Our Team

Pete felt the call to be a pastor at 13.  He would be part of the team that planted Life Church Buffalo in 2006. In 2012, Pete accepted a full-time position in vocational ministry in Columbus, Ohio, however, God unexpectedly called Pete back to Buffalo three years later. For a year, Pete co-led Life Church Buffalo with Pastor Craig, and was installed as the Lead Pastor in June 2017.

Kelly was at the young age of 11 when she knew she was called to be a pastor. She was part of the team that helped plant Life Church Buffalo in 2006, served as a volunteer for many years and was the church’s first worship leader. Now Kelly serves alongside her husband Pete as the Co-Lead Pastor of Life Church Buffalo.

Erik has been drawn toward equipping people since his early college days. For over 25 years, he served as a media producer, director, and strategist on hundreds of creative projects. Yet, without a doubt, his greatest love is producing and directing disciples for Jesus. In 2014, Life Church Buffalo helped Erik plant Simple Way Church, which he had the joy of shepherding for eight years. He joined the Life Church Buffalo pastoral team in 2024.

Bethany has been a Christian since a very young age and in 1997 began serving at her church after understanding Jesus’s love for her on a new level. Bethany has been at Life Church Buffalo since its formation in 2006 and has served in some capacity since then. In 2016 she joined the staff, and in 2020 obeyed God’s call for her to leave her career in higher education to join the team full-time.

Joe grew up in a Christian family, but started taking his relationship with Jesus seriously during high school. He was on a missions trip in Mexico City when he felt the call to be a pastor. Joe and his wife lived in Kansas City for 7 years, where he started a youth group at a local church plant. When he and his family moved back to Buffalo, they started attending Life Church Buffalo and Joe started volunteering at StudentLife. Joe joined the Life Church Buffalo pastoral staff in 2026.

Ashlee has always had a passion to impact the lives of families with young children. She volunteered at Life Church Buffalo since she was in middle school and has always felt a calling to care for the innocent and vulnerable. After leading in various departments of our children’s ministry and working closely with church leadership, she followed God’s prompting through intentional prayer to enter into full time ministry and has been on staff since 2022.

Isaac Gay is a writer, worship leader, and teacher who works where faith, beauty, and creativity meet. He served in ministry in New York City and Southern California before moving to Buffalo with his wife, Emily, and their three boys. His love of theology led him to the University of Aberdeen’s School of Divinity, where he earned a master’s degree. Isaac joined the Life Church Buffalo Pastoral staff in September of 2025. Isaac and Emily also host the Not Crushing It podcast and create resources and content for the wider church.