MEET THE STAFF
LEAD PASTORS
Pastor Luke (son of McLean and Denise) and Kelle Faw are the lead pastors at Joy Church. Spending over 20 years in ministry, Luke has been on staff since 2007, starting as an associate pastor to co-pastor, now he and his wife Kelle are the Lead Pastors of Joy Church. He began by working part time at Joy while in college, and then for a church in Knoxville, Tennessee while he completed his masters degree. Luke also teaches as Adjunct Professor at Lee University in their Charlotte Center. He and Kelle have been in ministry together since they married 15 years ago, and have three children: Harper, Asher, and Ryker. Luke and Kelle enjoy all forms of water fun, from paddle boarding to riding waves. They are passionate about seeing disciples grow into wholeness and step into their divine destiny!
FOUNDING PASTOR
Pastor McLean and Denise Faw both grew up in Mount Airy, NC, and have 3 married sons and 5 grandchildren. They served at churches in Wilmington and Greensboro before they planted Joy Church in Matthews in 1994, where Pastor McLean has served as the senior pastor from its founding until 2025 where he passed the baton of Lead Pastor to his son and daughter-in-law, Luke and Kelle. McLean and Denise both have a passion for bringing people into a relationship with Jesus and helping them grow in wholeness to live out His plan and purpose for their lives.
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
Nick Willi serves as the Associate Pastor at Joy Church, where he is passionate about helping people find community, grow in their faith, and walk fully in their calling. He and his wife Andrea have been married for 24 years and have five children: Braydan, Noah, Samuel, Avery, and Brynn. After encountering God in a powerful way during their first year of marriage at Joy Church, Nick knew his life was meant for ministry. Over the years, he has served in youth, young adult, and outreach ministries, and owned a Gospel-centered fitness center in Wilmington, NC. Now back in the Charlotte area, Nick is excited to serve God’s people and help build a church where lives are continually transformed by the presence and power of Jesus.
WORSHIP LEADER
Eric Wells is the Worship Leader at Joy Church with a heart for leading people into the presence of God. Eric has been a member of Joy Church and has served on the worship team since 2017. He moved from Baltimore in 2016, and recently graduated from Full Sail University, where he majored in Audio Production, learning to mix and record music, and even design sounds for video games. In his spare time, he likes to watch documentaries, walk nature trails, and worship.
YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS DIRECTOR
Chad and Stephanie Broome have been married since 2010. They have four energetic boys, Eli, Ethan, Evan, Everett, and their little girl Roselyn. Chad has stepped into youth ministry at Joy, serving as our Youth Director. Chad loves music, reading the Bible, and watching teaching videos (Michael Koulianos & Bill Johnson are his favorites). Chad attended World Changers Bible Institute and has been heavily involved with his father's youth ministry, Camp Quest, most of his life. Stephanie is a stay-at-home mom. She homeschools the boys and loves all things motherhood and coffee. Chad and Stephanie felt the Lord leading them to Joy Church in the early summer of 2021 and have fallen in love with the people of Joy! Chad served as the Youth director since 2021 and was thrilled to take on the role of Youth and Young Adults director in 2025. His heart is to see others live out transformed and renewed lives by the power of the Holy Spirit.
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY DIRECTOR
John Newton serves as the ZEAL Kids Director at Joy Church. He began his 20-year teaching career with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools in 2002. Where he served in the CMS Mentor Program and School Leadership Teams, working with school administration to develop and disseminate school-wide initiatives and mentor fellow teachers. John is passionate about all phases of planning, implementing, and improving on best practices within the classroom. As the ZEAL Kids Director, he supports a team of dedicated, passionate teachers who deliver quality lessons and help our children encounter the presence of a loving Father. John retired from teaching in 2020 and is enjoying his second career as a Project Manager for a local home builder. He is madly in love with his wife Caryn, and has two young adult children, Olivia and Ben. He enjoys spending time with family, working out, fishing, camping, and woodworking.
MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTOR
Sharon MacDonald serves as the Middle School Director at Joy Church, where she is dedicated to guiding students in their spiritual growth and building deep and lasting relationships with Jesus. She fell in love with the Word of God during her middle school years in her home country, New Zealand. Now a homeschool mom of three—Cody, Sophie, amd Ivy—she has a passion to see the younger generation grow in their love for God and knowledge of His Word. Since relocating to the U.S. in 2016, Sharon, her husband Adam, and their children have been active members of Joy Church, serving on staff, in youth and woman’s ministry, and more. In 2025 she took on the position as Middle School Director. In her free time, she enjoys reading, strategy games, and watching soccer.
EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR
Andrea Willi serves as an administrator at Joy Church, where she brings a heart for excellence, organization, and joyful service to everything she does. She and her husband Nick have been married for 24 years and are raising five amazing children: Braydan, Noah, Samuel, Avery, and Brynn. Andrea’s journey with the Lord was deeply impacted during their first year of marriage through a visit to Joy Church, sparking a lifelong passion for ministry and serving others. With years of experience in church leadership and support roles, Andrea is committed to creating a welcoming and well-functioning environment that helps others encounter the love and presence of Jesus.
INNER HEALING
Miriam Riggio is a licensed counselor at Joy Church, serving since 2024. She holds a master’s degree in counseling and is trained in several inner healing modalities. Miriam is passionate about helping others find healing and freedom through the love of Jesus truth of God’s Word, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Miriam is married to David, and together they have three children and one grandchild.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Bio coming soon.
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER & CONTENT CREATOR
Grace Johnston serves as the Social Media Manager and Content Creator at Joy Church, where she oversees and contributes to the church’s media platforms. She first came to Joy as a teenager in 2020 and quickly got involved—serving in ZEAL Kids, leading worship, and now helping on the youth leadership team post-graduation. Grace has a heart for people and loves the creative, behind-the-scenes world of social media, where she gets to help share the life and heart of Joy Church with others. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family, quality time with friends, and finds joy in singing and growing in her instrumental skills.
A/V LEADER
Bio coming soon.