(704) 599-9810 | Worship Sundays @ 10:55 a.m.
(704) 599-9810 | Worship Sundays @ 10:55 a.m.
Senior Pastor • Faith Leader • Parent • Advocate for Justice
A ministry rooted in liberation, compassion, and courageous hope.
The Reverend Christopher Czarnecki serves as the Senior Pastor of Holy Covenant United Church of Christ, where he is known for passionate preaching, deep pastoral care, and an unwavering commitment to justice, inclusion, and spiritual growth.
Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Christopher’s path to ministry is shaped by both professional depth and spiritual discernment. He earned degrees from Jefferson Community College and Missouri Baptist University, including an MBA, and spent 18 years in finance at PNC Bank before answering a call that would redirect his life toward ministry.
His call first emerged while attending a Unity Church, leading him to study at Unity Institute and Seminary. In 2014, his journey with the United Church of Christ began at Eden Theological Seminary, where he earned his Master of Divinity in 2018.
Christopher’s ministry experience spans chaplaincy, student pastor roles, and congregational leadership, including his tenure at First United Protestant Church in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. There, he guided the congregation through revitalization, expanded outreach, and faithful leadership during the challenges of the pandemic.
In 2023, Christopher was called to Holy Covenant UCC in Charlotte, North Carolina, bringing renewed energy, theological depth, and a pastoral presence grounded in liberation theology, racial justice, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and interfaith collaboration.
Christopher is also a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Akeera, and a proud father to their three children: Daveyion, Shanel, and Carter. Family, community, and faith are woven together in the life he leads and the ministry he shares.
Follow Pastor Chris on Substack for weekly reflections, essays, and pastoral insights.
We give thanks for Pastor Chris’s leadership, vision, and faithful presence among us.
Minister • Musician • Storyteller • Beloved Member of Holy Covenant
A life of faith lived boldly, creatively, and joyfully.
The Reverend Judah L. Jones is an ordained minister in the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church and officially retired from full-time pastoral ministry last year. She holds a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School and brings decades of faithful leadership, creativity, and compassion into every space she serves.
Born blind, Judah has consistently challenged assumptions and expanded what vocational ministry can look like. Her life and calling testify to a faith that refuses limitation and embraces imagination, courage, and joy.
Judah has served in a wide range of roles, including Senior Pastor, Director of Pastoral Care, Substance Abuse Counselor, and Minister of Music. At Holy Covenant UCC, she served as Minister of Music from 2006–2014 and more recently as Interim Music Director, offering leadership marked by depth, humor, and heart.
In retirement, Judah continues to share her gifts as a preacher, pulpit supply minister, music leader, singer-songwriter, actor, artist, and comedian. She is currently active with Carolina Voices, Carolina Carolers, the Southern Songwriters Association, Forest Hills UMC – Worship at Gibson Village, Planet Improv, and the Charlotte Murder Mystery Company.
Above all, Judah is a beloved member of the Holy Covenant community — a trusted voice in the pulpit, a creative presence in worship, and a joyful reminder that faith can be both deeply serious and delightfully playful.
You can follow Judah on Facebook at Judah Blind Prophet.
We give thanks for Judah’s ministry, artistry, and faithful presence among us.
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