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Staff and Leadership
Matthew Ellis
Senior Pastor
Matthew grew up at Grace Baptist Church and both came to the Lord and received his call to ministry here. In 2005 he left the region to pursue his Masters in Divinity at the Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary campus in Mill Valley, CA (renamed Gateway Seminary of the SBC). In 2009 he became a full-time Bible Teacher while serving both as a part-time pastor and as an Air Force Reserve chaplain. In 2020, after 2.5 years on full-time status as an Air Force Reserve Chaplain, Matthew was called back to Grace as our full-time Senior Pastor. Matthew is married to Jamie and they have three wonderful children. Matthew enjoys outdoor activities, tabletop games, and simply building relationships with people. He invites you to come and check out this community of faith!
Derek Kerby
Associate Pastor & Worship Leader
Derek has been here since July of 2017. He has helped GBC develop a contemporary blended worship style.
Derek is fun-loving and has a quick sense of humor. His joy for the Lord shows in how he leads us in our worship!Â
He is married to Rena and has two young boys.
Tina Lawson
Treasurer
Tina is our church treasurer. She has been vital to keeping our church running. Tina definitely has a heart for serving, as a full time driver for para transit, she serves our church in her freetime. A lifelong Washingtonian she has enjoyed raising her two daughters here and now her 5 grand-boys.
Heather Malm
Secretary & Clerk
Heather is our secretary and clerk. She has been at GBC nearly all her life and love how the church is her second family. She's married with 4 children a 16 year old bonus daughter and 3 boys ages 9, 9, and 8. As she says, ministry and kids are her whole life. If she's not at work with the NWBC, she's at her kids' school or sports events, or here at church.
Ben Malm
Youth Director
Ben has been at GBC for roughly 10 years. A Northwest native Ben enjoys being out in nature and camping. He's married with 4 children; a 16 year old daughter and three boys ages 9, 9, and 8. If you ask his wife she'll say he's the perfect fit for youth ministry since he's a big kid himself.
Teresa Ellis
Children's Director
Teresa and her husband have been at GBC since 1987. She became a Christian when she was 9 years old and has been blessed as she follows God’s leading in serving Him. She has a love for children and wants to help them to build a strong Biblical foundation in their lives. She has worked with children of all ages since she was in her teen years. When she first came to Grace, she taught in our preschool Sunday School classes. When a need for a children’s Sunday School teacher opened, she began teaching there, which she still serves today. She enjoys seeing God work in the lives of the children. Teresa is also our Vacation Bible School director and loves reaching families in our community for Christ through this outreach.
At GBC we maintain a safe and clean environment and teach our preschoolers and children the Bible in a way that they can understand. We seek to build a foundation that, as the children grow, they will be ready to accept and follow Jesus when He calls them. Our goal is to help families teach and train their children to be disciples of Christ.