Our church is governed by a body of elders, a foundation which is solidly Biblical (Acts 14:23, Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1-4) and has been a part of Grace Church from its beginning. The staff coordinate the daily operations of their area within the overall ministry of the church.
Meet the Elders
Brian Chance
Elder | Hear Brian’s story
Brian became an elder in 2018. He and his wife Kay married in 1993 and have two adult sons. Brian is employed in sales at a local material handling company. He teaches in ABF and loves hanging out with the young adults. Brian enjoys reading, traveling to Colorado any chance he gets, and spending time with family and friends.
Jim Chandler
Elder | Hear Jim’s story
Jim became an elder in 2009. He and his wife Dede were married in 1986. They have two married daughters and a grown son. Jim is a real estate broker and general contractor. He is active in the worship ministry, men’s ministry, and short-term mission trips. He enjoys exercise and playing golf.
Bill Daniel
Elder | Hear Bill’s story
Bill became an elder in 2003. A local boy, Bill left for Houston in 1970 to meet his wife Cecille and to obtain a BA and a Masters in Environmental Engineering from Rice University. They returned to Wichita Falls in 1983 and operated a family-owned restaurant until 2017. Bill and Cecille are now enjoying more time and freedom to connect with their grown children and six grandchildren.
Charlie Eipper
Elder | Hear Charlie’s story
Charlie became an elder in 2009. He and his wife Yvette were married in 1994. They have one son and two daughters. Charlie has served on the Wichita Falls Police Department since 1993. He hosts a Community Group and enjoys opportunities to teach in Student and Adult Bible Fellowships. He also ministers with youth on short-term summer mission trips. Charlie enjoys lifting weights, running, reading, and writing.
Bill Gowan
Elder | Hear Bill’s story
Bill has been an elder at Grace Church since 1983. He and his wife Joan were married in 1961. They have two grown daughters and two grandchildren. Bill has retired from practicing law with Tate, Gowan, and Wilson PLLC. His hobbies include fishing, cooking, and playing golf. He is a Community Group host, greeter, and liaison for the Mission Team.
Phil Ringman
Elder | Hear Phil’s story
Phil became an elder at Grace Church in 1995. He and his wife Jaynie have two children and two grandchildren. Phil retired in 2021 after 38 years as a financial advisor. He enjoys reading and weightlifting, and Phil and Jaynie enjoy dancing and travel. He is a member of the Welcome and Benevolence Teams, a Community Group host, and a Dave Ramsey financial coach.
Bruce Romoser
Elder | Hear Bruce’s story
Bruce became an elder in 2022. He and his wife Linda were married in 1990 and they have three sons and a daughter. Bruce enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, being outdoors, and hunting. He is a leader in the Bible Fun Fellowship, enjoys meeting with his Community Group, and participates in serving the Lord’s Supper.
Larry Schmeltzer
Elder | Hear Larry’s story
Larry became an elder in 2009. He and his wife Carol were married in 1974 and have two married children and five grandsons in Tennessee and Colorado. Larry retired from the U. S. Air Force after a 20-year career and is now retired after practicing dentistry for 40 years. Larry is an ABF teacher and enjoys travel, volunteering, reading, exercise, and yard work.
Kenneth Sultemeier
Elder | Hear Kenneth’s story
Dr. Kenneth Sultemeier became an elder in 2021. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1982 and then went on to medical school. He married Kathy in 1984 and says she’s “the best thing besides Jesus on this earth that’s happened to me”. They moved to Wichita Falls in 1988 where he’s been a pediatrician ever since. Through the years the Sultemeiers have been involved with Young Life, college ministry, and the young adults at Grace.
Meet the Staff
Amy Berry
Women’s Ministry Coordinator
Amy joined the Grace Church staff in July of 2021. She graduated from Midwestern State University in 2010 with her Bachelors in Nursing and later in 2016 with her Masters in Nursing Education. Through her part-time role as Women’s Ministry Coordinator, she serves, educates, and equips the women of Grace Church in their walk with Christ. Amy has been married to her high school sweetheart, Blayne, since 2010. Together they have four children, Jude, Everett, Olivia, and Grayson. Amy enjoys being with her family in the outdoors, traveling, and sharing a good meal with friends.
Lance Bourgeois
Senior Pastor
Lance first joined the staff of Grace Church 1998 as Small Groups Pastor. Sixteen years later, he became Senior Pastor of a church in his home state of Louisiana, where he served until returning to Grace in 2019. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University (B.A.), Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M.), and Fuller Theological Seminary (D.Min.). Married since 1994, Lance and his wife Ellen have a son, Taylor, and a daughter, Anna Katherine. They remain committed to supporting their alma mater by making their annual pilgrimage to see LSU play in Tiger Stadium. More than that, he remains committed to teaching the Scriptures and equipping the saints for the work of ministry.
Blake Boyd
Worship Pastor
Blake joined the Grace Church staff in 2010 as an intern while completing his bachelors degree at Midwestern State University. Blake and his wife Caroline have been married since 2012 and have three children. While serving as an intern he had an opportunity to lead worship for Junior High students. It was rough but it sparked a growing desire. Blake has a heart for worship ministry and using music as a way for the church body to draw near to God. Blake enjoys being outdoors, the occasional DIY project (when successful) and – most of all – spending time with his family.
Caleb Carmichael
Connections Pastor
Caleb joined the Grace Church staff in July of 2020 with the desire to walk alongside people as they explore what it means to follow Jesus and to help them find real community within the church. He received his BBA from Midwestern State University in 2012 and his MACE from Southwestern Baptist School of Theology in 2014. Caleb and his wife Samantha have been married since 2013 and have two children, Grayson and Henley. Caleb loves spending time with his family, discovering new places to eat, and watching, playing, and arguing about sports.
Reggie Coe
Chaplain
Reggie joined the Grace Church staff in September of 1978 and served as an elder for nearly 30 years. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin (B.S.) and Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M.). Reggie convinced Becca to marry him in 1974. They have three grown daughters who have provided Becca and Reggie with ten grandchildren. Reggie’s part-time ministry as Chaplain focuses on pastoral care to both our church body and the community. He also leads our Senior Adults ministry. He became a life-long Dallas Cowboys fan at an early age and has followed them loyally through the years. He also likes to hunt, watch high school football, and play “42”.
Joe Cook
Shepherding Pastor
Joe joined the Grace Church staff in July 2019. He received his BBS from Hardin-Simmons University and his MABS from Grace School of Theology. In 2015, after 20 years of teaching in public school, Joe became a full-time Hospice chaplain for four years. He grew up in Grandfield, Oklahoma, which happens to have a population the size of his wife Lynette’s graduating high school class. Despite this clash of cultures, they have been happily married since 1992. They have one daughter, Natalie, who graduated from MSU in 2022 . In his spare time, Joe enjoys camping and painting in oils.
Josh Fernberg
Children’s Pastor
Josh Fernberg joined the Grace Church staff in June of 2009 with the desire to help children grow in their knowledge of God’s character and discover how big His love for them is. After graduating from the University of North Texas in 2003 with a degree in Business Administration and an emphasis in Human Resource Management (B.B.A.), Josh attended and graduated from the Kanakuk Institute. While being on staff, Josh completed his Masters in Ministry degree from Grace School of Theology. Josh has been married to his best friend Alli since 2004. They have three children; Ben, Sam, and Anna Claire. In his free time Josh likes to run and play any sport with a ball, but mostly loves hanging out with his family.
Tara Green
Student Ministry Coordinator
Tara is married to Austin Green and has two daughters, Ella and Emmersyn. Tara graduated from Midwestern State University in 2011 with her bachelor’s degree in Sociology & Psychology. She and Austin moved to New York after graduation and pursued ministry as their career for ten years, during which they worked with Young Life in the Northeast. They returned to Wichita Falls in 2021 to plant roots and grow their family while Tara pursues a master’s degree in clinical mental health. She loves spending time with family and friends, running, any vacation near an ocean, being a foodie, and hanging at the coolest coffee shop. Tara is thrilled for the opportunity to go deeper in relationships with students at Grace and walk alongside them during a difficult time in life.
Derek Hughes
Executive Pastor
Derek first joined the Grace Church staff in 1999 as Youth Pastor. After serving as a Family Pastor in the Pacific Northwest for a while, he returned to our team in 2017. He is delighted to be a part of the pastoral staff at Grace and to journey alongside the people of Grace Church. He is most energized when connecting and encouraging people to use God’s Word as their practical, day-to-day filter through which all of life is sorted. Derek and his bride Tammy have been married since 1988 and have two adult sons and one daughter-in-law. He enjoys traveling, being active, and watching sports.
Caleb Levell
Student Pastor
Caleb grew up in Grace Church and first joined our staff as an intern in 2014. He graduated with a BBA from Midwestern State University in 2018 and is currently pursuing an MABS at Grace School of Theology. He married his high school sweetheart Holly in June of 2017, and they have a daughter named Millie. He enjoys the great outdoors, playing fantasy football (way too much), and is usually the first in line for a new superhero movie. Caleb feels blessed to be able to minister to middle and high school students during that pivotal stage of their lives and has a passion for helping them understand their worth in Christ.
Geoff Meador
Communications Pastor
Geoff has been on the staff of Grace Church since September of 2004. He holds (loosely) a bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministry from Wayland Baptist University and an M.A. in Media and Communications from Dallas Theological Seminary. Geoff and his wife Abby have been married since 2002 and have one son who is, rather suddenly, in high school. He is responsible for leveraging media and technology to keep our church family informed and, as the one responsible for our website, occasionally changes this paragraph for his own amusement.
Kimberly Ravelo
Worship Ministry Coordinator
Kimberly has attended Grace Church since she moved to Wichita Falls in 2014. She has served on our worship team for several years and joined the staff in 2021. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology from Hardin-Simmons University and her Doctorate in Audiology from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She currently works full time as an audiologist with a focus on cochlear implant care in addition to serving part-time as our Worship Coordinator. Kimberly loves supporting our team in a variety of ways including vocal coaching, hearing conservation, and coordinating worship team events. She can often be found discussing books or podcasts, and taking long lunches with friends and family.
Nolen Smith
Education Pastor
Nolen joined the Grace Church staff in August of 2014. He has served on staff at Grace in small group, high school, and now college ministry. He graduated from Texas A&M in 2010 and has served in youth and family ministries in College Station, Plano, and Wichita Falls, and is currently pursuing his MABS at Grace School of Theology. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Susan, and their three children, Elliot, and Cooper, and Marley, as well as hanging out with friends and watching sports. He is passionate about the teaching process, and, most importantly, loves seeing people learn to trust Jesus.
Meet the Ministry Team
Lynn Gills
Front Desk & Senior Adults
Lynn has attended Grace church since 1994. The Air Force brought Lynn and her husband Sid, a Chief Air Traffic Controller, to Wichita Falls in 1993. She came on staff in January 2014 as the Senior Adult Ministry Assistant, and in April of 2018 added the position of Administrative Assistant Receptionist. Lynn and Sid have four children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. They love to travel to the mountains and beaches to see God’s creation in their free time.
Kim Little
Children
Kim has been working at Grace Church since 2002 as the Children’s Ministry Assistant. She and her husband Ross were married in June 1992. Together they have three children, one daughter-in-law, and three sweet little granddaughters. In her spare time, Kim likes visiting and playing with her grandchildren, gardening, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.
Barbara McMahen
Early Childhood
Barbara is a local girl and third generation native Texan. She has been married to Rick for 43 years. They have three grown children, three children-in-love, four grandchildren, and seven granddogs. She has been a member of Grace for almost 30 years. Barbara was a founder and the Executive Director for the local nonprofit maternity home for 17 years before joining the staff of Grace Church in 2011. She first served as the Preschool Director and now as the Early Childhood Director where she is blessed to share her love of God with children from birth through kindergarten and their families. She also loves to garden, camp, and explore God’s beautiful creation.
Valerie Rhine
Adult Ministries
Valerie joined the Grace Church ministry staff in August of 2010. Her main focus on staff is assisting Lance and Derek with the administrative side of their ministries. Aside from her responsibilities at Grace, Valerie is wife to Bobby, mom to four adult children, and Lolly to ten grandchildren. Oh, and she makes a pretty mean chocolate chunk cookie as well.
Bill Underwood
Facilities
Bill has been attending Grace Church since 1988. A retired firefighter, he has been on staff full-time at Grace since 2005 as the Facilities Maintenance Manager. He and his wife Donna have been married since 1982 and enjoy spending time with their three married children and six grandchildren. In addition to camping and traveling, Bill also enjoys fishing and hunting, studying up on how things work, repairing anything mechanical, and coffee.
Donna Underwood
Facilities
Donna has been attending Grace Church since 1988, and on staff since 1999. She enjoyed 16 years as the Nursery Director, and now works as the Facilities Office Assistant. Donna and her husband Bill have been married since 1982 and have three married children and six grandchildren. They are camping and traveling enthusiasts. Donna enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren, reading, listening to music and antiquing.
Leah Walker
Special Projects & Missions
Leah joined the Grace Church staff in 2004 and has served in a variety of capacities since then. Her passion is helping others live as disciples of Christ. She received a BBA degree in Marketing from Texas Tech University and graduated from the University of Colorado School of Bank Marketing. She worked in corporate banking and health care for many years and enjoys using those skills and experiences in her ministry at Grace. Leah loves playing tennis, fishing, watching football and tennis on TV, and enjoying her cabin in the mountains of New Mexico.