Staff
Our staff is available to assist you in whatever way we can. Please contact us if you have questions, suggestions or need spiritual assistance.
Jeff Sherman, Senior Pastor
Education 
Western Bible College: B.A. in Biblical Science
Moody Graduate School: M.A. in Ministry
Calling
"After serving in several local church ministries for a number of years, I felt God moving me towards full-time Christian ministry in my early twenties. He has been moving me ever since to proclaim His glory by finding my greatest joy and satisfaction in Him, and then leading others to do the same. I have a passion for God-centered theology and teaching God’s Word to His people."
Family
Jeff has been married to Beth for 28 years and has three children, Michael, David, and Jessica. He has been on staff at Grace, serving in various roles, since September 1, 1983.
Life Verse
"He must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30).
Books on a Desert Island
If I had to go on a desert island and could have only my Bible and any five other books, what books I would take with me?
Trusting God Even When Life Hurts, Jerry Bridges
Knowing God, J.I. Packer
Christian Theology, Millard Erickson
Future Grace, John Piper
How To Survive On A Desert Island by whoever
Hugh Fitzpatrick, Associate Pastor
Education 
Metropolitan State College: B.A. in Psychology
Regis University: M.Ed in Education
Calling
"I never received an audible message from God, ‘You will be a pastor.’ But what I did get is a burning desire to be as close to God as I possibly can, to serve Him with everything in me, and to work for Him in all that I do. In other words, my calling to the ministry has been more at the heart level, than the head level. My heart wants nothing else than to teach others about Christ. I used to be a teacher. I loved it, and when God called me into the ministry I viewed it not so much as a job change but as a subject change. I still get to teach, but the great thing is that now the content of my teaching, God's Word, is perfectly aligned with the passion of my heart."
Family
Hugh has been married to Heather for 14 years and has one son, Colin. He has been on staff since September 2001, but has been a member of Grace since 1996.
Life Verse
"I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:8).
Books on a Desert Island
If I had to go on a desert island and could have only my Bible and any five other books, what books I would take with me?
A Hunger for God, John Piper
Trusting God, Jerry Bridges
Systematic Theology, Louis Berkhof
Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster
The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien
Ben Houchen, Youth Pastor
Education
Calling
"After trying nearly every job possible that was not ministry related, God broke me down and reminded me of his calling on my life. I went back to college after three years of avoiding this call, and was amazed at the pace at which God grew me and grew a passion for ministry in me. I love working with youth and young adults, and cannot wait to see what God has in store for us in the future."
Family Ben has been married to Nikki for 5 years and has 2 children, Rylee, and Justin. He has been on staff at Grace, since July1, 2008.
Life Verse
"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
"So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
"Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father" (Colossians 3:1-17).
Books on a Desert Island
If I had to go on a desert island and could have only my Bible and any five other books, what books I would take with me?
Idiots Guide to being stranded on a Desert Island, Tom Hanks
Lord of the Rings Trilogy, J.R.R. Tolkien
Narnia Series, C.S. Lewis
The Complete Collection of Calvin and Hobbs, Bill Watterson
Cheryl Hernandez, Office Manager
Education 
Pensacola Christian College: ALA in Business
Calling
"My heart's desire has always been to be a wife, mother, and church secretary."
Family
Cheryl has been married to Mike for thirteen years and has three children, Alexandria, Michelle, and Andrew. They started attending Grace shortly after getting married, and Cheryl joined the staff on May 1, 2006.
Life Verse
"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him" (Psalm 62:5, KJV).
Books on a Desert Island
If I had to go on a desert island and could have only my Bible and any five other books, what books I would take with me?
"I cannot name five specific books. If I had to make a choice, however, I would pick books that would concentrate on my different roles as wife, mother, and being a child of God."
Kathleen Obrecht, Children’s Ministries Director
Education Calling
"I feel called to teach and interact with kids, and I really enjoy it! Since high school, I have been teaching children through Sunday School, VBS, nursery, swimming lessons, tutoring, horseback riding lessons, private and public school, daycare and summer camps. I am so blessed God is using my skills and background here at GFL! I want everyone, especially children, to see that Christ is the only answer to all of our life's problems. He is the master of our lives and our world. I pray that I can challenge those around me to seek a deeper relationship with him!"
Family
Kathleen and Kyle have been married since 1999 and have two children, Maverick and Mercy. They are also in the process of adopting a child from Ethiopia. Kathleen and her family have been attending Grace since 2005, and she came on staff in the fall of '07.
Life Verse
"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Books on a Desert Island
If I had to go on a desert island and could have only my Bible and any five other books, what books I would take with me?
"First, I'd definitely want something by CS Lewis--maybe a compilation of all his books into one book! His writing is very entertaining and spiritually challenging so it would give me a lot to think about. Second, I'd like a survival guide that details how to create a life raft, ham radio, edible bugs and which snakes to watch out for! Third, I'd take a compilation of Corrie Ten Boom's books. She is one of my heroes and her words would inspire me to overcome the frustration of being stuck on an island! I think I'd also want two reliable Bible study guides to help me study and learn more from God's Word (I'd take two so I could read more than one opinion on a passage's interpretation)."