Associate Pastor, Hunter Gray, ext. 115

Hunter Gray is originally from Baton Rouge, LA. He is married to Jacelyn and they have three children: Elijah, 4; Abigail, 1; and baby Judah. Hunter earned his bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and worked for a couple years after LSU in the construction industry. Then, after a time of working in petro-chemical plants, Hunter and Jacelyn discerned their call to full-time ministry. He obtained his master’s of divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Happy to be back down in the south, Hunter is grateful to be serving his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as a pastor. Hunter’s passions are teaching God’s Word and ministering to people who need God’s care and helping others to do the same. “I love to be with members as God reveals His love, faithfulness, grace and mercy even in the midst of distressing times. God is always in control.” In his spare time Hunter loves being with his family, the outdoors, and hunting.

Administrative Assistant, Mur Kuhn, ext. 110

After being raised in New York City, Mur attended the State University in Buffalo, New York, where she earned a degree in Exceptional Education. She returned to Long Island to teach at a facility for children with Cerebral Palsy. A year later she returned to Buffalo to marry “another Presbyterian” and continue her teaching career. Graduate work at the University of Wisconsin at Madison in Early Intervention for Children with Cerebral Palsy further enhanced her education. She was employed by the Cerebral Palsy Association of Western New York for thirty-nine years as a member of an Early Intervention Team catering to young children with handicaps and their families.

Mur and her husband were blessed with three daughters and subsequently grandchildren who have been a joy and comfort. Her retirement years were spent in Longmont, Colorado, where she lost her soul mate in 2001. In 2006 Mur became a Louisianaian to be near her youngest daughter and her young family. Mur’s spiritual journey began by way of her parent’s nurturing and continued throughout her life by significant enablers along the way. She has been an ordained elder since the 1970’s and active in the Presbyterian Church, as well as Presbyterian Women. Mur feels blessed to have become part of New Covenant and all it has to offer through God’s grace.

Communications Ministries, Debi Perkins, ext. 122

Debi has been a resident of Covington during the last twelve years. Previously, she and her husband Bruce were missionaries in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she did the graphics and publishing for Calvary Evangelistic Mission. Debi is currently working toward a degree in Christian counseling. Besides having an interest in photography, she is, also, an avid fan of sailing, and she can often be found on their boat out in Lake Pontchartrain during the week-ends and cool nights.

She has two daughters who live nearby. Hannah, who is engaged to be married on January 2, 2010, is a student at Leavell College in New Orleans and is an artist. Her sister Milena is the mother of identical four-year-old twin girls, and they live in Lockport.

Director of Youth Ministries, Chris Ellzey, ext. 114

Chris is from South Carolina and is a graduate of Clemson University. Prior to coming to New Covenant, he spent two years working at Eagle Ranch in Flowery Branch, Georgia, a home “for boys and girls in crisis and in need of hope and healing.” Throughout college Chris worked with at-risk teens bringing them to church youth groups and leading them in study of Scripture. Chris is newly-wed to the former Anna Kathryn Buffington.

Director of Children's Ministries, Candy Pendleton, ext. 113

Candy has been a resident of Covington for almost seven years and has been a member of New Covenant for approximately 6 years. Candy is a teacher at Sixth Ward where she teaches gifted reading and math classes for first to fifth grade. She has a married daughter, Jeanna, who lives and teaches in Covington and a married son, Jeff, in Walker. Candy has four grandsons, who she loves spending time with. She is an active member of the NCPC chancel choir. Her hobbies include reading, cross-stitch, quilting and, most recently, working with stained glass.

Children's Ministries Assistant, Jennifer Saweikis, ext. 113

Jennifer and her husband, Matt, and their children have lived in Mandeville for two years. She originally grew up in the southwest suburbs of Chicago and started her family in Plainfield, Illinois. The Saweikis family moved to Louisiana due to Matt’s relocation with McDonald’s Corporation. Matt and Jennifer have three children, Matthew, Haley, and Steven. Jennifer spends a great deal of her free time volunteering at her children’s schools. She enjoys singing in the chancel choir at NCPC and participating in the Parents With Young Children Life Group. Her hobbies include reading, gardening and exercising.

Children's Ministries Assistant, Leanne Schulman, ext. 113

Leanne and her family started coming to New Covenant in the Fall of 2006 while doing the 40 Days of Purpose. She was born and raised in Minnesota and found herself shipped to Los Angeles, Atlanta and then Louisiana courtesy of her husband’s job with UPS. Leanne and her husband Carl have been married 17 years and have two sons, Zachary (8) and Devin (5). An avid scrapbooker, she also enjoys reading, exercising, gardening and being a part of the Parents with Young Children Life Group. Leanne has a degree in Finance and prior to having kids she worked in banking.

Weekday School Director, Diane Ferguson, ext. 119

Diane is a native of Perth, Australia and has lived in Mandeville with her husband Robert since 1986.  Diane spent 17 years in Germany where a Montessori school was opened in the church her husband pastored in 1974.  She obtained her Montessori diploma from St. Nicholas School for Montessori Education in London in 1980.  Since 1991 Diane has been delighted to be part of the New Covenant family.

Weekday School Secretary, Terrice Moore, ext. 119

Terrice was raised in Mandeville, where she grew up swimming and fishing in the lake. After graduating from college with a degree in business, she and her husband Joseph moved to the south shore. Terrice and her family, which now included two boys moved back to Mandeville in 1996. The family spend their time involved in scouting, sports, school and church. Terrice loves to garden and read.