Godspeed church is led by a team of elders or pastors. Our deacons and deaconesses oversee certain areas of ministry that don’t involve the teaching and preaching ministry.
Lead Pastor
Luke and his wife, Sara, have had five children—Jane, Jack, Hudson, Annie, and Rosie. Both Luke and Sara grew up just outside of Detroit. Luke completed his seminary education at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where they were members at Third Avenue Baptist Church. After seminary, Luke was part of the pastoral team at a church in Northern England before moving to East Providence to become the lead pastor at Godspeed. If you're interested in visiting Godspeed or knowing more about our church, he'd love to grab coffee with you. (He rarely turns down a chance to drink coffee!)
Associate Pastor
Rich was born and raised in West Hartford, CT. He attended Castleton State College in Vermont where he received a BS in Business Administration. After graduating in 1980 he met Susan, and they were married in June of 1982. They have three adult children and three grandchildren. In 1999 they relocated to Seekonk. Rich concluded a 40-year career in the dry cleaning industry in 2016. For many years he has been involved in leading men’s ministry at the churches he attended before Godspeed was founded. Rich serves as the Associate Director of New England Urban Church Planting and is a staff Elder at Godspeed. He loves spending time with his children and grandchildren. Rich is also passionate about sports and music.
Lay Elder
Jarrod grew up in California, came to Brown University for an engineering degree, then stayed in Rhode Island to do full-time college ministry with Cru & Athletes In Action. His wife, Susan, hails from upstate New York and earned a Health & Human Services degree from the University at Buffalo. Jarrod and Susan met while serving on a missions project for college students, married a year later, then joined Godspeed Church in 2008. They have four kids and live in Seekonk, MA.
Lay Elder
Kevin was born and raised in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology where he was also a team captain, Big Ten champion, and 3x NCAA All American wrestler. Kevin met his bride, Bre, at the University of Minnesota and they have been happily married since 2014. After graduating, they both joined staff with the ministry Athletes in Action and have served at the University of Minnesota and Puerto Rico before moving to Rhode Island in 2021. Kevin is now working on his Masters of Divinity through Reformed Theological Seminary.
Lay Elder
Matt Litchfield married his wife, Rebecca, in 2011, and together they have three kids: Noah, Sophia, and Luke. Matt loves reading literature, writing poetry, drinking coffee, and has begun learning to play the fiddle. He longs to see every member of our church equipped to walk the Way of Jesus arm-in-arm with the Spirit and each other, full of hope and overflowing with love for God and people. He works for Cru as a Team Leader for RI & south coast MA, striving to see college students and professors touched, transformed, and mobilized by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Deaconess of Hospitality
Stephanie was born in Connecticut, raised in Massachusetts, and has lived in Rhode Island for the last several years. She studied English and History at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she became a Christian. She now enjoys taking photography classes at the Rhode Island School of Design, writing recreationally and professionally, and running in her free time. Steph organizes and assists with hospitality at Godspeed.
Deacon of Missions
A native mid-westerner, Marion and his wife Mary Ellen served in churches in central New Jersey for many years, before moving to Rhode Island in 2011. Marion was an elder, deacon, and choir member, and, along with Mary Ellen, taught Sunday School, led Bible studies, and administered a large missions program. They also worked with the team that established Windsor Chapel, a church plant in a neighboring community. At Godspeed, the Meeks' oversee missions.
Deaconess of Missions
While living in New Jersey, Mary Ellen was for many years a deacon with special interest in women’s ministries and facilities management. She also enjoyed participation in music ministry. She was instrumental in designing the sanctuary and educational facilities at Stone Hill Church in Princeton. Married since 1964, the Meeks' have two adult children, Cindy Zulker and Tom, and five grandchildren.
Deacon of Finance
Administrative Assistant
Pastoral Assistant
Tim and his wife Katie are originally from the Midwest. Tim came to saving faith after finishing an enlistment in the Marines and then studied at the University of Iowa, Hillsdale College, and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He mainly serves Godspeed Church by helping lead the youth group and assisting the elders with different tasks. He cares deeply about the subjects of apologetics, competing worldviews, and what it means to be a human being in God’s image.