Leadership
Cooper Smith
Pastor-Teacher
Cooper grew up in church but didn’t come to a saving faith until his senior year of high school. After his conversion he had a desire to pursue ministry, and he enrolled at Columbia International University. There he graduated with a degree in Biblical Languages and Bible. During that time the Lord strengthened his desire for ministry, leading him to complete a Master’s of Divinity from The Master’s Seminary in Sun Valley, California. He and his wife then moved back to their supporting church in Woodstock, Georgia where he served on staff directing the college ministry. Through that time, Cooper’s desire for shepherding continued to grow, and in 2016, he and his family moved to Raleigh, North Carolina. He is thankful for the opportunity that the Lord has brought for him to be the pastor of GraceLife Bible Church. Cooper and Brooke are blessed to be the parents of four children: Shepard, Mercy, Hudson, and Jude.
Tony LaConte
Youth Leader-Teacher
Tony was saved at the age of 16 while attending Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA where he attended church for 30 years under pastor John MacArthur. Because God graciously transformed his heart as a teenager through the faithful teaching of God’s Word, Tony has a desire to bring that transforming truth to teenagers at GraceLife Bible Church. In 2016, he and his family moved to North Carolina where he began pursuing a Master’s of Divinity degree at the Shepherd’s Theological Seminary. He has a personal interest in learning Hebrew and studying Old Testament prophecy. Tony works as an senior application engineer for a medical software company. He and his wife Maffrine have two children: Joelle and Lydia.