Meet Our Staff

Rev. Rosario Picardo

Hello! I’m Rosario Picardo – a 31 year old in the city of Lexington. I am the Lead Pastor of Embrace Church, a brand new, diverse, exciting community of faith that just launched 3 years ago!  Before I put on my SuperSuit and go live out my call in the city, I fix my myself about a dozen egg whites along with a hardy bowl of oatmeal. Feel free to contact me directly by email anytime roz@embraceyourcity.com. The Bio I Wish I Had Rosario is an amazingly handsome stud. Usually the smartest person in the room, he could beat up most men very easily. Rosario recently turned down a 6-figure contract with the UFC because he did not want to embarrass the other fighters. Here’s a secret…most people write their own bio, but just write it in third-person like someone else is the author.  No need in me frontin’…I’m writing my own bio like everyone else – except my friends would not allow me to tell you the truth (which now has a big line through it above . For real though, here’s my real (third-person) bio: The Bio I Really Have Rosario is a very regular dude. Sometimes he says and does very dumb things and other times he has absolute near strokes of genius. Moving to Lexington, Kentucky and starting Embrace Church are some of the best things he has ever done. He’s not a perfect son, brother, husband, or pastor, but gives these things his very best shot every single day. Rosario grew up in Western, New York and is a first generation Sicilian-American. In 2003, Rosario received a B.A. in Religion from Houghton College, and in 2007, he earned an MDiv from Asbury Theological Seminary. Rosario spent 4 years in the United States Marine Reserves and 5 years in the United States Navy Reserves. Rosario fell in love with urban ministry while attending The Rock/La Roca United Methodist Church as a member, custodian, and finally associate pastor. Rosario has had his car stolen and sold for twenty dollars, his tires slashed, his house vandalized and his life threatened for carrying out his call. Upon graduation from ATS Rosario was appointed by the Kentucky Annual Conference as a church planter.  In 2009, Embrace Church launched in the Kentucky Theatre and has since expanded to two campuses and three congregations: Embrace Downtown, Embrace Church Epworth Campus (formerly The Rock/La Roca), and The Gathering. In 2011, Rosario became an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. Rosario is married to his wonderful wife, Callie, and is working on his DMin degree at United Theological Seminary.  Recently, he published his first book, Embrace: A Church Plant That Broke All The Rules (available at RosarioPicardo.com). In 2012, Rosario launched Picardo Coaching LLC, a consulting group that helps church leaders plant faith communities and revitalize existing congregations.

Leticia Preacely

Sara Fuchs

I was born and raised in the great state of Oklahoma. Twelve years ago, I began a journey with God that changed my life forever. As a college intern, I saw first hand what the love of God can do in the lives of students that are loved and nurtured in the life of faith.From that moment on, the mission of my life and heart has been to see the lives of people changed by the love and grace of God. I graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. From there, I attended Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore Kentucky and graduated with my Master of Arts in Youth Ministry in 2003. I have returned to Asbury a year and a half ago to receive my MDIV and MAMH. I am loving every moment of this journey and can’t wait to see where God will lead.

Leah and Trevor Johnston

My husband Trevor and I moved from Tallahassee, FL so he could attend Asbury Seminary. We hailed from the good old Wesley Foundation at Florida State University (Go Noles!) and Tallahassee Community College. I was born in Albany, NY, but grew up in Clearwater, FL (I MISS THE BEACH!!!).  I really began to follow Jesus and surrender my whole life to Him in college. The Wesley Foundation showed me what a follower of Jesus was. Surrounded by my peers I fell in love with the Trinity (Father, Son, and Spirit) through prayer, worship, community and outreach.  Worship is the way I express my love to God, which has led me to leading worship at the Kentucky Theatre campus of Embrace. I first came to Embrace when Shane Claiborne came about spoke in the Summer of 2010. I loved the diverse community of folks and the realness of the staff, so I never left.  I’m glad to call this place my home and am SO PUMPED to be helping in worship!

John Gallaher

My name is John Gallaher and I lead worship at Embrace’s Epworth Campus.  I love many different styles of music and I ultimately want to help others grow closer to Christ through music and song.  My wife and I are also the directors of Common Good, a nonprofit that focuses on Christian community development among children, youth, and families in North Lexington.  We live and work in the church’s neighborhood and run our after-school and summer programs in the basement of Embrace’s Epworth Campus.

Luke McKeel

Josh Wynn

I am 30 years old, I grew up in western Kentucky in a very small town.  I’m just a normal down to earth guy that believes there has to be more to life then what most of us experience.  My relationship with Jesus started when I was 17.  I got a B.S. in Psychology and Counseling in my undergrad, and I am finishing up a Masters of Divinity at Asbury Seminary.  I primarily work with “The Gathering” which is a Monday night service that provides clothing, food, and an environment of worship for this on the north side of Lexington.

John Groves

I’m a two-time Kentucky State SLP Dead lifting champion (2010-2011), but I’m also the facilities manager for the Epworth Campus and the foreman for the set-up crew on Sunday mornings at the Kentucky Theater.  I’m currently working on my bachelors in electrical engineering at the University of Kentucky and I have just received my Associates in Applied Science in Engineering Technology at Bluegrass Community and Technical College in the Fall of 2011. I’ve been a Christian for over half of my life and I’ve lived the streets in between those time periods.  I’ve see, done, and been to places that I’m not to proud of, but when I finally got my life right; that’s when the doors opened up and Embrace UMC soon  became a place where  I was challenged to grow into the I person needed to become.  I’ve been here for two years or a little over and I’m not going anywhere. I love my fellow employees, my church, and my savior Jesus Christ.  It is time that I keep giving back what was so freely given to me, and that is my promise to those who walk through the thresholds of Embrace.  No matter whether it is at the Downtown or the Epworth Campus.

Billy Wolfinbarger

“Run through the house and turn on all of the lights.” Was what I was told by a lady named Joyce Myers on my very first trip to Orlando Florida back in the early 90’s. Little did I know that this lady who was “famous for Jesus” was speaking something in my life that I would benefit from today. I was born here in the great city of Lexington Ky. but raised most of my life in Berea. After a time of living out west, I came back to Kentucky thinking it was temporary for my “nanny”  OOPS was I wrong. I remember asking Christ to come into my heart in November in a Subaru, but had no idea that this decision would have such an impact on my life. I am a nurse and have been for over 12 years, but long before nursing I  have always worked in some sort of customer relations field. Working closely with the HR department and continuing my education in the field of business and human resources, I have found, to be a great asset to the area for which I serve at Embrace Church. I love the people at Embrace and am thankful to God for allowing me the opportunity to learn more of His great compassion while serving in this way. So while I continue to run through “my house” and turn on all of the lights, I am amazed at how many lights that need turned on, and grateful to know that even though sometimes along this journey my lights go dim or sometimes out, He has continued to show his great love for me and allow His light to be mine.

Dan Adkiins

Bryan R. Wisdom