Lecia Appling-Executive Director of Corporate Worship

From the age of two, Mrs. A has been involved in performing arts through the local church. She was able to learn about the art of worship through singing on platforms in churches all over Georgia. Raised by Christian parents who also worked in ministry, Mrs. A realized around the age of eleven that she needed to ask the Lord to be her personal Savior. She gave her heart, soul, mind and body to Christ and she has been overwhelmed at what the Lord has done in her life and in the lives of others through performing arts. In 1997, a church family entered Mrs. A into the Babbie Mason Vocal Contest. Not only did she win the Best Vocal, she also won the Best Overall Score. She was sent to Colorado, which was a life-changing event for her. While in Colorado, she found the peace in knowing the difference between ministry and industry. God has prepared her heart to know that she has been called to do ministry. Where singing had been her primary service in worship, she found at the age of twenty-six she was blessed with the gift of playing the piano. Since that time, she has developed and directed the Sanctuary Choir, Men's Choir, Ladies' Choir, Holiday Choirs, Ensembles, Praise Teams, Bands, and Children's Musicals. While still directing all of these ministries, Mrs. A saw the need for the Performing Arts ministry and desired to offer that opportunity to The Grove. Mrs. A and her husband, Pastor Jeff Appling, have been serving at The Grove since October of 1990. They reside in Homer with their three children, Andy, Anna, and Austin. Both Pastor and Mrs. A are blessed by their children's desire to serve beside them in ministry.

Cole Parker-Student Ministry Worship Director

Hi, my name is Cole Parker and I’ve been apart of the Grove staff for the past 8 years. I am a graduate of Toccoa Falls College, with a B.S. in Music Education and have spent the past 13 years leading worship, learning to play modern worship instruments, developing worship leaders and musicians, pastoring students and serving in multiple capacities in the local church. I am married to my beautiful wife of 13 years, Debbie, and we are blessed with three wonderful children, Luke, Lena and Levi. Here at the Grove, I serve as an assistant to the Executive Director of Corporate Worship, Mrs. Lecia Appling. I have the privilege of leading worship, training worship leaders and musicians, and meeting the needs of our Corporate Worship ministry. From media to computers, decorating to painting, set-up to tear-down, sound to services, I support the vision and heart-beat of the Corporate Worship Ministry and the Grove.