MEET THE STAFF:
Greg Sawyer, pastor
Tonya sawyer, worship arts director
Greg and Tonya have been married for the past 30 years and have 7 children and 4 grandchildren. They met while serving on summer missions , married the next year, and have been a part of various catalytic ministries ever since. Illuminate is their fifth church plant.
After ten years serving their most recent church plant in Arizona, Greg and Tonya felt God leading them onto a new adventure and began pursuing opportunities in the Pacific Northwest. They discovered Olympia while visiting the area and were immediately drawn in by its incredible diversity and active artistic community. They are thrilled to call this beautiful city home and to be a part of the work God is doing here. Serving as Illuminate’s senior pastor and worship arts director, Greg and Tonya are passionate about seeing relationships reconciled through the healing only God can bring and making sure everyone knows the life and joy they have found in Jesus.
Favorite Verse: Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love, He will exult over you with loud singing.
Favorite Superheroes:
Greg: Professor X
Tonya: Wonder Woman
Hannah weekley, administration
Hannah met her husband, Bradley, in Marquand, Missouri while Hannah's family was there serving at Camp Canaan. They were married 5 years later. The Weekleys have one daughter, Aurora "Rory", who is a born native of Olympia.
In January of 2015 they felt called to relocate from Missouri to Olympia, and be a part of God's work through Illuminate. Bradley has done many children and youth camps, and in 2012 helped start "The Gathering", a youth ministry for the children of Marquand. Hannah is the child of church planters, and has since developed a passion for worship, children and youth ministries. She has been actively involved in the building of all three in the various churches she has been engaged with. They both love Olympia, and the excitement it has to offer, and are so glad to be apart of the movement to illuminate Olympia with the love of Christ.
Favorite Verse: Ephesians 5:15-16
Therefore be careful then how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise. Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Favorite Superhero:
Captain America
Catherine Miller, media and administrative support
Catherine and her husband, Jared, moved to Olympia in November of 2016. After serving on the worship team at Fort Robinson Baptist Church in East Tennessee, the Millers felt God calling them to Washington to join the team at Illuminate. Catherine and Jared have known the Sawyer family for many years, and were involved in their Phoenix, Arizona church plant as well.
Catherine has been serving at various church plants for the past 10 years, usually filling in as needed in music or administrative roles. She doesn't know how she feels about the Washington rain, but loves serving the Olympia community and showing the love of Jesus to the people here.
Favorite verse: Hebrews 10:39
For we are not those who drawback and are defeated, but those who have faith and obtain life.
Favorite superhero:
Storm