OUR TEAM
OUR TEAM EXISTS TO EQUIP ALL TO DO THE WORK OF THE CHURCH
EPHESIANS 4:12
Gwendolyn Clubb Lau
Founding Senior Pastor
Gwendolyn Lau comes to pastoring by way of the theatre. Following an undergraduate degree in Musical Theatre performance, she moved to Plano to begin a public school teaching role. While teaching, she met and married Dustin Lau in 2003. She eventually left the classroom and completed an MA in Humanities, Studies in Literature, as well as an MA in Biblical and Theological Studies. Between papers and finals, she and Dustin had two daughters, Kiana Rose and Elliana Ray.
Having served at Preston Trail Community Church in a variety of roles (from a character named Catfish Sue to Young Adult Pastor; from Residency Director to Director of an adult educational program named Equip) over a 22-year span, Gwen sensed God’s calling to go into the world for Jesus in a new way and to reach a different group of people that might not ever step foot in a church.
Her passion is for those who may feel distant or even disqualified from Jesus to find a rich and satisfying life in Christ.
When not leading Grace House, Gwen is proud to be Dustin’s wife and Kiana and Ellie’s mom… and mom to their rescue pup, Sir Thomas. She can be found spending much of her time cheering on the high school band or watching the choir performances of her girls. She loves to read, laugh and collect anything Chewbacca… or Lord of the Rings.
Katy Encalade
Executive Pastor
Katy Encalade is honored to be part of Grace House Community Church and has an unwavering passion for spreading the love of Jesus to all.
She is committed to helping provide an environment where ALL can come to learn about, grow in, and explore their faith in God.
As the Executive Director of Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions, she has the privilege of assisting individuals and couples in realizing their dreams of starting a family.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Katy is a loving wife to Blake and a proud mother to three incredible tween/teenagers- Tripp, Grace, Maggie. While juggling her children's busy schedules, she finds solace in indulging in reading historical fiction, practicing Yoga and Pilates, and avidly listening to a wide range of podcasts.
Christopher Keane
Finance Director & Human Resources
Christopher Keane is a Texas native from the Dallas–Fort Worth area with deep roots in community and connection. He brings to Grace House a wide-ranging background in human resources, finance, and the beautiful chaos of small business operations. After a formative season in Minneapolis, MN—where his faith was both challenged and reshaped—he returned to Texas to be closer to family, support other queer Christians through CenterPeace, and launch his own firm, Keane Consulting Services. Christopher’s work blends strategy and soul, offering practical support to mission-driven organizations while staying grounded in compassion and inclusion. Outside of work, he finds joy in travel, meaningful conversations, and everyday adventures with his boyfriend, Lucas, along with his family and close friends.
Heather Thorn
Executive Administrative Assistant
Heather recently moved with her family to McKinney after living in New England for over 45 years. She was raised in CT and attended college at Maine Maritime Academy, majoring in Ocean Studies. While at college, she met her spouse of 25 years, Jeffrey. They settled in MA, where they brought up their 3 kids, Cordelia, Colin and Rowan.
Over the years, Heather has worked in a variety of jobs including vet tech, teaching science, bus driving, and financial services. No matter what she does for work, her hope is to make a positive impact on the lives of others.
In her free time, she enjoys gardening, kayaking, pyrography and spending time with her family and friends.
She and Jeff believe ALL people should have a welcoming church home where they can learn about and know God's love. They found an authentic loving community at Grace House and hope that you will too.
Justin Ayers
Operations Director
Justin is excited to join the Grace House staff as our manager of operations. He comes to Grace House via a childhood lived between Carrolton, Texas and Ft. Garland, Colorado. He’s a younger brother, a proud uncle and beloved dog dad to Roxy Roo. His love for riding dirt bikes was interrupted by a shoulder reconstruction surgery, but his love for working on them, and other small engines, continued through his pursuit and achievement of certifications in diesel technology and gasoline/small engine repairs.
Life took some twists and turns, but he has found a good path worth fighting for one day at a time. He is discovering how God is taking his story and slowly but surely transforming it into one of gratitude and service. Relatively new to the whole church thing, he has found a home with Grace House where they “take me where I am and yet believe with me for a good future.” He hopes that others will find the kind of intentional community there that he enjoys.
Dustin Lau
Advisory Team
Dustin Lau is married to Grace House’s senior pastor, Gwendolyn Lau. Together, they share two amazing girls and two ridiculously cute dogs. At Grace House, Dustin plays piano and serves as a worship leader. He is passionate about all people having access to participation in the full life of the church and wants everyone to know that God loves them. His day job is in technology sales, and he is a fan of all things Star Trek and Star Wars. Dustin is constantly on the lookout for what could be.
Elizabeth Stafford
Advisory Team
Elizabeth is thrilled to be part of the Grace House team. Something she loves about our church is that we don’t just say we welcome ALL we mean it! She is also passionate about being in a space where wrestling with the tough questions about faith isn’t just tolerated but celebrated.
Elizabeth brings a wealth of experience in Operations and Management in the Business, Pharmaceuticals and Mental Health fields and looks forward to partnering with the team to help things run smoothly behind the scenes.
Elizabeth is kept busy by 4 four-legged family members, all named after players from her beloved Boston Red Sox. In her off-time, Elizabeth is an avid reader, loves to travel and cook and has been known to bust out her sourdough starter to bake bread for our communion celebrations.
Eric Samaniego
Advisory Team
Bio Coming Soon...
Jeffrey Thorn
Advisory Team
I have spent most of my life searching for a church that truly felt like home—a place where I didn’t have to hide parts of myself to be accepted. Time and time again, when I needed support, God placed the right people in my life. That is exactly what led me to Grace House, where, for the first time, I feel free to be my true self and still be fully loved.
My wife, Heather, and I moved to McKinney after spending over 45 years in New England. I am incredibly proud of our three incredible children—Cordelia, Colin, and Rowan.
Melanie Winders
Advisory Team
Melanie Winders is a member of Grace House Community Church, where she has been involved since its development in 2023. She joined with the hope of deepening her relationship with Jesus and healing from past church and religious trauma, only to find a new family—one rooted in the inclusive, all-means-all love of Christ.
Melanie works as a Project Director for a large-loss restoration company, bringing leadership and problem-solving skills to her professional and church community alike. She and her wife, Katie Newman, share their home with their two cats and two dogs, and look forward to the day when they extend their family with the addition of their own children.
Beyond work and church, Melanie enjoys golfing and spending time with friends as she seeks connection and joy in both faith and life. She is honored to serve on the Advisory Board, helping to guide Grace House as it continues to be a place of love, healing, and belonging for all.
Renee Tyler
Advisory Team
I am married, and my wife and I have 3 fur babies. I am a part manager for a small business and am currently working towards my doctorate degree in business administration. An avid sports fan, my favorite teams are the New Orleans Saints, LSU Tigers, Atlanta Braves, and the Dallas Stars.
What brought me to Grace House was finding an all-inclusive church where all means all does truly exist. I love being here and being a part of the greeting team where I get to see and welcome everyone in on Sunday mornings with a warm hello. When Grace House says you are family, they mean it and all that comes with it.
Toni Alexander
Advisory Team
Bio Coming Soon...
OUR BELIEFS
WE ARE BUILDING A WORLD WHERE ALL MEANS ALL+
We exist to help ALL people experience the extravagant love of Jesus Christ that makes all things new.
What Does ALL MEANS ALL Mean?
How Did Jesus Demonstrate That
ALL MEANS ALL?
WE BELIEVE IN+
GOD'S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
We are convinced that the nature of God only makes sense through the lens of love. It was love that overflowed from Father, Son and Spirit to create the heavens, the earth and everything on the earth. It was all called “good.” We believe this same love of God extends to ALL people through the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Genesis 1 ________ Psalms 36:7 _______ John 3:16-17
THE WORLD'S FUNDAMENTAL NEED
Though the world, and everything in it, was fearfully and wonderfully created, humanity was born with a tendency to prioritize our personal needs and desires above others in such a way and to such an extent that it becomes damaging and leads to isolation. But, as we draw near to the source of love in Jesus Christ, we begin to experience real love and are then empowered and equipped to love others.
We believe we are to use our opportunities to serve and care for ourselves, others and nature itself.
Genesis 3 beliefs Romans 3:23 beliefs Romans 5:12 beliefs Romans 8:22-23 beliefs Ephesians 2:8-10
GOD'S GRACIOUS RESPONSE
God has never left humanity to suffer the consequences of selfishness without hope. He gave the Law to his people to set the stage for the coming of God in human flesh, Jesus Christ. Through the incarnation, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus we find the path to light, love, wholeness and community. We believe that the renewal of the world, and the complete restoration of everything, and everyone, that has suffered is still in progress, and we await the return of Jesus Christ where everything will finally be set right.
Psalms 86:15 ________ Matthew 1:23 ________ John 19:30 ________ Romans 5:6-11 ________ Revelation 22:4
HUMANITY'S GREATEST OPPORTUNITY
Part of the mystery and grand love of God is to cooperate with humanity. Every person is given the opportunity to receive the gift of love, and given unique talents and abilities to share that love with the world, but no one will be forced.
We believe that we can choose to do life with God or on our own.
John 1:12 belie Luke 5:36-39 beliefs
Romans 10:10 beliefs Revelation 3:20fs
EVERY BELIEVER'S NEW HOPE
For those who accept the gracious offer of love from God the Father, through God the Son and in the power of God the Spirit, the immediate work of love begins to transform the mind, heart and choices. The life of the follower of Jesus becomes more and more characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. But it doesn’t stop there. We believe that through the cooperation of the believer, others can come to know this same love and transformation by love through practical acts of service.
Genesis 12:1-3 hope Matt. 28:19-20 hope John 1:12 hope John 10:10 hope Galatians 5:22-23 hope Phil. 3:12 hope
WE BELIEVE IN LOVE'S ULTIMATE VICTORY
We believe that God is at work restoring the world, and all of creation, to what it was intended to be at creation. This re-creation process is often described as “redemption” meaning “to buy back out of bondage.” He is actively working in and through us to heal our ways of thinking, feeling and responding to ourselves, each other and to the world around us. We believe this process will come to fullness when Jesus Christ returns to earth and “shalom,” meaning not only “absence of pain” but also “presence of perfect peace,” will once again rule.
2 Peter 3:9 hope Revelation 12:11 hope Revelation 21:5-6 hope Revelation 22:17
OUR STORY
ALL MEANS ALL+
It’s a simple statement, yet we believe everyone has a story of when they felt excluded or left out. It turns out all doesn’t always mean ALL.
We are here to change that.
THE DREAM ----- January 2023
Grace House Community Church began when a few people gathered around the mission of discovering God’s heart for ALL people. We each came with our own stories of hope… and baggage. There were personal stories of feeling accepted by God and other stories of feeling disqualified from his love. There were stories of great community within the Church and stories of exclusion that varied from subtle judgments to outright rejection.
Discontent to live with the status quo, where service and leadership are based on different categories than spiritual giftedness and calling, we began to whisper and dream of a place where ALL really could mean ALL. We dared believe that we could ALL participate in the heavenly banquet of God rather than just looking in through the windows at the select and special few who made the cut. We became bold in declaring that God’s love for the world (John 3:16-17) included every person made in his creative and loving image.
Some random conversations culminated in an informal gathering in late January of 2023. That night, 30 people came together and shared our stories of why we each felt the truths of ALL MEANS ALL to be personally important. As we listened to one another’s stories, hopes, fears and dreams, we decided it was time to start intentionally praying for next steps God would have us take to make ALL MEANS ALL a reality!
FIRST STEPS ----- February - April 2023
We took the next few weeks to process our individual connection to the ideas that:
•God made ALL (Genesis 1:26, 31)
•God loves ALL (John 3:16)
•God wants relationship with ALL (Romans 10:13)
•God sent Jesus to make that relationship possible for ALL (John 3:17)
God’s love for ALL people is rooted in his character and not ours. He loved us while we wanted nothing to do with him (Romans 5:8) and he has done everything necessary on his end in Jesus to offer freely the kind of life we dream of and strive for to anyone who wants it (Ephesians 3: 16-20).
We committed the next six weeks, culminating at Easter, to study the biblical book of Jonah (which, isn’t really about a big fish at all!) and to pray together. Each week we would gather to share food, insights, laughs and worship as we fervently sought God’s direction.
Easter came and door after door was opening for us. We agreed to keep taking tentative and hopeful next steps forward, trusting that God would continue to lead the way.
BURGERS AND BIBLE ----- June - July 2023
We outgrew the home where we were meeting (a wonderful problem to have) and didn’t know where to go. Inclusion was a core value for us and most non-denominational expressions of the Church didn’t agree with that and most denominational Churches wanted us to be… well, denominational.
Up against feelings of confusion and fears that this might be the end, God moved! Thanks to the generosity of some great friends who were eager to partner with God, however he might be moving, took a risk on us, and we began to meet at JC’s Burger House in McKinney, Texas.
We met on Sunday mornings before the restaurant opened. We gathered, with the smell of French fries in the air, each week to learn more about God’s love and work on behalf of all people through his Son, Jesus. We grew in devotion to God, in relationship with one another, and in numbers that brought us back to our “problem” of where to meet.
COMMUNITY EVENTS ----- Summer and Fall 2023
While figuring out where to meet, we were also getting to meet new friends through participation in community events around us. We wanted to rewrite the narrative of the Church historically and make efforts to intentionally welcome those who had felt disqualified from the Church to Grace House. We had booths at a variety of Pride events as well as one at the community walk for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
HOTEL HAPPENINGS ----- August 2023 - September 2024
August 6, 2023, marked our Grand Opening at the McKinney Sheraton Hotel where we have spent the past seven months continuing to grow in relationship with God and one another through weekly prayer, worship, service and fellowship. And while we have been so grateful for this space, there wasn’t much room to grow ministries that we feel are important to a robust community church.
NEW FRIENDS ----- March 2024
A quick introduction from a mutual friend at a random community event led us to begin meeting at the First Presbyterian Church of McKinney on Easter in March of 2024.
Located at 2000 W. White, McKinney, Texas 75069, we have been part of a unique experiment— can an existing mainline denominational church and a church start up create something really cool together!
We are continually praying, seeking, and believing that God has great things in store for ALL who call upon Jesus as Lord and Savior.
AND NOW -----
We are still at the historical FPC, McKinney building and dreaming of what God has in store for us next.
In the meantime, we are actively serving our community, continuing to grow in truth and love for God, and believing that the best is yet to come!
OUR STRATEGY
