Who We Are
Founder and President
Bryce Johnson is the President and Founder of UNPACKIN’ it® Ministries, a nonprofit organization launched in 2014. Its mission is to challenge, encourage, and inspire sports fans to follow Jesus and become more like Him.
​
Passionate about seeing sports fans everywhere follow Jesus, Bryce relates sports stories to life and faith through writing, speaking, and hosting his weekly podcasts.
​
Following his Appalachian State University graduation, where he received a Communications/Electronic Media Broadcasting degree, Bryce hosted syndicated radio shows heard on Christian stations and SiriusXM’s Dan Patrick Channel, Sports Byline USA Network, and ESPN Charlotte.
​
Author of The Sports Devotional and The Fantasy Football Fellowship Playbook, Bryce has been a contributor to the Bible App, Promise Keepers, Sports Spectrum, Salem Web Network, and Athletes In Action.
​
A proud alumnus of APP State, he cheers for the Mountaineers, as well as his favorite sports teams: the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets, LA Lakers, and Duke basketball.
Bryce, who lives with his wife, Jodi, and daughters, Maddie and Mikayla, is based in Charlotte, North Carolina. You can connect with him at bryce@unpackinit.com.
Bryce Johnson
Our Board
Pastor Ray Hardee
​
Ray McKay Hardee is the lead pastor and Cultural Architect at The Pointe Church and continues to teach as an Adjunct Professor of Human Services at Gardner-Webb University.
He specializes in community cultural architecture, stewarding time and influence, and drawing the community together for greater purposes.
​
Ray holds a Master’s Degree in Religion from Harvard University and Counseling from UNCC and is studying for a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies.
​
Married to his Gardner-Webb University sweetheart, Andrea, Ray has three children and three grandchildren. He humbly shares with others, “I’m a NOBODY telling EVERYBODY about the ONE BODY who can save ANYBODY and make them SOMEBODY in HIM.”
%20(6).png)
Patrick McAuley
Patrick McAuley is a believer, father, husband, and partner at Grant Thornton LLP.
Introduced to Bryce and UNPACKIN’ it through a few mutual friends, he feels called to serve the ministry and is honored to be on the Board to help convey UNPACKIN’ it’s message.
​
Patrick resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife, Marcy, and three children, Reagan, Rose, and Johnny.
When he’s not chasing after the kids or working a deal, he likes to be outside golfing, skiing, or hiking…and is an avid sports fan.
Anthony Eshaghi
Anthony Eshaghi has spent most of his career in the technology consulting industry. He currently leads the manufacturing and distribution industry for Torrent Consulting, a mid-size Salesforce and business process consulting firm. In addition, he previously served as the lead elder for The Pointe Church.
​
As a lifelong UVA and Buffalo Bills fan, he enjoys watching football and basketball. In his spare time, he's active in his church and likes hiking in the mountains, boating on Lake Wylie, and attending live music/sporting events.
​
Growing up in Virginia and graduating from Radford University, Anthony has lived in the Charlotte area since 2002. He is married to Andrea, and they have three children: Eden, Evelyn, and Abram.
​
Scott Absher
Scott Absher began his entrepreneurial education at a young age, working in a family-owned small business. He graduated from Appalachian State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Finance and Insurance.
​
After a 30-year career at Prudential, holding key roles as a financial professional, Scott became involved in start-up businesses, limited partnerships, and consulting with successful franchise owners.
​
Scott's core values are humility, trust, transparency, and resilience. He believes in giving back, has had vital mentorship roles, taught financial stewardship at his church, and volunteered as a consultant for non-profit organizations. His family, faith, and community are integral parts of Scott's life.
%20(3).png)
Casey Shannon
Casey Shannon is the Executive Director of From His Heart Ministries.
Prior to his call to media ministry leadership in 2015, he earned a degree from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA, and had a twelve-year career in broadcast and corporate communications management.
​
His passion is looking for new ways to connect as many people as possible to the life-transforming power of the gospel and help them develop a personal relationship with Jesus.
​
An avid sports enthusiast, he's enjoyed being a Fantasy Football commissioner of two leagues for over 15 years. Married to his college sweetheart, Kate, they have two daughters.
%20(5).png)
Griffin Gum
Griffin Gum, a native of Charlotte, NC, is a Loan Pro at Rosegate Mortgage where he enjoys helping people accomplish their goal of buying a home.
As an intern for UNPACKIN' it in 2015, Griffin came to believe in Bryce's vision of unifying sports fans who want to pursue Jesus and are called according to His purposes.
He played college baseball at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he met his wife Kassidy, and they have three children, Karsyn, Leighton, and Hudson.
Griffin has a passion for sports, Fantasy sports, and the analytics behind them, but most importantly a love for people and a desire to be a light for Jesus in all aspects of life.