Rooted in faith and grown by love: Lesley and JJ Childers have made TPC Piper Glen the center of their Charlotte life since 2018.
If you have spent any time around TPC Piper Glen, you have probably crossed paths with the Childers family. JJ is happy to be out playing golf. Lesley is always stopping to talk to everyone at the pool and the tennis courts. And their daughter is usually the one chasing down every dog on the property.
The family joined the club in 2018. Before any of that, Lesley and JJ were two people in their late twenties who became good friends, figured out they wanted to build a life together, and married.
From Cherryville to a faith tech platform
Lesley grew up in the small town of Cherryville, North Carolina, and went on to UNC Charlotte, where she triple-majored in art, design and photography. That foundation launched a career across industries. As a creative director she brought her vision to the FinTech, SaaS and global financial sectors, and she helped take two companies public within five years, all while navigating new motherhood.
Today she is the founder and CEO of Connecting to Christ CLT, an AI faith tech platform that connects believers and seekers to their local faith community, online and in person. It runs across three arms: C2C CLT, C2C Agency and C2C Shop. In a city where people are constantly moving in and looking for community, C2C CLT provides local resources so people can step out into their community.
Raised on The Greenbrier
JJ grew up in Lewisburg, West Virginia, home of The Greenbrier, and spent his childhood working and playing the course. Golf has been a constant through his life. He has played all across the Carolinas and at St. Andrews in Scotland alongside his dad.
He studied finance at Coastal Carolina University, started his career at Bankers Life, and in 2008 founded The Childers Group, his own financial company, where he helps families plan for their futures. His approach is straightforward: financial planning is about people first.
Faith runs through all of it
In 2017, after an infertility journey, Lesley and JJ welcomed their daughter, the biggest blessing of their lives. Today she keeps busy with swim, dance and soccer, but she loves nothing more than playing outside at home with Pippa, the family dog.
Faith is not a compartment in the Childers family's life; it runs through all of it. Lesley and JJ attend Moments of Hope Church. Lesley has been part of the same Bible study group for fifteen years, and the women in it have walked alongside her through career pivots, infertility, new motherhood and the launch of a company. They pray for each other, encourage each other and show up for each other.
The family gives back to the city, too. Lesley serves on the Braveworks board and volunteers with the Charlotte Dream Center.
When they get away, they make it count. Charleston is the go-to beach, and they head down as often as they can. JJ's roots pull them back to the West Virginia mountains for kayaking and hiking. Beach, mountains or lake, they travel the way they do everything else: surrounded by friends and family, fully present and happy to be there.
They have always loved the community at TPC Piper Glen, and for the Childers family, the people have been the best part.
This story appears in the June 2026 issue of Stroll Piper Glen.
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