LIFE CHURCH STAFF

SENIOR PASTOR-ALL LOCATIONS

Shawn Hennessy provides apostolic oversight to multiple ministries across 3 states, including serving as co-founder of The Exchange Collaborative, a nonprofit that helps Leaders and Pastors find renewal. He is also the Chaplain for the Green Bay Packers.
His proudest accomplishment is being father to Isaiah and Aubree, as well as husband to Sonny, for 30 years.
Over the past 25 years, Shawn has served as a Youth Pastor, Evangelist, Campus Pastor and Senior Pastor of one of the fastest growing churches in America, 3 times, according to Outreach Magazine. Life Church Green Bay grew from 145 to 4,000 in physical weekly attendance in 4 years.
He has authored several books, including “The Gravity of Grief,” “What’s Your Story?”, “Life, It’s Time to Dream,” and “Jesus.Plus.Life. Guys Edition.” His latest podcast, The Rise After the Fall, aims to support Pastors and Leaders and church members who have gone through a fall.
Click here: https://shawnhennessy.com/

LEAD PASTOR-ALL LOCATIONS

Sonny Hennessy is the Lead Pastor of Life Church, providing apostolic oversight to multiple ministries across 3 states. Sonny also runs The Exchange Brand, launched in 2018, which includes a coffee shop, eatery, salon, and rentals. She owns the award-winning Sonny Hennessy Design firm, recognized for restoring historic buildings.
Sonny is also the co-founder of The Exchange Collaborative with Shawn and co-host to their popular podcast, The Rise after the Fall. She renovated a 20-acre property in North Carolina in 2021, creating a boutique-hotel style oasis for the Ministry to leaders and Pastors.
Through her various media, including The Brain and Bible podcast and a Sonny Look at the Bible, she has inspired people nationwide as an author, speaker, and business coach.
Sonny values and prioritizes her family most: her strong marriage to Shawn and their children, Isaiah James and Aubree Rose, who are studying theology to become Pastors.
Click here: https://www.sonnyhennessy.com/

EXECUTIVE PASTOR

Abby Heinritz is a pastor and leader passionate about helping people experience the life-transforming presence of Jesus. She serves as an Executive Pastor at Life Church Northwest, where she helps cultivate a thriving, life-giving church community. Abby has a heart for creating environments where people feel seen, known, and excited to grow in their faith.
Abby’s path to ministry has been both unique and purposeful. She began her career as a middle school Language Arts teacher before stepping into the role of General Manager at The Exchange Coffee, Mercantile & Eatery, where she developed a passion for marketplace impact. She later became the Young Adult Pastor at Life Church Green Bay, helping grow the ministry for two years before moving to Washington to help plant Life Church Northwest.
She lives in Washington with her husband, Jason, and their two sons, Micah and Caleb, and outside of church, she loves to run, travel, discover local coffee shops, and spend time exploring with her family.

MARKETPLACE MINISTRY AMBASSADOR

Jason Heinritz is a leader, entrepreneur, and communicator passionate about helping people encounter Jesus and live with purpose in every area of life, especially in the marketplace. He serves as the Marketplace Ministry Ambassador at Life Church Northwest, where he helps equip and empower people to live out their faith beyond Sunday and make an impact in their workplaces, businesses, and daily lives. Jason has a heart for raising up leaders who are bold and committed to building God’s Kingdom wherever they are.
Jason’s journey blends ministry and business. He has spent over 20 years in leadership and sales development with Cutco Cutlery, where he leads and mentors a large, primarily virtual team. Alongside his professional work, he helped build and lead the Young Adults ministry at Life Church Green Bay, with his wife Abby, before moving to Washington to help plant Life Church Northwest. Jason is also the author of Wake Up Jesus People, a book whose message is centered on daily disciplines that awaken faith and strengthen believers to live on mission.
Jason lives in Washington with his wife, Abby, and their two sons. He is a proud husband and dad, who loves to “go on adventures” with his family.

WORSHIP & PRODUCTION PASTOR

DJ Ford serves as the Worship & Production Pastor at Life Church Northwest, bringing over two decades of ministry experience to the team. Originally from San Marcos, CA, DJ is a familiar face within the Life Church family, having previously served in various pastoral roles at Life Church Green Bay.

Most recently, he served as a Campus Worship Pastor at Saddleback Church, honing a deep-seated passion for leadership and spiritual growth. DJ is driven by a heart for people, findng his greatest joy in helping others discover and fulfill their God-given calling.

At home, DJ is a dedicated family man. He and his wife, Candice, have been married for nearly 15 years and are the proud parents of four children. When he isn’t behind a console or leading worship, you’ll find him enjoying a movie night, making memories with his family, or planning their next trip to Disneyland.

KIDS PASTOR

Candice Ford serves as the Kids Pastor at Life Church Northwest. She is passionate about seeing the whole family grow closer to God--helping kids fall in love with Jesus while encouraging parents to be intentional in building strong, faith-filled homes.
Before stepping into kids ministry, Candice spent 10 years launching and leading church preschools, which sparked her deep love for early childhood and partnering with families from the very beginning. She has also served in kids ministry at Life Church Fox Valley and Saddleback Church, experiences that helped shape her heart for creating fun, meaningful environments where kids can truly know and follow Jesus.
Candice and her husband have been married for 14 years (20 years together!), and they have four children ranging from a baby to middle school. Life is full, busy, and a lot of fun! As a family, they love exploring new places, being outdoors, and making lasting memories--especially if it involves Disneyland. They believe ministry is something the whole family gets to be part of, and their kids are often found serving right alongside them.