DISCIPLESHIP
Equip and empower congregations to form disciples of all ages who know, love and follow Jesus with joy and work, in community and with God’s help, to build the Kingdom of God.
LEADERSHIP
Lisa Aycock
Lead Youth Missioner
Lisa Aycock
Lead Youth Missioner
919-600-5308
EMAIL
As of January 1, 2019, Lisa is the lead youth missioner in the Diocese of North Carolina.
She and her husband Ricky live in the country with their two exceptional young adults, three Labs and a flock of chickens. In her free time Lisa enjoys photography, painting, and spending time outdoors and at the beach.
Leah Dail
Assistant Youth Missioner
Leah Dail
Assistant Youth Missioner
919-600-5309
EMAIL
Leah is a native North Carolinian, born and raised in Raleigh. She majored in English and American Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill and stayed there to work at the NC Jaycee Burn Center. She is married to Rick Schertz, and they have four children and two dogs. After a 15-year career at home with her kids, she was the youth minister at St. Paul’s, Cary, for six years. She enjoys reading, gardening and playing games with her family. Leah is based out of the Raleigh office.
The Rev. Kelly Ryan
Missioner for Discipleship
The Rev. Kelly Ryan
Missioner for Discipleship
984-263-5423
EMAIL
Kelly serves diocesan congregations as the missioner for discipleship. The position was created as part of, and is made possible by, the $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. the diocese received in October 2024 to reconceive the way it supports congregations as they seek to form disciples of all ages. Instead of traditional programming, the project is designed to spark congregational imagination around intergenerational worship and its connection to holistic Christian formation, to support connections among congregations, and to equip and empower congregational leaders to design and lead inclusive, sensory-rich worship rooted in The Episcopal Church’s liturgical traditions.
Kelly previously served at Duke Divinity School as director of the Thriving Congregations Coordination Program and as senior director of Communications and executive editor for Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, as well as a communications coach for Lilly Endowment grantees. For more than two decades, she has served children and their families as a catechist, tutor, mentor and hospital volunteer.
Kelly was ordained a vocational deacon in 2024. For two years, she served as deacon and children’s minister at St. Joseph’s, Durham. In early 2026, she began serving as chaplain to Bishop Jennifer Brooke-Davidson. She holds a Master of Divinity, a certificate in Christian Education, and an MA in Christian Practice from Duke Divinity School, as well as a BA in journalism and political science from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.
Joy Shillingsburg
Mission Strategy Coordinator
Joy Shillingsburg
Mission Strategy Coordinator
919-521-5927
EMAIL
Joy is a lifelong educator who served as the director of youth and outreach at St. John’s, Wake Forest, for more than a decade before joining diocesan staff. Prior to serving at St. John’s, Joy spent 15 years as a classroom history teacher outside of Philadelphia and in the Wake County Public School System. Her commitment to teaching historical truths and how these truths have the power to liberate and transform our lives and society has been a through line of her work. At St. John’s, Joy led vibrant intergenerational programs that linked formation rooted in Becoming Beloved Community to vibrant outreach ministries. As an extension of her work as director of youth and outreach, Joy founded Wake Forest Community Table. This thriving nonprofit served more than 25,000 meals from 2020 through 2022 while connecting diverse members of the community to each other through quarterly gatherings that explore the history, laws, personal stories, and systems that necessitate the twice-weekly meal distribution.
Joy lives her faith by serving her neighbors and is deeply committed to leading diverse stakeholders to do the work of Becoming Beloved Community. Joy earned her M.S. in History Education at Villanova University. She lives with her family in Wake Forest. Joy loves biking, hiking, traveling and podcasts almost as much as reading!
DIOCESAN LEADERSHIP COMMITMENTS
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Offer guidance to congregations about benchmarks in the development of disciples of all ages to help clergy and lay leaders articulate their definition of discipleship, set goals for forming disciples and align their program offerings with this vision.
- Walk alongside clergy and lay formation leaders working with all ages, providing coaching, resourcing and leadership development opportunities so they are confident, clear and effective in their ministries.
- Build connections among formation leaders across the diocese, especially within Convocations, to develop networks of peer support, learning and spiritual growth.
- Encourage congregations to develop disciple-making strategies that balance peer and intergenerational formation in worship, programs, service and fellowship.
- Curate and develop resources to support formation for disciples and their communities around Baptism and Confirmation.
- Align all of our offerings with our commitment to honor the dignity of every human being, with special attention to the LGBTQIA+ community, people of color and dual-language learners.
CONGREGATION & INDIVIDUAL COMMITMENTS
- Develop a contextually appropriate vision for forming disciples of all ages and align programming, staffing and budgeting in support of that vision.
- Provide opportunities for all members of the Body of Christ to grow as disciples through prayer, worship, study, spiritual practice, vocational discernment and mission.
- Develop a disciple-making culture that balances peer and intergenerational formation aligned with the values and commitments expressed in the affirmations, renunciations and covenant of Baptism.
- Connect disciple-making strategies with diocesan priorities that encourage racial reckoning, justice and healing; creation care; and collaboration with diverse community partners.
- Ensure that formation opportunities are designed for the full participation of all members of the Body of Christ regardless of age, physical abilities, socioeconomic status, language or cultural background.
FORMATION RESOURCES BY AGE
PRAYER RESOURCES
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