STAFF

Tim Hester, Senior Pastor

Five Ways to Describe Him: Committed to Christ, Faithful Husband, Devoted Father, Loyal Friend, Always looking for the Joy in Salvation, Service and Relationships.

What He Does for Grace: Casts Vision, Provides Leadership, Encourages Spiritual Growth, Releases People for Ministry, Loves Grace Fellowship with all His Heart.

How Does He Know How To Do That?: Bth (Bachelor of Theology) in New Testament from Ozark Christian College (cool), MDiv. (Master of Divinity) In Practical Ministries (practical) from Cincinnati Christian University, ThM from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Systematic Theology (whatever that is), 30+ years in the trenches of ministry (weeping with those who weep and rejoicing with those who rejoice watching God work through it all).

What Grace Does for Him: "Loves me unconditionally, shares in ministry, participates in the journey of life with me, challenges me to pray and seek God, and makes me smile."

Best Thing About Following Jesus: "Never surprised but always amazed. I never know what God is going to do but I always know He's got myback and works things out. And when all is said and done; there's no other place I'd rather be than with the one who has the words of eternal life."

The Women in His Life: Wife; Rhonda, Daughters; Katie & Tressa

Jonathon Mitchell, Youth Pastor

Five ways to describe him: Husband; Father; Sports Junkie(on TV, at the stadium, or any students' event); Organized (or at least tries to be); Golfer (not great, but loves playing)

What he does for Grace: As the Youth Pastor, Jonathon oversees the development of the children's and student ministries. He gets to equip and train other caring adults to help teach kids from 3 to 18. He also has the opportunity to disciple young people and getthem out where they can be stretched.

How he knows how to do that: Jonathon has a Bachelor of Biblical Literature Degree from Ozark Christian College with an emphasis in Youth Ministry. He also served a 1 yr. internship with a solid youth ministry under awonderful mentor in his home state of Missouri. Plus he likes to read and go to conferences on new insights on how to get students to grow and develop into someone who loves Jesus.

What Grace does for me: "Grace has opened their arms to thisformer long-haired, fresh college graduate to learn and be shaped into what it means to be a Pastor (still working on that). They have offered unwavering support by volunteering at every turn, and they love my wife and little boy."

Best thing about following Jesus: "You end up in places you'd never think about going - in the middle of a cornfield in Indiana, on a plane to Russia to love orphans, or in the booth at DQ talking about faith and life with a student."

Significant others: Wife, Jessica; Son, Caleb

Jan Perzee, Director of Group Life

Five ways to describe her: Loves getting to know people in small groups; passionate about missions; shy, but working on being out-going; devoted wife, mom and grandma; animal lover

What she does for Grace: She facilitates Small Groups and oversees the First Impressions Team, which promotes ways to assimilate new people. Also because she loves it, she organizes and goes on Grace Fellowship short–term mission trips.

How does she know how to do that? Jan graduated from Purdue with a degree in Education and taught for 13 years. She has led and participated in small groups for more years than she cares to remember. She has organized and participated in approximately fifteen mission trips (Mexico, Mongolia, Russia, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, India, and Nicaragua). She has been on staff since January of 2007.

What Grace does for me:"I love Grace because it has offered me the opportunity to work with what I'm passionate about. I also have enjoyed getting to know the many amazing and fun people who attend Grace."

Best thing about following Jesus: "I have found that even though His ways can be hard and challenging, they are always good and bring real joy and satisfaction. I am convinced that Jesus loves me (and all people) passionately and has a plan and purpose for everything He allows in my life."

Significant others: "I am married to an amazing husband, John who is an elder at Grace. We also have four fantastic children, a wonderful son-in-law and daughter-in-law, two very funny granddaughters, a squishy grandson, two smelly farm dogs and one fat cat."

Patty Van Blaircom, Communications Assistant

Five ways to describe her: a wealth of all kinds of information, devoted, Harley-riding, a stickler for making things look just right, funny in a unique, grumpy sort of way

What she does for Grace Fellowship: Patty designs the best looking church bulletins and newsletters in the area! She easily handles the daily data management and communications efforts that flow through the office. Patty is not afraid of those pesky telemarketing phone calls – a special gift the staff is thankful for.

How does she know how to do that? Patty has served for over 155 years (her exact words) in the area of church administration. In that long expanse of time she has done it all.

What Grace has done for me: "It's become family. I have found acceptance and friends who are struggling just like I do. I have stepped out of my comfort zone and explored new ways of learning about Jesus. I volunteer (remember "I volunteer"…which is out of my comfort zone) to lead a women's Bible study and they even come back every week!!! WOW! Now that is Jesus working in my life and those around me."

Best thing about following Jesus: "The fact that I find peace. I find peace by learning more about Jesus through the Bible. The fact that its words apply to my life directly, at just the right moments just humbles me."

Significant others: Husband, Bill, three grown sons [Bill (Wendy), Jeff (Jessica) & Jim] and 4 grandchildren: Ryan, Ashlie, Jake and Jeremy