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Leadership

Senior Leadership

Tim Lucas
LEAD PASTOR
Tim Lucas is the founder and Lead Pastor of Liquid Church, named one of America’s 100 Fastest-Growing Churches by Outreach magazine. Pastor Tim and his wife Colleen started Liquid “on accident” with a dozen twenty-something friends meeting in the basement of a 150-year old church. Since launching in 2007, Liquid has experienced rapid growth, expanding to 7 campuses across New Jersey with a vision to “Saturate the State with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” A graduate of Wheaton College (IL), Pastor Tim is an award-winning author, leadership coach, and national conference speaker known for creatively communicating the Bible with passion, heart, and humor. He and Colleen love lake life with their two kids in the heart of NJ.  Learn about Tim’s latest book here.

I can help with church rebirth and financial questions.

Dave Brooks
Executive Pastor
As Executive Pastor, Dave oversees ministry services, central leaders, and is at the forefront of strategic planning at Liquid Church. His desire is to create an environment that enables the high-capacity, big-hearted leaders at Liquid to fulfill the church’s vision to Saturate the State with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A former CPA and CFO of an industrial gas company, Dave is well-suited to his role. He attended Wheaton College in Illinois and has a Master in Biblical Studies from Alliance Theological Seminary. He loves spending time with his wife, Lois, and their three children and four grandchildren.

How can I serve or pray for you?

Kayra Montanez
PASTOR OF CAMPUSES
Originally from Puerto Rico, Kayra relocated to New Jersey in 2012 to secure the best care for her son, Andy, who has Down syndrome. Seeing Liquid’s passion to serve those with Special Needs, Kayra and her husband Jose decided to make Liquid their church home. Kayra quickly became an integral part of the Liquid family – she started as a volunteer, led Liquid’s largest location as Morris County Campus Pastor for four years, and is now on Liquid’s Teaching Team and Senior Leadership Team as Pastor of Campuses. Kayra has a background in law and worked as an attorney for nearly a decade!

I can help with groups and counseling questions.

Mike Lee
Discipleship Pastor
Mike oversees the Liquid Small Groups, Prayer Teams, Marriage Ministries, Lay Counseling (Care Team), and Associate Pastors. During the pandemic, God placed a growing burden in his heart to help Liquid continue to grow deeper into discipleship, and took the opportunity to jump into full time ministry after 20 years building a career in the marketplace in personal care and cosmetics. It was a moment where he felt God was calling him through the words He spoke to Samuel saying “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) Mike and his wife Becky have 3 amazing kids, and they are affectionately known as the Familee!

Hyo Sil Siegel
CREATIVE ARTS PASTOR
Hyo Sil is passionate about creating environments and opportunities for people to experience and encounter God in a personal way. She loves to champion, equip, and inspire leaders to fully embrace their gifts, serve the local church, and see God transform lives. Hyo Sil has been in ministry for over 20 years and prior to Liquid was the Programming Director at Willow Creek Community Church, at their downtown Chicago campus. She is crazy about her boys – husband David, an Environmental Designer at Liquid – and her sons Eli and Geffen.

Pastors

How can I serve or pray for you?

Denise Barone
Union County Campus Pastor
Denise grew up in and currently lives in Union County and believes in the power of the local church! It brings her great joy to connect with people and help them grow in their relationship with Jesus. Denise started attending Liquid Mountainside when the campus launched in 2013. It immediately felt like home to her, her husband Chris and their two daughters, Olivia and Grace. In addition to leading our Liquid Garwood and Mountainside campuses, Denise is currently pursuing a degree in Biblical Studies and Organizational Leadership at Nyack College.

How can I serve or pray for you?

Paul Benjamino
MIDDLESEX COUNTY ASSOCIATE CAMPUS PASTOR
Paul is passionate about making Jesus known and has a huge heart to walk alongside others. Prior to ministry, Paul spent 20 years on the frontlines of the healthcare industry. He has attended Liquid Church for 12 years, and has enjoyed serving in a variety of Dream Team and staff roles. In fact, he’s served at 5 of our 7 campuses across NJ! Paul and his wife Leilani have three wonderful kids: Joshua, Keira, and Jayden. Together, they love being in nature and are avid campers. One day, they even hope to drive across the country visiting all the national parks!

How can I serve or pray for you?

Chris Capua
SOMERSET COUNTY CAMPUS PASTOR
Chris is passionate about seeing people come to know Jesus and experiencing life change through Him. Prior to his role in Somerset County, Chris led our Monmouth County Campus, which he launched in 2019. He also spent time as our Middlesex County Campus Pastor and helped that location establish a new homebase in Sayreville. At Liquid, you will often see Chris’ wife, Judy, and their three daughters serving by his side. When they’re not at church, you’ll likely find them at one of their favorite places, the Jersey Shore!

How can I serve or pray for you?

Keon Carpenter
MORRIS COUNTY CAMPUS PASTOR
Keon is passionate about welcoming newcomers into the body of Christ. He has served in various leadership and volunteer roles at Liquid over the years. From holding the door as an usher, to serving in Liquid Family, and coaching baptism candidates in their spiritual journey…each opportunity is a reminder of his own personal need for a Savior. Prior to leading in Morris County, Keon launched Liquid's Union County Garwood campus and served there as Campus Pastor for over five years. Keon and his wife, Monique, have been blessed with 4 children.

Connect about High School & College programs.

Gary Casaletto
Youth Pastor
Gary oversees our High School & College Students. He has an unquenchable desire to see people encounter God and grow in their calling. He is an entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in church leadership including next gen, urban outreach, communications, and church launching. Gary has received church development training from Church of The Highlands and is currently finishing his BA in Theology. He loves living at the shore with his beautiful wife Brittany and daughter Isabella who they are training up to be a world changer!

How can I serve or pray for you?

Phil Falke
Passaic County Campus Pastor
Originally from the greater Washington D.C. area, Phil has a deep desire and calling to love others, with a heart for the local Church. Phil has previously served in ministry as a youth pastor in both New Jersey and Indiana, and in small groups ministry. He joined Liquid staff in February 2021, previously serving as a Campus Manager at Liquid's Somerset County Campus. Phil is currently working on his Masters of Christian Ministry degree from Anderson University (IN) Seminary. Phil is married to his sweetheart, MaryClaire (MC), and when not at Liquid, you can usually find them playing board games, adventuring outside, or at a local coffee shop!

How can I serve or pray for you?

Eryn Mera
Mercer County Campus Pastor
Eryn is passionate about serving Jesus through the local church and has been doing it for over a decade. She was born and raised in Salem County, where she served as Pastor of a Presbyterian Church since 2011. Prior to graduating from Princeton Theological Seminary, Eryn also served as a Special Education Teacher and missionary. In 2021, Eryn and husband Robert returned to Princeton to lead and launch Liquid's Mercer County Campus. Together they have four daughters: Adeline, Maisie, and twins Nailah and Karianne. Eryn loves spending time with family at the beach and vacationing at Camp of the Woods in the Adirondack Mountains.

Clint Taylor
Worship Experience Pastor
Clint is responsible for overseeing the vision, direction, and execution of Musical Worship across all Liquid campuses. His passion is to see people powerfully experience the presence of the Lord through the gift of music. Clint developed a love for music early in his life, which led him to worship ministry in the local church at just 13. He received his Bachelors of Music in Guitar Performance from Mcnally Smith College of Music. Clint and his wife, Abby, love making music together and have been singing and leading worship together since the 10th grade.

Zach Taylor
TEACHING TEAM PASTOR

Zach is passionate about sharing inspiring stories of God's goodness with His people. Before joining Liquid's Teaching Team, Zach received his MA in Philosophy at the Talbot School of Theology and has worked for the last 15 years to serve the local church in the greater Los Angeles area, as well as West Palm Beach, Florida. Zach, his wife and ministry partner KC-Rae, beloved daughter Wynter Storme, and dog Khloe love to travel together, spending time on both the East and West coasts throughout the year. Fun fact: Zach is a natural entrepreneur and together with his wife, they own a dozen AirBnB's across California and Palm Beach County, Florida!