Elder Council
Who are the Elder Council at Grace?
The Elder Council (EC) at Grace are a group of men who are elected by the church membership to provide shepherding oversight to the church body. While the senior pastor is a member of the EC, the EC are not charged with the day-to-day operations of the church, but rather supports the senior pastor and church staff through prayer, encouragement, and being present.
What are the requirements for being an Elder at Grace?
The biblical requirements are based on Titus 1 and 1 Tim 3:1-7. Additionally, prospective Elder
candidates should also:
candidates should also:
- Have a passion for prayer and a deep desire to constantly improve in this area, individually/corporately
- Have a deep sacrificial love for all the people of Grace
- Have a demonstrated commitment to intentional discipleship
- Have a passion for the next generation
- Be flexible and open to change
- Be able and willing to bring energy and passion to role as elder
- Model biblical financial giving to the church
- Model biblical unity
- Be available to serve 3-year term
How does someone become an Elder at Grace?
Recommendations for Elders can be submitted HERE. Once a recommendation is submitted, it is reviewed by the Elder Nominating Committee. Typically, this review is done annually, but can also be done whenever the number of EC membership is below the required minimum. Once review is completed, potential EC candidates are interviewed, and final candidates are put before the church membership for approval.
Elders should be prayer warriors who lead by example, who watch out for the spiritual life of the church, and shepherd the church in humility.
2025 Elder Nominees
The 2025 Elder Nominating Committee submits the names of the following individuals to serve as Elders for Grace Community Church beginning March 1, 2024. Members may vote to affirm the following individuals using the link for the online ballot found in the digital bulletin and weekly newsletter. Ballots also include voting for the 2025 Elder Nominating Committee. All ballots must be submitted by 12:00noon on Tuesday, October 28th.
Paul Covert gave his life to Jesus on Christmas Eve 1968. He has been a follower ever since.
He and Annie have served in full time ministry for forty-seven years, mostly here in the
valley. He has worked as a youth pastor, senior pastor, and full-time prayer pastor for
twenty-five years. He is currently the Cooperate Chaplain for Aqua Tots Swims Schools
USA that headquarters in Mesa, Arizona.
They began attending Grace Community Church in 2020. This was during covid. So,
they watched nine potential church services online, three each week and narrowed the
search down to three. When restrictions were lifted, they visited those three churches
live and eventually selected Grace. They are delighted to be part of this body and
marvel at what God is doing at Grace. They both serve in the prayer partners ministry
and attend a small group. Paul founded a ministry called Threshold Prayer Ministry in
2019 that consults with churches in the area of prayer. He has helped Grace with some
of their prayer efforts.
Paul and Annie have three grown and married sons and soon to be nine grandchildren.
All are believers and attend churches regularly.
He and Annie have served in full time ministry for forty-seven years, mostly here in the
valley. He has worked as a youth pastor, senior pastor, and full-time prayer pastor for
twenty-five years. He is currently the Cooperate Chaplain for Aqua Tots Swims Schools
USA that headquarters in Mesa, Arizona.
They began attending Grace Community Church in 2020. This was during covid. So,
they watched nine potential church services online, three each week and narrowed the
search down to three. When restrictions were lifted, they visited those three churches
live and eventually selected Grace. They are delighted to be part of this body and
marvel at what God is doing at Grace. They both serve in the prayer partners ministry
and attend a small group. Paul founded a ministry called Threshold Prayer Ministry in
2019 that consults with churches in the area of prayer. He has helped Grace with some
of their prayer efforts.
Paul and Annie have three grown and married sons and soon to be nine grandchildren.
All are believers and attend churches regularly.
Keith Shippy inherited a strong Christian foundation from his family and community growing up on a cattle ranch in rural South Dakota. He accepted Christ as a child and was baptized as a teenager. He moved to Tempe after college and started attending Grace Community Church. Over the last 39 years of being actively engaged at GCC, Jesus has transformed his faith from one of inheritance into one of a deep personal relationship with our risen Savior. Keith met his wife Carol at GCC, they have been married for 34 years and have two adult children, both living in the valley. Keith has been involved in many ministry and discipleship activities at GCC over the years. He currently serves at GCC through Second Sunday (gathering and packaging non-perishable donations for Holdeman Elementary). Keith also serves on the Prayer Partner team and is the President of the School Board for Grace Christian Academy.
Steve Winston accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior while attending a Christian summer camp
in middle school and was baptized at the age of 12. Steve and his wife, Stacey, moved
to Arizona from the St. Louis, MO, area in 2017 and joined Grace Community Church
later that year. Steve is one of the leaders of the church’s safety team and has served
on that team since 2018. Steve has attended various small groups, which have been
instrumental in building strong relationships and nurturing personal spiritual
development. He is ordained and had the privilege of officiating the weddings of his
daughter and son-in-law in 2023 and his nephew to his now spouse in 2024.
Steve and Stacey reside in Tempe and have 2 children: Megan (26) and her husband
Ben (27), and Mallory (17), who was baptized at Grace Community Church in 2018.
Steve and Stacey are blessed to have her parents, Charlie and Leslie Camp, move to
Maricopa, and her sister, Amy, to Tucson.
in middle school and was baptized at the age of 12. Steve and his wife, Stacey, moved
to Arizona from the St. Louis, MO, area in 2017 and joined Grace Community Church
later that year. Steve is one of the leaders of the church’s safety team and has served
on that team since 2018. Steve has attended various small groups, which have been
instrumental in building strong relationships and nurturing personal spiritual
development. He is ordained and had the privilege of officiating the weddings of his
daughter and son-in-law in 2023 and his nephew to his now spouse in 2024.
Steve and Stacey reside in Tempe and have 2 children: Megan (26) and her husband
Ben (27), and Mallory (17), who was baptized at Grace Community Church in 2018.
Steve and Stacey are blessed to have her parents, Charlie and Leslie Camp, move to
Maricopa, and her sister, Amy, to Tucson.
Current Elder Board
Paul Cords
Adam McCown
Bob Underwood
Bill Heaton
Jerry Powers
Danny Vandenham
Fred Jentgen
James Stone
Des Wadsworth
Max Litzinger
Eno Udoko