About Us

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Tim Barley

Chairman & Co-Founder

As broker at Barley and Barley, Tim believes in the power of place — from land and buildings to blocks and alleys. It’s the tradition in which he was raised in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where his family has been ever since the Funk deed was issued by William Penn’s sons, Richard and Thomas. And it’s a passion he first pursued with the purchase and management of 12 apartments. Real estate investment became a side project when he moved to DC in 2003, then eventually a full-time career in residential real estate brokerage in 2010.

Tim has been involved in over 800 real estate transactions in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. His energy, enthusiasm, and love for people make him a guide for buyers and sellers who offers rich vision and deep wisdom.

He enjoys raising his three boys with Erin on Capitol Hill.

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Michael Crawford

Executive Director

Michael Crawford is a seasoned church leader, nonprofit expert, and passionate disciple of Jesus. With over 25 years of experience in pastoral ministry, Michael is deeply committed to fostering transformational change within both churches and communities. He has dedicated his life to creating, cultivating, and catalyzing sustainable growth, particularly in the nonprofit and faith-based sectors.

A native of Los Angeles, Michael is a graduate of The Master’s University and Seminary. He has a proven track record in church planting, having started multiple churches, and served as the northeast director for church planting with the SEND Network. Michael has also been executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland and Delaware, where he was instrumental in shaping strategic initiatives for growth and ministry expansion.

In addition to his pastoral work, Michael has co-founded and led two nonprofit organizations: CareNet Pregnancy Resources in Southern California’s Antelope Valley and the Banquet Network in Maryland. Both organizations have made significant strides in meeting the needs of vulnerable populations and empowering local communities through faith-driven initiatives.

As an author of 10 books and creator of 8 personal development tools, Michael combines his expertise in church leadership and nonprofit management with a passion for empowering others to grow spiritually and professionally. He is deeply committed to equipping leaders and organizations to create lasting impact in their communities.

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Elizabeth Laird

Co-Founder, Board Member

As co-founder and past executive director of Sacred Spaces, Liz catalyzed the organization’s mission through research, advocacy, education, and outreach.

Liz developed Sacred Spaces’ Counting the Cost curriculum and has delivered it to numerous congregations in the Washington, D.C., area. Her work has been featured in the Washington Post, The Economist, World magazine, Fox Business and other major outlets.

Liz is also founder of WanderWell Travelers, a family travel consultancy. She lives in Washington with her husband and three children.

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Evan Sparks

Board Member, Treasurer

Evan joined the Sacred Spaces Conservancy board in January 2023 and serves as treasurer. He has been involved in church life in Washington, D.C., for nearly two decades and has co-chaired a church capital campaign and property search. Working with Sacred Spaces combines his passions for historic architecture and healthy churches.

Evan is senior vice president for member communications at the American Bankers Association and editor-in-chief of the association’s flagship magazine, the ABA Banking Journal. Prior to joining ABA in 2013, Evan was managing editor of Philanthropy magazine.

In addition to volunteering with Sacred Spaces and his church, Evan has served in several leadership roles in the association sector and is a frequent speaker at events. His writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, The Weekly Standard, Slate, the Washington Times, Commentary, Forbes.com and other outlets. He lives in Washington’s Petworth neighborhood with his wife and three children.