Meet Our Staff
Rev. Jonathan Tony
Senior Pastor
Email Jonathan Tony
It is a wonderful gift to be the pastor of a church I would attend if I wasn't its pastor. In 2009, my wife Emily and I worshipped at HCC for a year and half before God called me to be the Associate Pastor of Family Ministry in Ocean Srings, Mississippi. In 2019, God saw it fit to call me here to serve HCC as its pastor.
When Emily and I first visited HCC, we found a congregation that loved Jesus, who were committed to living into the good news of the gospel, who longed to live according to Christ’s Word in Scripture, and loved one another as Christ has loved them. We are amazed at the providence of God that has called us back here to join HCC in its mission of sharing Jesus Christ with others and growing as his disciples.
Before HCC, I served as the Associate Pastor of Family Ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs, Mississippi from March of 2011 to March of 2019. I was able to use my gifts of developing Christ-centered community, inviting others to come and see Jesus in order to follow him wherever he leads.
I am a native of the Midwest, having grown up in St. Louis and Chicago, completing my BA in History at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. This will be my fourth time to live in Texas since undergrad: I was a youth director in San Antonio, 6th grade teacher in Brownsville, and then substitute taught in Coppell until God call us to Ocean Springs. I followed Christ’s call into ordained ministry in 2006 and graduated from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 2009.
Emily is a native Texan, having grown up in Fort Worth and is a certified Occupational Therapist. All three of our children- Nathanael (10), Karis (8) and Clara (5) were born in Ocean Springs. They keep us busy with church and school activities, sports, and music lessons.
When I’m not at church or chasing our kids around, you can most likely find me on the golf course, a local coffee shop reading, maybe out for the occasional run, or at home baking and playing board games with the family.
Senior Pastor
Email Jonathan Tony
It is a wonderful gift to be the pastor of a church I would attend if I wasn't its pastor. In 2009, my wife Emily and I worshipped at HCC for a year and half before God called me to be the Associate Pastor of Family Ministry in Ocean Srings, Mississippi. In 2019, God saw it fit to call me here to serve HCC as its pastor.
When Emily and I first visited HCC, we found a congregation that loved Jesus, who were committed to living into the good news of the gospel, who longed to live according to Christ’s Word in Scripture, and loved one another as Christ has loved them. We are amazed at the providence of God that has called us back here to join HCC in its mission of sharing Jesus Christ with others and growing as his disciples.
Before HCC, I served as the Associate Pastor of Family Ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs, Mississippi from March of 2011 to March of 2019. I was able to use my gifts of developing Christ-centered community, inviting others to come and see Jesus in order to follow him wherever he leads.
I am a native of the Midwest, having grown up in St. Louis and Chicago, completing my BA in History at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. This will be my fourth time to live in Texas since undergrad: I was a youth director in San Antonio, 6th grade teacher in Brownsville, and then substitute taught in Coppell until God call us to Ocean Springs. I followed Christ’s call into ordained ministry in 2006 and graduated from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 2009.
Emily is a native Texan, having grown up in Fort Worth and is a certified Occupational Therapist. All three of our children- Nathanael (10), Karis (8) and Clara (5) were born in Ocean Springs. They keep us busy with church and school activities, sports, and music lessons.
When I’m not at church or chasing our kids around, you can most likely find me on the golf course, a local coffee shop reading, maybe out for the occasional run, or at home baking and playing board games with the family.
Savon Peña
Youth Director
Email Savon Peña
I am from Grand Prairie, a now large city between Dallas and Fort Worth. I had a friend who pursued me for years trying to get me to come to church. After many invitations I finally said yes, I began attending what would be my home church. On January 3, 2010 I finally realized that I was dead in my sins and I needed a Savior.
This was the beginning of my walk with God.
Shortly after that however, I left the church for almost two years trying to find joy in the world. On my first night back at Church I met the new Youth Pastor who would also become my mentor and one of my closest friends. In my Junior year of High School, I stopped trying to run away from my call to ministry. My mentor took me on as his intern and showed me what ministry looked like and I fell in love with it. I knew that I had found the calling in Student Ministry.
After graduating High School, I met my beautiful wife Danika and we dated for five years before getting married in May 2018. During those years I attended Dallas Baptist University and worked for a church in Carrollton on the Student Ministry team. I joined the HCC staff January of 2020; Danika and I are excited to be part of a church that has a loving community and a desire for others to know the gospel. Danika and I welcomed our first child, Titus in February!
In my free time I love reading, playing with our dog Milo, cooking, and watching the Minnesota Vikings…SKOL! A verse that has defined my heart for ministry and my personal life is 1 Thessalonians 2:8,
“Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”
Youth Director
Email Savon Peña
I am from Grand Prairie, a now large city between Dallas and Fort Worth. I had a friend who pursued me for years trying to get me to come to church. After many invitations I finally said yes, I began attending what would be my home church. On January 3, 2010 I finally realized that I was dead in my sins and I needed a Savior.
This was the beginning of my walk with God.
Shortly after that however, I left the church for almost two years trying to find joy in the world. On my first night back at Church I met the new Youth Pastor who would also become my mentor and one of my closest friends. In my Junior year of High School, I stopped trying to run away from my call to ministry. My mentor took me on as his intern and showed me what ministry looked like and I fell in love with it. I knew that I had found the calling in Student Ministry.
After graduating High School, I met my beautiful wife Danika and we dated for five years before getting married in May 2018. During those years I attended Dallas Baptist University and worked for a church in Carrollton on the Student Ministry team. I joined the HCC staff January of 2020; Danika and I are excited to be part of a church that has a loving community and a desire for others to know the gospel. Danika and I welcomed our first child, Titus in February!
In my free time I love reading, playing with our dog Milo, cooking, and watching the Minnesota Vikings…SKOL! A verse that has defined my heart for ministry and my personal life is 1 Thessalonians 2:8,
“Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”
Jaycie Skidmore
Music Director/Children's Music
Email Jaycie Skidmore
With a trombone-playing father and a piano-playing mother, I don't remember a time when music was not a part of my life. I grew up with wonderful church choir directors who gave me a fantastic foundation in singing and who helped me develop a love of musical service. I began studying flute at age 12 at Coppell Middle School East and ultimately earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree in 2007 from Baylor. I grew up in the church but didn’t fully commit my life to Christ until age 17. I have always felt closest to God when making music and I am so incredibly grateful to be able to use those gifts to help support my family and most importantly, for the glory of Jesus Christ!
I first visited Hackberry Creek church when I was a junior at Coppell High School and returned five years later when I was finishing up my student teaching semester here in the DFW area. I had never experienced such a true representation of a "church family" and that is what drew me back to HCC. From day one, I served on the worship team and I became the Children's Music Director in 2015. After our long-time music director’s retirement, I took over as the Director of Music Ministry in April 2021. My goal is to build a team of lead worshippers and provide a multitude of musical opportunities for the HCC family that will bring them closer to the presence of God. Our goal is not to perform, but to praise!
In what free time I can scrounge up, I enjoy exercising, reading, watching movies, being outdoors, baking and cooking, and spending time with my husband, Donald, and daughter, Cayley.
Music Director/Children's Music
Email Jaycie Skidmore
With a trombone-playing father and a piano-playing mother, I don't remember a time when music was not a part of my life. I grew up with wonderful church choir directors who gave me a fantastic foundation in singing and who helped me develop a love of musical service. I began studying flute at age 12 at Coppell Middle School East and ultimately earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree in 2007 from Baylor. I grew up in the church but didn’t fully commit my life to Christ until age 17. I have always felt closest to God when making music and I am so incredibly grateful to be able to use those gifts to help support my family and most importantly, for the glory of Jesus Christ!
I first visited Hackberry Creek church when I was a junior at Coppell High School and returned five years later when I was finishing up my student teaching semester here in the DFW area. I had never experienced such a true representation of a "church family" and that is what drew me back to HCC. From day one, I served on the worship team and I became the Children's Music Director in 2015. After our long-time music director’s retirement, I took over as the Director of Music Ministry in April 2021. My goal is to build a team of lead worshippers and provide a multitude of musical opportunities for the HCC family that will bring them closer to the presence of God. Our goal is not to perform, but to praise!
In what free time I can scrounge up, I enjoy exercising, reading, watching movies, being outdoors, baking and cooking, and spending time with my husband, Donald, and daughter, Cayley.
Stephanie Gieselman
Administrative Assistant
Email Stephanie Gieselman
I am from a small farming community in southwest Louisiana. My sister and I grew up listening to bible stories, singing VBS songs, and attending weekly worship at the First Presbyterian Church. I watched my parents and grandparents live their Christian faith with purpose through mission work, several ministries and church leadership. It is because of this example and early introduction to Jesus as a child that I credit my strong faith foundation and passion to serve. I was nine years old when my father was called into ordained ministry and my family relocated to Austin, Texas.
I loved attending youth retreats in high school and later as an active member in campus ministry as an undergrad at The University of Louisiana at Lafayette. There I studied Fashion Merchandising, which eventually led me to Dallas due to the job market opportunities in corporate retail. After several years as a buyer’s assistant and later managing my own categories, I returned to school for a Master’s in Merchandising from The University of North Texas.
My husband and I started a family shortly after moving to the metroplex in 2003. We chose Coppell because we found our church “home” in St. Ann Catholic Parish, where we have been active members for the past sixteen years. My vocation as a mother to our two amazing children (now 8 and 14) has been the most wonderful and challenging mission of my life. Our family has been beyond blessed, allowing me to stay home with the kids and volunteer in a variety of ministries within the Dallas Diocese. I am excited to join the HCC staff and serve the church community as your new Administrative Assistant.
Administrative Assistant
Email Stephanie Gieselman
I am from a small farming community in southwest Louisiana. My sister and I grew up listening to bible stories, singing VBS songs, and attending weekly worship at the First Presbyterian Church. I watched my parents and grandparents live their Christian faith with purpose through mission work, several ministries and church leadership. It is because of this example and early introduction to Jesus as a child that I credit my strong faith foundation and passion to serve. I was nine years old when my father was called into ordained ministry and my family relocated to Austin, Texas.
I loved attending youth retreats in high school and later as an active member in campus ministry as an undergrad at The University of Louisiana at Lafayette. There I studied Fashion Merchandising, which eventually led me to Dallas due to the job market opportunities in corporate retail. After several years as a buyer’s assistant and later managing my own categories, I returned to school for a Master’s in Merchandising from The University of North Texas.
My husband and I started a family shortly after moving to the metroplex in 2003. We chose Coppell because we found our church “home” in St. Ann Catholic Parish, where we have been active members for the past sixteen years. My vocation as a mother to our two amazing children (now 8 and 14) has been the most wonderful and challenging mission of my life. Our family has been beyond blessed, allowing me to stay home with the kids and volunteer in a variety of ministries within the Dallas Diocese. I am excited to join the HCC staff and serve the church community as your new Administrative Assistant.
John Banach
Membership Administrator
Email John Banach
I grew up in East Orange, NJ. I've been a member of Hackberry Creek Church for nine years. Prior to moving to the Dallas Metroplex in 2010, I was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood where I served on staff in the Evangelism Department, with a specialty in Membership. I'm a graduate of Princeton (Economics) and the University of Chicago (MBA). I like to read, watch films, and write. Two of my plays were produced by our church: "The Trial of Dietrich Bonhoeffer," and "Interview With Sojourner Truth."
Membership Administrator
Email John Banach
I grew up in East Orange, NJ. I've been a member of Hackberry Creek Church for nine years. Prior to moving to the Dallas Metroplex in 2010, I was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood where I served on staff in the Evangelism Department, with a specialty in Membership. I'm a graduate of Princeton (Economics) and the University of Chicago (MBA). I like to read, watch films, and write. Two of my plays were produced by our church: "The Trial of Dietrich Bonhoeffer," and "Interview With Sojourner Truth."