Our Team
Our Leadership Philosophy
At Restoration Anglican Church, our leaders include men and women, clergy and laity, paid and volunteer roles. We believe that clergy and laity should serve together in leadership.
The Church Council is one of the spaces where laity and clergy intersect. This team of lay leaders is empowered to steward Restoration’s vision, values and finances.
The Church Council, pictured here from left to right, consists of Bemni Mekonnen, Sam Habesha, Eric Chesney, Heather Mavel and Dustin Jizmejian. If you need to contact them, you can reach the team at leadership@restorationcos.org.
Staff
Lead Pastor
Eric Chesney
As the Planting Pastor of Restoration Anglican, it’s my deep delight to provide Pastoral Care, Proclaim the Gospel, and be the Primary Apprentice of Jesus as he leads us in the restoration of all things. This joy is made sweeter for me by the incredible Pastoral, Preaching, and Leadership Teams of men and women with whom I get to walk the Jesus Way.
I’ve been married to Eyerusalem since 2008 and we have five kids Jr high and younger. I love learning, reading, and dropping C.S. Lewis quotes as often as possible (sorry, not sorry). I enjoy hiking, climbing, Jeeping (yep, it’s a verb), black coffee, long and leisurely conversations, puns, playing and watching Football (soccer) with the fam, and becoming more fully human as God draws us into the life of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You can reach Eric here.
Next Gen Pastor
MadY Long
God delights in his people, and I am honored to share in his heart and delight of little ones. Being NextGen Pastor at Restoration is part of living out a passion to communicate who God is to children. Championing kids in their worship, inviting them into liturgy, the church calendar, and sacrament brings me great joy! And I love helping adults recognize how much there is to learn from the way kids respond in awe & wonder to these acts of worship! My ideal weekend is waking up to coffee and pancakes, doing something outside with my husband Nick and dog Willy, and then ending the day having quality time with friends. I also enjoy skiing with Nick, crocheting, embroidering, and my houseplants!
You can contact Mady here.
Meal Group and Spiritual Formation Pastor
Dan Kane
As the Meal Group & Spiritual Formation Pastor, it is my delight to be a resource and companion for those desiring to grow and deepen their relationship with God and one another. I love to create welcoming and formational spaces that include engaging in a rich conversation over coffee, sharing a meal with others around the table, facilitating a day retreat, or leading a flock of pilgrims along sacred routes in Europe to encounter the presence of God.
My wife, Kim, and I are empty nesters with three adult children. When I’m not spending time with family or friends, I enjoy hiking the many mountainous and forested trails throughout Colorado. Originally from the Philly region, I remain an Eagles fan, but college basketball is my jam – though it was ruined by NIL and the transfer portal!
You can reach Dan here.
Music and Tech Director
Spencer mamo
As the Music and Tech Director, I am responsible for (among other things) leading worship each Sunday at Restoration, calling the congregation to participate in honoring God through song. I am also a high school English teacher here in Colorado Springs. In my free time, I like to write, run, and make/perform music. I have a lovely, patient wife named Meg with whom I make music, and we have a beautiful daughter named Eloise. They are a great joy and blessing!
You can reach Spencer here.
Missions and Outreach Apprentice.
Mac Conn
Hello! I am currently completing my second year of the “3 Streams Institute Program” here at Restoration Anglican Church. Eugene Peterson’s translation of John 1:14 says “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” As the Missions and Outreach apprentice I am on the lookout for spaces where the Kingdom is breaking into our neighborhood in Stratton meadows. I believe that we have access to a Real Presence with Christ when we come alongside the vulnerable and marginalized in our community and I love getting to do that with the community at Restoration. I also love running and skiing in the mountains. But when I am home, I like to sit on my porch and read good sentences.
You can reach Mac here.
Next Steps Intern
Amye Olivero
I serve as the Next Steps Intern at Restoration Anglican Church, where I help people move from a first visit into deeper participation in the life of the church through community, formation, and serving. I love helping people find their place in the life of the Church.
I’m currently pursuing my Master of Divinity at Asbury Theological Seminary and care about the Church becoming what she was meant to be to the lonely, lost, and least. Outside of church, you’ll usually find me reading, playing pickleball, homeschooling our three kids, or convincing my husband, Jeff, that one more house project is a good idea.
Volunteer Clergy
Assisting Priest
Chris Stroup
I am the President and CEO of Anglican House Publishers and Assisting Priest at Restoration. I also co-lead the racial justice initiative for Anglican churches in the Rocky Mountain region.
My wife, Amy, and I have three children, and we are actively involved in anti-trafficking work in Thailand and love serving together.
You can reach Chris here.
Deacon
PAULA LADEFOGED
Deacon Paula grew up, married and raised her family in the Colorado Springs area. Ordained to the diaconate in 2019, Paula has a life-long passion for teaching scripture, attending to the souls of God’s people, and walking alongside others in their journey with Christ. In 2021, she and her husband, Joel moved to Monte Vista, Colorado as missioners with the hopes of planting an Anglican Church. The family of believers that God formed and raised up became Restoration Anglican Mission. They worshiped together, grew in relationship with each other and served the community of Monte Vista together until Joel’s untimely death in August of 2023. After two years of waiting upon God and listening to His voice, God’s call of returning to Colorado Springs and serving as Deacon at Restoration Anglican Church in Colorado Springs became abundantly clear. She now makes her home in the Colorado Springs area and continues to walk in the calling and passions that God birthed in her so many years ago.
You can reach Paula here.
Volunteer Staff
Communication Director
Brandy Lovelace
I have loved writing since I was a little girl, and have been blessed to make a living as a storyteller for more than 20 years. In my role as Communications Director, I get to make sure we’re communicating clearly, and tell the stories of restoration happening in our church. I have my own freelance writing business, and I am currently enrolled in a Doctor of Ministry Program in the Sacred Art of Writing.
My husband, Mike, and I have been married since 2019, and we have an adorable grandson, Eli, who calls me “Grandy.”
You can reach Brandy here.
Administrative Assistant
Krysta Smart
I have always been someone who enjoys taking care of the little things, as my pencil case (and still a few pencils!) from Kindergarten can attest. It’s a great joy to take care of the backend tasks that help things run smoothly so that other people can run ahead and do what they do best without getting waylaid by the many little hurdles that like to pop up.
My husband Ben and I moved to The Springs in 2023 after the completion of our studies, though I’m originally from a little ranching community in Oregon. I also train in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, so if you need someone to talk to about the finer points of raising a goat or how to triangle choke someone, I’m your girl.
You can reach Krysta here.
Treasurer
Brian Teel
For a quarter of a century, my wife, Ginny, and I worked with Resource Exchange International, a development organization working in developing nations, primarily in Asia. I first started as Deputy Director for our work in Vietnam, and then for more than a decade served as Director of our work there. During this time, Ginny served as our Staff Care specialist for our overseas staff. We retired from our roles in 2024.
Our daughter Heather, along with her husband Jesse and son, Jude, introduced us to IAC, Restoration’s sending church. We worshiped at IAC for roughly 20 years before transferring to Restoration. My excitement for serving at RAC is threefold. First, I love RAC’s focus on worshiping our reigning King Jesus Christ with our whole lives. Second, I love RAC’s deliberate emphasis that we need folks from here in Stratton Meadows even as they need us. Third, I love RAC’s priority on building families together and investing in the next generation. Finally, I love what the Apostle John writes in the first chapter of his Gospel: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” There’s no question: King Jesus wins.
You can reach Brian here.