Get to Know the Team
Meet the team who has leadership responsibility and
sets the vision for Covenant of Grace.
Jace Hudson
Lead Pastor
Jace graduated from the Sovereign Grace Churches Pastors College in 2010. He served on staff at Covenant Fellowship Church in the Philadelphia area until he joined the pastoral team of Covenant of Grace Church in 2012. He and his wife, Jenny, reside with their six children in West Akron.
As lead pastor, Jace serves the eldership by initiating direction for the church, steering the elder team, taking point before the congregation, and taking lead on preaching in the Sunday meetings. Jace also serves as the regional leader for the Lower Great Lakes region of Sovereign Grace Churches.
Bert Turner
Care Pastor
After serving as a missionary and church planter in Brazil for eight years, Bert moved to Akron in 1990 to become part of Covenant of Grace Church. Bert and his wife, Karen, have four adult children and live in West Akron.
Bert serves the eldership by overseeing the care and counsel ministries, supplying strategic counsel and perspective to the lead pastor, preaching and teaching, and overseeing men’s, women’s, outreach, and prayer ministries. Bert also serves as a representative for Sovereign Grace Churches to sister churches in Brazil. Bert enjoys travel, cycling, hunting, reading and cooking dinner once a week.
Merrick Potter
Executive Pastor
Merrick graduated from the Sovereign Grace Pastors College in 2022 and joined the staff that summer. Merrick and his wife, Abbey, have known each other since they were children attending Covenant of Grace Church. They live in West Akron with their three boys.
Merrick serves the church by administering many affairs in the church, assisting in the management of the pastoral team and church, preaching and teaching, and overseeing the young adults ministry.
Jacob Wilson
Pastor
Jacob is a Grove City College graduate and has been in the education field since 1998. In 2013, Jacob, in the company of his wife, Kathy, and their five children attended the Sovereign Grace Churches Pastors College in Louisville, Kentucky. Among his passions are reading, theology, teaching and preaching, and the now hopeful Browns. Jacob, Kathy, and their kids live in West Akron.
Jacob serves by overseeing the parent/youth and children’s ministries, and teaching and preaching.
Deacons
The following serve the pastors in meeting many of the practical needs of church ministry. This ensures there are no un-served people and no unmet needs in the church. This also ensures the pastors are able to govern the church and devote themselves to the ministry of the Word and prayer (Acts 6:2-4).
Seth Finnegan
Deacon of Children's Ministry
Adam Horsfall
Deacon of Finance
John Hogan
Deacon of Missions
Scott Hulet
Deacon of Mercy Ministry
Richard Murphy
Deacon of Music Ministry
Pat Tumino
Deacon of Parent Youth Ministry
