5979 YOUTH MINISTRY
NEXTGEN STAFF
PASTORS STEPHAN & MICHILIENE LORENZ
Lead NEXTGEN Pastors
Stephan and Michiliene Lorenz met while at Brownsville Revival School of Ministry and both graduated in 2001 with degrees in Practical Ministry.
Both Stephan & Michiliene’s passion is to see teenagers & young adults come to grow and mature in Christ and be the men and women of God that they are called to be. Through discipleship and mentoring, they want to raise up a generation who will be totally committed to God and who will live their lives worthy of the calling they’ve received. “As we pour out into young people, they will, in turn, pour out to those around them and be the igniting force to set this world ablaze for Jesus!”
PASTOR JEREMY SKEETE
NEXTGEN Pastor
Pastor Jeremy is a familiar face around here at 5979 and Liberty Church. Jeremy attended 5979 as a student and then served on staff for a number of years. Jeremy and Crystal met, were married and started their family here at Liberty Church. Jeremy strives to connect with young people on a real level. It is through that connection, that he hopes to help students realize their full potential as sons and daughters of God. Jeremy's life has been marked by the words: Connect, Grow and Reach; together with his wife, Crystal and daughters, Paislie and Addison and son TJ he hopes to help young people do just that.
PASTOR AARON LEONARDY
NEXTGEN Worship Pastor
Aaron Leonardy is the Worship Pastor here at 5979. He graduated from Kennesaw State University with a degree in Organizational Communication. He also serves in our College & Career Ministry, Underground. Aaron has a passionate heart for worship and relationship with Jesus. One of his greatest desires is seeing young adults fulfill their calling in Christ and doing everything in his power to help. He also loves cars & fortnite.
Oh and... we call him “Leo.”
DR. LORENA DASILVA
Ladies Minister
Lorena is a family chiropractor with a heart to serve her community. She has been a member of Liberty Church for twelve years with her husband, Marcelo, and their two children, Joshua and Kyle. She has been serving at 5979 ever since her two boys transitioned into youth three years ago.Her personal mission is to build relationships based on trust. She is passionate in mentoring others to become a better version of themselves through Christ. Her goal is to help our youth build lasting relationships with like-minded and God-fearing individuals.
LIBERTY KIDS STAFF
VANESSA SPALDING
Liberty KIDS Director
Originally from Brazil, Vanessa is married to her wonderful husband, Robert and they have 3 amazing children: Melody, Jonathan and Bella. She started teaching in her church’s children’s ministry when she was in Jr. high and has continued to serve in some form from that point forward. As she was greatly impacted by her children’s ministry teachers, Vanessa firmly believes that if Jesus takes root in the heart of a child, the fruit of that seed can and will continue to grow throughout their lives.
Vanessa enjoys serving children and their families, cultivating a safe, nurturing and uplifting environment where they can grow in a heart-transforming personal relationship with Jesus through biblically sound teaching and relational discipleship; she is passionate about helping kids become lifelong followers of Jesus and influence the next generations for God’s Kingdom.
CRISSY MCGUIRE
Liberty KIDS Minister
Crissy McGuire is one of our Liberty KIDS Ministers here at Liberty Church. She was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana but attended Emmanual College, here in Georgia, where she met her loving husband Thaddeus. Crissy is a veteran middle school teacher who is excited to see her passion for both coaching and teaching come together in a Christ-centered environment. Being a mother of three, what she loves most is seeing young children experience christ in their own unique way. Watching them grow more in love with Jesus, as they experience life at various stages, has been a joy to witness.