Zach Perry is a software engineer at Oracle who helps build the massive data centers powering today's AI boom — and he's also the husband of GCC's own Avery Perry. In this episode, we get technical for a bit, unpacking what cloud computing and AI actually are and why data centers need so much power and water, before shifting into something deeper: what it looks like to follow Jesus in a highly secular, results-driven industry. Zach shares his own story of feeling called into tech, and how he tries to represent Christ to coworkers from around the world who may have never heard the gospel. Whether you're raising a future computer scientist or just wondering how faith fits into a life shaped by AI, this conversation offers real, grounded perspective.

• Understand what cloud computing actually is and why companies like Oracle are racing to build massive data centers
• Discover how AI has reshaped the daily work of software engineers, shifting them from writers of code to managers of it
• Hear Zach's honest take on the ethics of AI, including questions about job displacement and human value
• Learn how quietly doing excellent work opens doors to share Christ that words alone never could
• See what it looks like to be a light among coworkers from unreached people groups without ever leaving the U.S.
• Get practical encouragement for parents or students wondering if a kid might be wired for a career in tech
• Walk through Zach's own story of calling, from four high schools in three years to landing at Oracle

• Freecodecamp.org — mentioned as a starting point for students or parents curious about learning to code

Zach Perry is a software and infrastructure engineer at Oracle, where he works on scale manufacturing for the GPU racks that power data centers supporting today's AI industry. He studied computer science at Haverford College and grew up in a Christian home. Zach is married to Avery Perry, GCC's assistant communications director, and the two are currently moving back to Pennsylvania from Seattle.

The Know and Follow podcast is a production of Grace Community Church of Willow Street, located at 212 Peach Bottom Road in Willow Street, Pennsylvania. Join us for weekend services on Saturdays at 6 PM, Sundays at 8 AM, 9:15 AM, and 11 AM. Learn more at gccws.net.

Title:

Called to the Church: Hunter Grant's Year in Ministry

Episode Summary:

Hunter Grant joined Grace Community Church as our very first pastoral resident — and after ten months learning from every corner of the ministry, he's stepping into his first full-time pastoral role at Bethany EC Church in Creswell. In this conversation, Hunter reflects on what seminary doesn't prepare you for, why he walked away from a future in IT to pursue ministry, and what it really looks like to be called by God into pastoral work. Whether you're exploring ministry yourself or just curious about what pastors actually do all week, this one's worth your time.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• What GCC's pastoral residency program actually looks like day to day — and why it exists
• Why Sunday is only about 10% of a pastor's actual role, and what fills the rest of the week
• How Hunter sensed God redirecting him away from a career in IT and toward ministry
• What changed in Hunter when he stopped telling himself he "just wasn't an organized person"
• How the residency connects future pastors with real ministry networks before they step into a role
• Why slowing down and sitting under experienced leaders is often the wisest first step for young ministers
• What Hunter and his wife Emma need prayer for as they enter a new season of life, ministry, and parenthood

Key Quotes:

"The biggest lesson I learned throughout this residency is that I cannot do this alone. Pastoral ministry can only be done through the power of Christ working through me." — Hunter Grant

"I went to orientation and felt completely empty — I could tell the Spirit was not in agreement. I remember weeping that night, and I applied to Huntington University and just told the Lord, 'If this is your will, I'll go.' I got an acceptance letter before I even woke up the next morning." — Hunter Grant

"Sunday is like 10% of the role. Being here full time, you really get to see the calling on the pastor's life and the shepherding that they do." — Hunter Grant

"It's a long-term investment. Almost every other job — you don't just jump right in. You're always sitting under someone for an extended period of time. I don't think ministry should be any different." — Hunter Grant

"Even to the very end, people came up and said, 'We stood up the first time you came on stage to pray for you, and we still pray for you every night.' That's something I think we'll never forget." — Hunter Grant

Ways to Get Involved / Resources Mentioned:

• GCC Pastoral Residency Program — Grace Community Church's hands-on ministry training program, now welcoming three residents in the coming year
• Bethany EC Church of Creswell — Hunter's new church home, where he'll serve as Associate Pastor of Youth and Young Adults

About the Guest:

Hunter Grant grew up in Ohio in a family catering business, competed at the state level in computer coding, and once expected to build a career in IT. God had other plans. After a clear sense of calling the summer after high school graduation, Hunter enrolled at Huntington University to study youth ministry. His senior year, he connected with Grace Community Church through his now-wife Emma, and was invited to become GCC's inaugural pastoral resident. Over the course of ten months, he rotated through nearly every ministry department at GCC — from pastoral care to communications — and completed the EC denomination's pastoral assessment process. Hunter begins his role as Associate Pastor of Youth and Young Adults at Bethany EC Church of Creswell on June 1st. He and Emma are also expecting their first daughter.

About the Know and Follow Podcast:

The Know and Follow podcast is a production of Grace Community Church of Willow Street, located at 212 Peach Bottom Road in Willow Street, Pennsylvania. Join us for weekend services on Saturdays at 6 PM, Sundays at 8 AM, 9:15 AM, and 11 AM. Learn more at gccws.net.

Title:

Cooking, Creating, and Trusting God with Drew & Bethany Kramer

Episode Summary:

Drew and Bethany Kramer are the husband-and-wife team behind A Simple Palate, a food blog and YouTube channel that has been bringing scratch cooking and genuine community to people across the world for over a decade. In this conversation, they open up about what it really looks like to build something together as a couple, how faith has shaped every major decision in their business, and why stepping out in fear — especially into a camera — turned out to be one of the greatest acts of obedience in their lives. If you've ever felt called to something but couldn't quite bring yourself to start, this episode is for you.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• How Bethany went from a quiet food blog to a thriving YouTube channel — and why she almost didn't do it
• What the rise of AI-generated search results did to their income, and how God used that crisis to reshape their priorities
• Why Drew left a stable web design career to join the business full time — and the year of prayer that led to that decision
• How "Breakfast with Jesus" keeps them grounded and protects them from making numbers and income into idols
• What working together as a married couple actually looks like day to day — the rhythms, boundaries, and unexpected joys
• Why they chose long-form video over short-form content, and what they believe it offers a distracted world
• Practical encouragement for anyone who feels called to create, share, or start something new — but is still waiting

Key Quotes:

"I just felt compelled in my heart that God was calling me to something more, and I was terrified to step into that. And once I did step out, I realized what a tremendous blessing God had for me on the other side." — Bethany Kramer

"We committed everything to the Lord. We just said, Lord, we trust you. No matter what — I can quit, I can let all this go. And it was an act of complete surrender." — Bethany Kramer

"Every morning we bring our requests to the Lord — our pride, whatever we're dealing with, seeking praise from people. We just bring it and say, Lord, please make my heart right. We call it Breakfast with Jesus." — Bethany Kramer

"You have to do it scared. You have to do it fearful. But you're not alone — you have the Lord. And if God is calling you to that, he will make a way." — Bethany Kramer

"One life will soon be passed, but only what's done for Christ will last. Whatever you do in this life, do it all for the glory of God — because that's all that will last." — Drew Kramer

Ways to Get Involved / Resources Mentioned:

• A Simple Palate — Bethany and Drew's food blog and YouTube channel: asimplepalate.com

About the Guests:

Drew and Bethany Kramer are the couple behind A Simple Palate, a food blog and YouTube channel focused on scratch cooking, simple ingredients, and genuine connection. Bethany started the blog over twelve years ago, shortly after getting married, and has grown it into a community that spans continents. Drew, a self-taught web designer, came alongside her from the beginning before joining full time in November 2024. They attend the 9:15 service at Grace Community Church of Willow Street.

About the Know and Follow Podcast:

The Know and Follow podcast is a production of Grace Community Church of Willow Street, located at 212 Peach Bottom Road in Willow Street, Pennsylvania. Join us for weekend services on Saturdays at 6 PM, Sundays at 8 AM, 9:15 AM, and 11 AM. Learn more at gccws.net.