Our Team

Brett & Merari Swayn

Executive Directors & Co-Founders

Brett and Merari Joy live in Nashville with their daughter, Aria, and their dog, Aslan. Together with others, they help manage Lambscroft Ministries and all of its programs.

Brett Swayn was born in Perth, Western Australia, and came to the U.S. in 1991, settling in Austin, Texas, to pursue a promising music career. His search for God began in earnest many years later, and he felt called to move to Nashville. On March 19, 2002, he left his life in Texas to follow that call to Tennessee.

For the next four months, Brett lived at the Nashville Rescue Mission, experiencing the heartache, alienation, and desperation of homelessness. He calls this period “the hardest, most beautiful time of my life” because it brought him into a closer walk with God and a deeper understanding of the suffering of marginalized people in America.

Through a series of what he calls “miracles,” Brett was offered a job at Fleming’s restaurant, where he worked his way up to sous chef and traveled the country training others in culinary arts. At the same time, he felt called to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the homeless community. Over time, he was drawn to a life of simplicity.

Brett eventually left Fleming’s, devoting his life to serving those in need. His vision for The Cookery became reality in 2013. In addition to serving coffee, breakfast, lunch, and catering, The Cookery is also a training facility where Brett and his team teach culinary skills to select homeless and formerly incarcerated individuals, preparing them for employment in the food industry. “Through all of this, God has taught us perseverance, resilience, patience, and trust,” Brett says.

Merari Joy Swayn was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in the United States. She serves as the Business Administrator for both Lambscroft Ministries and The Cookery. Raised in a ministry family, she graduated from LIFE School of Ministry with a certificate in Pastoral Care and Biblical Counseling, as well as from Harvest School of Missions in Mozambique. She has served as a youth pastor for a Nashville church and has spent both short- and long-term time in the mission field. Merari is passionate about seeing lives restored. She loves traveling, trying new foods, dancing, and spending time with her dog, Aslan.

Scott Drumm

Senior Kitchen Team Member

Scott has been with Lambscroft Ministries since 2011. He volunteered at our homeless shelter before going through culinary training at The Cookery and is currently on staff as a Kitchen Manager. Scott loves to read, fish, and spend quiet days at home.

We are excited about our team, from volunteers, board members, and paid staff. Everyone goes beyond the call of duty, wearing different hats to accomplish the mission of seeing lives restored, offering hope and fellowship over a good meal.

Mason Delatour

Senior Kitchen Team Member

Mason grew up here in Nashville and went to Pearl Cohn HS and Austin Peay SU. He has 10 years’ experience in the culinary arts, getting his start at P. F. Chang’s and later becoming a sous chef at another restaurant/bar. He credits God for leading him to The Cookery. Dissatisfied with most kitchen work environments, he went on a 6-month job search. He answered a post for washing dishes at The Cookery and was surprised by what he found. Mason is an excellent mentor to the students in the program and his talent has streamlined the kitchen processes. He values teamwork. His favorite meal is steak and potatoes, and as a single dad, he loves sending time with his son and playing basketball.

Russell Ulrich

Senior Kitchen Team Member

Russell grew up in Colorado and Nebraska.  He served in the US Army for 14 years at Fort Campbell and the Kentucky National Guard.  He will be the first to tell you that it was God extending abundant grace towards him that saved him from a period of major darkness. After losing a child, he fell into the trap of drug and alcohol abuse and in the process, lost his family and ended up on the street. Today, he is sober by the grace of God, his family has been restored, and he continues his journey with Jesus. That experience put a passion in him to serve as a mentor to the students in the program.  He graduated from The Cookery Culinary Training Program in September of 2022. As a hobby, he has a venture called “Rusty Nails” where he creates art from railroad spikes and timbers. Some of his handiwork is on display at The Cookery.

Philip Sauder

Facilities Mgr & Admin Assistant

Philip comes to us from Miami, FL; his hometown for over 40 years. He moved to Tennessee in the spring of  2022 due to health reasons and is happy to report that God has been faithful and gracious in bringing healing back into his life. His experience is in facility maintenance along with serving as a production supervisor for over 30 years; first in lighting and later in the lubrication field. As a son of missionary parents in Honduras and always being involved in various church ministry roles, the opportunity of working for Lambscroft Ministries truly encapsulates his skill set. Philip says, “It is a rewarding experience to be able to assist in the ministry of Lambscroft and be an integral part of the team helping with administrative duties, and taking care of both the café, and the discipleship houses where the men live.”