Staff Information

STEVE ADRIANSEN, Associate Pastor at the White Lake location, joined the church staff in 1991. Steve is a graduate of Grace College and Grace Theological Seminary and served in youth ministry for over seventeen years, including seven years at Grace Church-White Lake, before beginning his present ministry. Along with pastoral responsibilities, Steve oversees several small groups and ministers to families in promoting biblical parenting and family life. Steve has been a teaching elder since 1993.

PAUL CRONENWETT, served at Grace for three summers as an intern while he was in college at Philadelphia College of the Bible. After graduation in the Winter of 1999, Paul joined our staff as Pastor of Student Ministries. Along with other pastoral responsibilities, Paul directs ministries for 6th to 12th grade students at all three locations.

MARK ERIKSON, joined the staff of Grace in 1998 as Pastor of Young Adult Ministries. Mark is a graduate of the University of Akron and Ashland Theological Seminary. Until 2005, Mark's ministry focused on college students, singles, young marrieds, and young families. He is now leading the launch of Grace Church-Commerce, and is the Campus Pastor of that location. Mark has been a teaching elder since 2000.

SUE HAACK came on staff as a secretary in 2004. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and has attended the church since 1989. In addition to receptionist and administratiev duties, she assists the Commerce campus as secretary. She and her husband, Mark, are a part of the core group who are launching the Grace Church-Commerce campus.

CLARE HOLDEN began attending the church in 1985 during its first year of life, and served as the church's Secretary for over 21 years. At present, as Personal Assistant to the Lead Pastor, Clare is responsible for the administration and finances of the church. She also serves on the Administrative Team and the Finance Team of the church.

TOM LEWELLEN has served as Lead Pastor of the church since its beginning in 1984. A graduate of Michigan State University and Dallas Theological Seminary, Tom and his wife, Laura, started the church as a home Bible Study in 1984. In addition to other pastoral responsibilities, he provides vision and direction to the elders, the staff team, and the entire congregation and is the Campus Pastor at the White Lake location. Tom has been a teaching elder since 1985.

DIANE LONGO has been part of the Waterford Campus congregation since its began as Shepherd Fellowship Church in 1983.  In 1993 she joined the staff as Administrative Assistant, where she serves today.   She also serves with the X-Team, which is the externally focused, State-side mission team.  She is a graduate of Pontiac Business Institute and enjoys camping, reading and cows.

MARY KAY MEZAK, after serving at Grace for many years in various area, was given leadership of the Children's Ministries at Grace in 1999. Mary Kay leads our ministry to children from pre-school through fifth grade. She is known for her creative leadership and loving heart.

SANDY SHAW has worked as a staff secretary since 2005. In addition to her administrative duties, she serves as Administrative Assistant to the Associate Pastor and assists with secretarial work for Children's Ministries. She and her husband, John, are a part of the core group who are launching the Grace Church-Commerce campus.

DAN STEINHART joined our staff in 2001. Before joining the staff, Dan worked in the health care field. He attended the church for ten years and served as an leading elder for five years before becoming Pastor of Worship and Assimilation. He is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and Trinity College. Beginning in December 2007, Dan assumed the role of campus pastor at our Waterford location

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The Elder Team
Since Jesus Christ is the 'head of the body, the church' (Colossians 1.18), he alone is the Leader of our church. We believe that he guides us as a church through his word and Spirit as we yield to his loving leadership. As the 'chief shepherd,' Jesus appoints some believers in the church family as 'undershepherds' (1 Peter 5.4) to provide leadership and pastoral care under his guidance. These individuals are called 'Elders.'

At Grace Church, we divide our elders into two categories:

*The Leading Elders (or 'Ruling Elders,' 1 Tim. 5.17) are drawn from the men of the congregation who work in the community and are not paid by the church for their ministry.
*The Teaching Elders (1 Tim. 5.17) are those who, in addition to their leadership responsibilities, also serve on the pastoral staff of the church.

This distinction, drawn from 1 Timothy 5.17, is descriptive. The Leading Elders and the Teaching Elders are not different in their character and behavior qualifications or in their leadership or decision-making responsibilities.

The Lead Pastor, who is also a Teaching Elder, serves as moderator of the Elders' meetings. He is also responsible, under the authority of the Elders, for the leadership and nurturing of the staff team of the church. As the church grows in size, it also grows in its administrative and ministry needs. When this happens, the Elders form other teams who will deal with things such as administration, finances, and world ministries. These teams then function, under the guidance of the Elders to assist the Elders, the Staff, and the entire body in the fulfillment of our vision and mission.

Our Elder Team presently includes the following people:

Steve Adriansen (White Lake)
Glenn Autry (Commerce)

Larry Campbell (Waterford)
Paul Cronenwett (White Lake)

Mark Erikson (Commerce)
Tom Lewellen (White Lake)

Mark Moreno (White Lake)
Kevin Parliament (Commerce)
Bart Reed (White Lake)

Scott Spry (Waterford)
Dan Steinhart (Waterford)

Jeff Thomas (Waterford)
Randy Westerman (White Lake)