Charlie didn't know that he could have a personal relationship with God through Jesus. So when he did become a follower of Jesus, God made him passionate about sharing God’s love with teenagers.

Pastor Charlie has been out of youth ministry since 2003 and has been involved in church planting in lower Manhattan since that time. As a missionary to NYC, he longs to see Manhattanites connect with God; and others who have been disillusioned with religion, re-connect with God. He also longs for people to be a part of a caring and nurturing community. God called him to partner with GRACE as associate pastor on the Upper West Side in the summer of 2007.

He has 3 children and two grandchildren.

You can contact Charlie at [ pastorcharlie@gracenyc.org. ]

Paul Stivitts

Paul Stivitts is the Music and Arts Director for Grace. Paul has been a drummer since the

day he saw the Muppet Show! A consummate professional, he's been performing, recording, teaching, and composing music for almost 20 years. He was a member of the World Champion Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps, then graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in Jazz Studies. Paul's exciting musical career has taken him to around the world recording and sharing the stage with Jazz legend Maynard Ferguson, Lauryn Hill, Grammy Award winning Brave Combo, Burlap to Cashmere, Dispatch, Stan Getz, Dave Grusin, Diana Krall, the Henri Mancini Orchestra, Toby Lightman, Arturo Sandoval and many, many others. This has also produced Atlantic, Sony, Capitol, Interscope, and many indie label recording credits along the way.

You can contact Paul at [ paul@gracenyc.org ]