Kevin McKay, Lead Pastor

Kevin grew up in Northern Virginia where he came to see himself as a sinner in need of a savior under the ministry of Hamilton Baptist Church. After high school, he moved to Tennessee where he received a degree in Communications from Carson-Newman College. There, he met his wonderful wife, Melissa, and they married in 2003. He attended that school from a distance while working on staff at a church in Knoxville, TN, as a student minister. There, he and his wife were involved in inner-city ministry with high school students. In 2006 Kevin and Melissa moved to Washington D.C., where Kevin was a part of the internship program and then the staff of Capitol Hill Baptist Church. Kevin was sent out by Capitol Hill Baptist Church in August 2008 to Providence, RI, to become the pastor of Grace Harbor Church. He completed his formal theological training at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Kevin and Melissa are thankful for the family that God has given them in Grace Harbor, and happy to call Providence home. They live in Elmhurst with their three children: Silas, Titus, and Malia.

Travis Rymer, Associate Pastor

Travis and his wife Rebeca originally come to Grace Harbor from Chattanooga, TN. They met working at Sam’s Club and have three children (two boys and a girl). He was educated at The Criswell College (BA Biblical Studies, 2002) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (MA Old Testament, MA Biblical Languages, 2008). He had the privilege of learning from the pastors at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC as a pastoral intern following seminary. After a short stint in his home town, he and his family moved to Providence, RI in 2010. In addition to serving as an associate pastor here among Grace Harbor, Travis served under the North American Mission Board as The Protestant Minister at Johnson & Wales University. Travis and his family reside in Providence.

Jason Hsieh, Pastor of Discipleship and Counseling

A native of southern California, God used the divorce of Jason’s parents to bring him to faith in Jesus Christ. As Grace Harbor’s Pastor of Discipleship and Counseling, he considers it a privilege to walk alongside others amid life’s struggles. Prior to coming to Grace Harbor, Jason worked in health care policy and served in various counseling and discipleship ministries at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC. He also served as the pastor of counseling and discipleship at Trinity Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, MI, where he started a podcast titled Trinity Life, a ministry aimed at encouraging and equipping the congregation on various matters of the Christian life. Jason also currently serves as the executive director of Paradigm Biblical Counseling and writes regularly for the Biblical Counseling Coalition. He received a bachelor’s degree in clinical nutrition from the University of California at Davis, a master’s degree in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a master's degree in biblical counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jason enjoys drinking tea, listening to classical music, lifting weights, and following pro basketball, tennis, and baseball. He and his wife Tracy love watching British dramas and raising their daughter together. 

Jonathan Crossman, Lay Pastor

Jonathan is a native New Englander and grew up in a Christian home in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He heard the Gospel from an early age and doesn’t remember a time when he didn’t believe it. God has gifted Jonathan with musical ability and he loves to use it to bless God’s people by leading the church in song. Jonathan loves to collect instruments and will play anything he can get his hands on. In 2012, Jonathan married Debbie and they spent several years abroad under the ministry of Pastor Mike Gilbart-Smith. In 2014, God called him back to New England and specifically to Grace Harbor Church where he and Debbie have been members ever since. They live in Elmhurst with their four children – Phinehas, Emmett, Owen, and Hannah.

Dan DaCunha, Lay Pastor

A born-and-bred Rhode Islander, Dan grew up with parents who faithfully taught the gospel to him from a young age. But it was not until his early 20s – following another late-night poker game – when the Lord dramatically opened his eyes to the glory of Jesus Christ. In 2014, he was baptized into membership at Grace Harbor and shortly after met his future wife Jess through community group; they were married at the church in 2017.

 Dan currently leads Christian Student Fellowship at Johnson & Wales University and serves as RI’s Collegiate Coordinator for Baptist Churches of New England. He is completing a master’s degree (Preaching and Pastoral Ministry) at Midwestern Theological Seminary. Dan and Jess live in the Diamond Hill neighborhood of Cumberland with their two young kids – Emmaus and Damaris.

Tom Hines, Lay Pastor

Tom grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, where he met and married his wife Mary Jo. The Lord saved and called both of them in college at the University of Nebraska Omaha. They quickly became involved in campus ministry. Tom went on to medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha where he began a campus Bible Study that ministered to medical students, faculty, and staff. He received his pediatrics training at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in St. Louis Missouri. He and his wife came to RI in 1988 as a part of a church plant. They were involved in evangelism, college ministry, and adult ministry in their local church. Tom also had responsibilities of preaching and teaching. They became members of Grace Harbor in January of 2017. Tom and Mary Jo have a heart to see the Gospel proclaimed in New England, and in particular, Rhode Island. Tom currently works as a pediatrician at Lincoln Pediatric Associates in Lincoln, RI. He enjoys golfing, hiking, photography, and spending time with his family. They have four grown children: Bethany, Joy, Joseph, Benjamin, and three grandchildren.

Jai Paul, Lay Pastor

Jai was born, and grew up in, Bangalore, India. After completing his Bachelor’s in India, he came to the US to pursue a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. After that, he started working in the medical device industry. He also has a Master’s in Applied Mathematics, and has just finished a Masters of Divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Jai is a huge fan of tennis and he loves watching and playing it as often as possible. He and his wife Beena have been married since 2003. They also have a yellow Labrador, named Pepsi, who is getting up in age.

Nicea Demers, Deaconess of Childcare

At age 10 Nicea heard the gospel for the first time and soon after asked her mom to explain it to her. As she prayed and called out to Him for salvation, Christ began a good work in her heart as He promised He would.

From Sunday School, to mission trips, to Christian School teacher, to homeschooling her own children, Nicea has taught children for over 40 years. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me". She is fueled by a passion for seeing each child as uniquely created by God to fulfill the "good works He has ordained for them". Nicea now oversees the Children's Ministry here at Grace Harbor. Nicea married Lenny in 1990 and they have two married sons and are loving grandparents to three grandchildren.

Ian Quinn, Deacon of Security/Operations

Ian was born and raised in Rhode Island. During his high school years, Ian began to recognize the depth of his sin and the great love of Christ. He believed in Jesus’ death and resurrection, trusting that his sins were forgiven by God’s grace. In 2018, Ian became a member of Grace Harbor where he has been grateful for the church’s faithfulness to God’s word and the humility of the church body. He also met his wife, Sarah, at Grace Harbor. They currently live in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood of Providence.

Louis Burgin, Deacon of Financial Care

Louis was an Air Force brat who lived in 5 different states and Izmir, Turkey before graduating from high school and attending college in Missouri. He became a believer at 28 years of age and shortly after met his wife of 27 years at a church in the Chicago suburbs. They moved to Rhode Island in 2001 and began attending Grace Harbor church in 2014. After becoming a believer, Louis was exposed to the Christian Stewardship teaching of Larry Burkett, Ron Blue, Austion Pryor and Randy Alcorn and grew to love the practical financial wisdom found throughout the Bible. Louis and his wife Donna have 2 adult children and live on Warwick Neck where they enjoy the convenience of being within easy walking distance of Rocky Point Park (and Rocky Point Blueberry Farm).

Melanie Makin, Deaconess of Library Resources

Melanie grew up in Maine, and relocated to Rhode Island to study Library Science. She has been working in public libraries since her graduation in 2007. Melanie and her husband Malcolm have been members of Grace Harbor since 2018, and live near Pawtuxet Village with their children, Evangeline and Isaac. She loves finding information and connecting people with great resources in both the public and the church library.

Tim Hartman, Deacon of Technology

Tim relocated to Rhode Island in 2013 after studying Engineering Mechanics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and now works full time at a local company developing simulation software for other engineers. Having joined Grace Harbor in 2014, he is grateful for the church’s impact on his growth in the knowledge of the hope to which Jesus Christ has called him. Tim and his wife, Andrea, live in Providence with their four children.