If you’ve been around Browncroft this summer, you may have seen some new faces on stage and around our campus. That’s because we’ve hired some new staff over the last few months! If you haven’t had the chance to meet or hear from them yet, we’d like to introduce you to our Senior Director of Worship, Tori Woodward; Student Director, Cody Foster; and Director of Congregational Care, Sarah Etsler. The next time you see one of them on a Sunday, be sure to stop and say hello. They would love to meet you in person. In the meantime, we thought we’d have each of them share a little about themselves in today’s blog to help you get to know them and the roles God has called them to. We are so thankful to have them here on staff!

–Carissa Gray, Communications Coordinator

Tori Woodward, Senior Director of Worship

Tori, tell us about yourself! Where are you from and how did you get connected to Browncroft?

I got connected with Browncroft after feeling the Lord nudging me into a new season of ministry this past year. I found Browncroft online and felt a connection on many of the things the church is passionate about and the ways it cares for the local and global community.

What is your new role? What things are you responsible for?

I’m the Senior Director of Worship, which just means I have the honor of helping cultivate and pastor the worship culture of our church through relationships and dependence on the Lord. I get to ask God questions like: “What offering of praise is pleasing to you?” “What do your people need to know about your nature and heart?” “What do we need to know about ourselves in relationship to you?”

What are you most excited about in your role?

I’m excited to be a part of what God is doing here at Browncroft and continue to foster a culture of devoted worshippers of God, not just through song but through “word and deed”.

What do you like to do outside of work/church?

I love chill adventure, whether that’s road-tripping to new destinations, or trying new restaurants. I love a good bookstore and coffee shop situation– bonus points if there’s a thrift store nearby. I pick up random hobbies every once in a while just to learn something new.

Tell us one fun fact about you.

Fun fact, I am ambidextrous! I was born right side dominant, but my mom is left side dominant, and because I didn’t resemble her much as a child, she taught me to be left handed so we’d have something in common!

Bonus! What’s something, big or small, God has been teaching you recently?

God has really been reminding me that His timing is never wrong, and things that feel pressing on my own terms are never pressing for Him, which is so freeing, yet also a constant lesson I need to learn.

Cody Foster, Student Director

(You may remember Cody as our Middle School Student Director from several years ago! We’re excited to have him back :))

Cody, for those of us who don’t know you, tell us about yourself. Where are you from and how did you get connected to Browncroft?

I grew up in Cazenovia, NY, and came to Rochester to go to school at St. John Fisher to play football—I mean study Communications. It was at school that I met my loving wife of 11 years now. She was a nursing major who had her life together, and I was just a passionate jock who loved Jesus and loved students, so I jumped headfirst into full-time ministry and haven’t looked back. It was during that time that we lived in the Browncroft apartments and decided to go to Browncroft because it was so close. 

What is your new role? What things are you responsible for?

My role is the Student Director, overseeing ministry to and through students in grades 6-12. Our team of amazing volunteers and I are responsible for inviting students and families to see their lives transformed through a life-changing relationship with Jesus and to be equipped to boldly own and live out their faith. 

What are you most excited about in your role?

I am thrilled with the opportunity to see the next generation set our community and culture ablaze with an infectious love for Jesus and to watch them proclaim His name loudly from their own spaces. 

What do you like to do outside of work/church?

I love to stay active whether it is doing CrossFit, rock climbing, hiking, or jumping into anything competitive. I love to worship Jesus through moving my body in a way that brings joy to my life and praise to Him. 

Tell us one fun fact about you.

I have coached football for the last nine years, but no season or people have brought me more joy than coaching the varsity girls’ flag football team at Penfield for the last four years. 

Bonus! What’s something, big or small, God has been teaching you recently?

Paul, in his first letter to the church in Corinth, urges and pleads with the body of believers to imitate him as he imitates Christ. As I have been coaching and been exposed to how young people perceive Christians, or even just adults, there are not many examples we can point to and echo Paul’s plea. God is teaching and convicting me to be a man worth imitating. Be someone who others look at and say, “I want what he has” because I am overflowing with the joy of Christ. This is not an emotion to be faked, but it is a confidence and swagger we need to set so we raise the bar for the next generation to lead higher and farther than we did. 

Sarah Etsler, Director of Congregational Care

Sarah, tell us about yourself! Where are you from and how did you get connected to Browncroft?

I was born and raised in Rochester, NY and currently reside in the Webster/Penfield area. I came to Browncroft two years ago through meeting with Peter, as we were both frequent customers of Starbucks every Sunday morning. He encouraged me to check out Browncroft, so I did. I felt welcomed from Day 1 and felt my heart had found its way home to a life with Jesus. I recently retired from a long career in Human Resources and felt “pulled” in the direction of ministry. I participated in Rooted and began volunteering, soon realizing I had a heart and passion for helping and caring for others here at Browncroft.

What is your new role? What things are you responsible for?

I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve as the Director of Congregational Care. This includes being responsible for leading support teams to create a compassionate environment where people freely come forward with needs, and people with compassion are mobilized to serve them. Some examples of our support teams include Celebrate Recovery, Senior Connections, Grief Share, Divorce Care, the Mercy Fund, and Prayer Requests.

What are you most excited about in your role?

What I’m most excited about is working alongside to guide and support our talented teams of volunteers in providing compassionate care and working with them to develop new ways of reaching others in our congregation who are in need.

What do you like to do outside of work/church?

I love being in nature, reading, and building relationships.

Tell us one fun fact about you.

I used to be a kindergarten teacher and love the littles!

Bonus! What’s something, big or small, God has been teaching you recently?

Wow, I feel like God teaches me something daily! I would say most recently he’s been teaching me more about trust and surrender. The circumstances I find myself in lately require my total dependence on Him, and for that I am thankful.

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These three have been a blessing to our community already. Please join us in praying for Tori, Cody, and Sarah as they settle into their roles. We know God will use them in many wonderful ways!