ELDERSMeet Steve Woolever
How old are you? 56 What is your marital status? Married 26 years to Gail. Do you have any children? 1 son Zachary who is 24 years old and single. He works full time with me in our farming operation. At 6'5" and 230# he's "My" back. He also keeps our part time worker in line, which is a full time job in itself (Ray Murphy) What is your current occupation? Farmer Any hobbies? Working in my shop, golf, travel with Gail, watching sports. Favorite type of music: oldies & Christian Favorite vacation destination: Phoenix & London Favorite team, Colts or Bears: Bears How did you come to know Christ? I grew up 1 block from the Baptist church in Wheatfield and attended Sunday School and Bible school and was baptized there. What brought you to Grace Fellowship? We were looking for a church and Gail had heard Grace was having their very first service in our current building so we attended and liked it and the rest is - well you know. What does it take to be a good elder? Having an open mind and being able to agree as well as disagree and to put your trust in God that you will do the right thing. What is your prayer for Grace Fellowship? That God gives us the ability to flex and realize we all need to work together for the good of Grace
Meet Mark Strong
How old are you? 41
What is your marital status? 17 years to Jenny.
Do you have any children? Yes, 3. Lindsey (age 14) loves to deer hunt and run. She's currently on the middle school swim team. Maribeth (age 13) loves any sport with a ball (v-ball, b-ball, soft-ball). She has a competitive spirit like her dad. Kara (age 7) our youngest, is our baby and she knows it. She prefers to be called "Princess Kara". She loves dolls, mirrors, and her mommy.
What is your current occupation? Driver at Belstra Milling in DeMotte
Any hobbies? Yes, lots of hobbies (deer hunting, turkey hunting, fishing, boating, NASCAR) Favorite type of music: Contemporary Christian and yes, COUNTRY music Favorite vacation destination: Hunting trips of any kind (with Tom and Mary F.) and our family just took a trip to Disney World in Florida. Our favorite weekend trips are going camping and fishing with my wife and kids. Favorite team, Colts or Bears: BEARS (sorry Mary Ann & Ron)
How did you come to know Christ? I grew up in the church and I received Christ as my Savior when I was nine years old at a men's retreat at South Haven Christian Church. My father was there with me..just seems like yesterday. However I was in my 20's before I really began to live for Christ.
What brought you to Grace Fellowship? I've known about Grace for a very long time. There are many people at Grace Fellowship that watched me grow up and when peace was disrupted in the church we previously attended, it was natural for me to be drawn to the family from my early years. We always felt embraced when we visited on different occasions.
What does it take to be a good elder? Personally, I can't say for sure just yet, but when I look around and see our current elders I see what commitment and dedication are all about. I commit myself to gain as much wisdom and knowledge from the Word of God and these men who surround me. What is your prayer for Grace Fellowship? As Grace Fellowship grows in numbers, I pray that the people will grow spiritually, mature and maintain our focus on the real mission at hand...winning souls for Christ. Tim said it best..."We must seek His face".
Meet David Tiemens
How old are you? The big "40" What is your marital status? Married for (wait let me check) 16 years to Tracey (Roxentrater) Tiemens Do you have any children? Four: Jessica 12 (Loves Fashion), Cassie 10 (Great big Sister, but can be a trouble maker), Joel 9 (Loves animals), Erika 6 (Loves to play and sing). We (my wife) are currently Home Schooling all of them although we are considering getting ready to send a couple to school next year. What is your current occupation? Land Surveyor, President of Tiemens Lad Surveying, Inc. Any hobbies? I am learning to play Guitar How about favorites
Favorite type of music: Contemporary, Christian Rock, and I still enjoy bands like U2 and Coldplay. Favorite vacation destination: I think Florida right now (Wind, Snow, and Cold here). We went to Florida 3 times in the past 6 years. My wife and I would like to travel out west at some point. Favorite team, Colts or Bears: If I had to choose, the Bears. My Dad was never really into sports so I guess I inherited that trait.
How did you come to know Christ? I "grew up" in the Church. When I was young I went to Christian Summer camp where I received Christ. I was on a roller coaster ride most of my teen & young adult life.
What brought you to Grace Fellowship? Tracey and I were looking for a local Church that truly loved God, that was a bit more contemporary, and that had a Pastor whose messages were relevant, inspirational, and had everyday life application.
What does it take to be a good elder? That's easy--Just look at Jim Hopkins and Ron Cates. Seriously, I think it takes a person who can let God work through them and strives to live after the example of Jesus Christ. What is your prayer for Grace Fellowship? That we are unified throughout the Building process and that God will bless the Small Groups and Children's Ministry.
Meet Chad Rentschler
How old are you? 32 What is your marital status? Happily married How long married? 12 years To whom? April (Ferguson) Rentschler Do you have any children? Tell us about them. I have 3 children. Jordyn who is 13. A teenager--payback time for me!!!! Cole is 10. He enjoys gymnastics. Kirstyn is almost 6. She's daddy's girl. (a little spoiled).
What is your current occupation? Truck driver Any hobbies? Run Forrest Run! (Avid Marathon Runner) Tell us about your favorite * type of music, favorite vacation destination, Bears or Colts? I don't really prefer one type of music over the other. Just depends on my mood. For my 10th anniversary April and I went to Barbados--kids were with grandma--it was pretty nice. Other than that anywhere on a beach!! As far as sports teams Da' Bears. How did you come to know Christ? Through Grace. I'm a Grace baby. As simply as I can say it--I was a self-consumed person. I wanted whatever made me happy for the moment. Problem was I never knew it was Christ that I needed. He revealed Himself to me through the people of Grace Fellowship. They were willing to show love and encouragement to a young couple who were definitely lost. What brought you to Grace Fellowship? An invitation from a member of the Grace Fellowship church family. What does it take to be a good elder? Someone who is able to model the love Christ has for us. And also keep the church unified through the truth of Scripture. What is your prayer for Grace Fellowship? That we just don't do church. But that we become the church that God desires. I pray that people invest in their relationship with Christ, discover their gifts and use them. We all need one another.
Meet John C. Perzee
How old are you? 58 What is your marital status? Happily married for 35 short years to just the most beautiful woman (and Juicy Chick) on the globe, Janet. Do you have any children? Yes, 4. Juli and family live in Denver and have 2 little girls Lucy and Mercy and a brand new baby boy Ezra. Josh & Angie are here at the farm. And Jeremy & Joanna waiting for us in Heaven. What is your current occupation? Owner and manager of Porter County Iron and Metal Recycling, Inc. and I own a farm.
Any hobbies? Mission trips and serving I know that sounds too much like a Sunday school answer but it is true. Also skiing, diving, flying, square dancing, traveling, motorcycling, hunting elk, deep sea fishing, and getting together with friends.
Favorite type of music: a mix depending on the mood; Favorite vacation destination: anywhere warm when it is cold in Indiana and some place we can have fun; Favorite team, Colts or Bears: Colts, I guess.
How did you come to know Christ? As a child, our pastor was explaining the difference between heaven and hell. I decided I didn't want to go to hell and didn't know if I would go to heaven. I talked to him and he showed me the Bible verses and I prayed and trusted Jesus. During my year in Vietnam, I was challenged to really live for the Lord. God is faithful, even when I fouled up.
What brought you to Grace Fellowship? My daughter Joanna
What does it take to be a good elder? A lot of people praying for you and a lot of God's mercy and grace because it is not something a person can do on their own and also being willing to serve people with a loving and caring heart that comes from the Lord.
What is your prayer for Grace Fellowship? That we would see how high, how deep, how wide the love of God really is and then giving that love to unbelievers and seeing people come to the saving knowledge of God and then seeing people getting excited about serving the Lord and someday seeing full time pastors and missionaries go out from Grace Fellowship.
Meet Tony Tinkel 
How old are you? 50 What is your marital status? Lisa and I have been married 17 years.
Do you have any children? We have two girls, Alexis who is 13 or 26, I'm not sure and Abby who is 10. Both are great students, better than average athletes and just wonderful kids.
What is your current occupation? I teach U.S. History at Boone Grove HS, this is my ninth year there.
Any hobbies? I love to fish, I still try to play basketball and softball but it is getting harder every day. I love to be outside doing something.
Favorite type of music: Sorry Tim but I like Country, heehaw.
Favorite vacation destination: Anywhere we go on vacation is fine with me.
Favorite team, Colts or Bears: I don't know about the rest of the people around here but I live in Indiana and am a Colts fan.
How did you come to know Christ? It was in Bible school when I was 9 or 10.
What brought you to Grace Fellowship? Like many others, we had an unpleasant experience and started looking. Our neighbors said they were going to check out Grace and asked us to come along.
What does it take to be a good elder? Time, energy, commitment, passion.
What is your prayer for Grace Fellowship? For continued health and growth for all that come to Grace. Meet Ronald Cates
How old are you? 52
What is your marital status? Very happily married to a wonderful lady (Jill) who is also my best friend.
Do you have children? Three young adults who love their family and God, Jacqui, Ron and Melissa.
What is your current occupation? Co-owner of Ace is the place.
Any hobbies? Political news junkie with very conservative ideals and love most sports even if I can't play alot of them now because I might hurt someone.
Favorite type of music: Contemporary Cristian rock and new country mixed with a dash of classical
Favorite vacation destination: Any place with my wife or friends
Favorite team – Colts or Bears? (thump chest twice) Da Bears
How did you come to know Christ? A good friend (Brian DeFries)knew my family situation and decided to show God's love to me by being my friend at a time when I needed one and someone to give me some value and direction.
What brought you to Grace Fellowship? We had to leave a church we were a part of for many years and along with about six other families watched God work in those people to start Grace Fellowship.
What does it take to be a good elder? A heart that wants to love and serve people.
What is your prayer for Grace Fellowship? That we grow closer to God each day and that we become friends and show Jesus to people that need Christ in their lives. Each one of us had that person in our lives that made the difference and we should do the same.
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