Pastor Ed

When our Senior Pastor was 5-years-old, his grandmother gave him a King James Bible and told him that it was the perfect Word of God. He began to read that Book in earnest and at age 13 he gave his life to Christ. At age 15, Pastor Ed surrendered his life to full-time Christian service and went on staff at the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana. Since then, our pastor has authored 28 books and dozens of published articles. He has earned five college and seminary degrees including a Doctor of Theology. A world traveler, Pastor Ed's missionary journeys have taken him throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and Central America. Yet he is primarily just a "country preacher." He still uses the same King James Bible that he received from his grandmother when he was a small boy. From that Old Book, our Pastor faithfully preaches the gospel and teaches simple truths that help people to mature in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Prior to moving to Florida, Pastor Ed served churches in Texas for 13 years. After that he served as the Senior Pastor of an ethnically diverse inner-city church in Kansas for about two years. He has also served as the interim-pastor of four churches in Texas and New Mexico.

Pastor Richard

Our interim Minister of Music has been in the ministry for over 40 years.  During that time, he had pastored churches in Arkansas and Florida. He also served as a Christian school administrator, teacher, and coach. Richard was the lead singer for the Southern Gospel quartet Soul Purpose when they took first-place in the National Quartet Contest. A graduate of Louisiana Baptist University, he is also the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Temple Baptist College in Indianapolis, Indiana (now Heritage Baptist College).  Pastor Richard was forced to retire from full-time pastoral ministry after suffering a massive stroke.  While he still struggles as a result of it, his ongoing recovery is allowing him to slowly return to ministry. Pastor Richard's attendance and involvement remain irregular but will increase as he grows stronger. The wisdom and talent that he brings to our efforts at Village of Grace are a tremendous blessing.  

Sister Terri

A native of Maryland, our Ministry Assistant organizes the church's recreational activities, children's ministries, ladies ministries, and support groups. An avid baseball fan, Sister Terri attended Catawba College on an athletic scholarship, playing fast-pitch softball. After graduating from Catawba with a Bachelor's degree in Sport's Medicine, she went on to earn her Master's degree in Occupational Therapy at Shenandoah University, graduating at the top of her class. In addition to her work here at Village of Grace, she also works in The Villages as an Occupational Therapist with a specialties in geriatrics, brain injury, and stroke. Her hobbies are photography, cooking, and traveling.