Brett & Merari Swayn

Executive Directors

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

Brett Swayn was born in Perth, Western Australia. He 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 understood he was called to go to Nashville. March 19, 2002, he left the life in Texas for the call in Tennessee.

Brett was to spend the next four months living 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 he experienced a closer walk with God and came to understand the sufferings of a marginalized people of America.

Through a series of what he calls “miracles,” he was offered a job at Fleming’s restaurant, where he worked his way to sous chef and traveled around 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 felt drawn to a life of simplicity.

He left his position at Fleming’s, deciding to devote his life to those in need. Brett’s call of opening The Cookery finally opened in 2013. In addition to serving coffee, breakfast, lunch and catering, it is also a training facility. Here, Brett and associates will instill culinary crafts to select homeless and formerly incarcerated individuals in order to prepare 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 States. She serves as the Business Administrator for both Lambscroft Ministries and The Cookery. She grew up in a ministry family and graduated from LIFE School of Ministry with a certificate in Pastoral Care and Biblical Counseling and Harvest School of Missions in Mozambique. In the past, she served as a youth pastor for a local Nashville church and spent both short and long term time in the mission field. She is passionate about seeing lives restored. She loves to travel; try new foods, dance and loves her dog Aslan.

Meet the Team

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.

Senior Kitchen Team Member

Scott Drumm

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.

Senior Kitchen Team Member

Mason Delatour

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. Dissatisfaction 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.

Senior Kitchen Team Member

Robert Lowe

Robert is originally from Memphis, TN and graduated from University of Memphis with a major in Communications. He got married in 2019 and moved to the Nashville area over 3 years ago, ultimately settling in southern Kentucky. After working as a Banquet Supervisor for 15 years, he was looking for something more fulfilling. The Lord led him to us through contacts at his church and we are grateful for the enthusiasm and organizational skills he brings to the program. His “go to” meal is steak and potatoes. He loves the importance of the culinary arts because food provides multiple chances to touch a life.

Senior Kitchen Team Member

Russell Ulrich

In Remembrance

Terry Kemper

After a turbulent life growing up, Terry came to Nashville in 1988 with four children and no job. “I always believed there was a God,” Kemper says, “but I just never thought he was there for me.” Because of a small inheritance, she was able to start her own alterations shop, which later evolved into a successful restaurant and catering business.
Terry met Brett in 2008, and they quickly became friends because of their mutual calling to serve God and help the underprivileged. Terry opened up her home in Hendersonville to the homeless and eventually helped Brett and others create what is now Lambscroft Ministries. Terry was diagnosed with cancer in 2011. The disease forced her to sell her business. Terry shared the dream of seeing The Cookery succeed in Nashville, not only as an eatery and catering enterprise but also as a training ground to restore the lives of homeless men and women.
After a two- and half-year battle with pancreatic cancer, Terry finally came into rest on a rainy March 02, 2014. Her 4 children, plus 14 grandchildren, survive Terry, as well as her loving sister and her Lambscroft and The Cookery family and friends.

Facilities Mgr & Admin Assistant

Philip Sauder

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."

Lambscroft Board Members

Lambscroft Ministries and The Cookery are governed by a board of directors. The Cookery is a subsidiary of Lambscroft Ministries.

We are currently looking for new board members. Those interested should have a passion for helping the marginalized, homeless, and incarcerated gain a new sense of purpose and direction for their life. We are seeking individuals who are ready to roll up their sleeves in the areas of fundraising, marketing and public speaking. Young and older professionals alike are welcomed to apply.

Contact merari@lambscroft.org for more information.

Current Board Members

Tim K. Garrett (President), Ray DeVries (Vice Chair), Stuart Beaton, Stephen Coe, Carolyn Coe, Randy Gannon, Alex Hartfelder, Mark Peterson, Jim Robinson, Linda Tozer .

Contact

We are always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.

info@thecookery.org

615-269-2911