At Grace, we have a team of pastors that work together to lead the church and establish overall ministry goals.
At Grace, we have a team of pastors that work together to lead the church and establish overall ministry goals.
Staff Elders
Brady Wolcott
Pastor of Discipleship and Teaching
Brady grew up in a large Christian family that would lead him to Christ at a young age. The churches he grew up in however were often quite strict and more focused on behavior change than heart change. During a rough time in high school one of Brady’s teachers showed him great love and acceptance and made him realize that he wanted to do for other kids what that teacher had done for him. Soon Brady was a teacher of Social Studies looking to “change the world.” His journey as a teacher eventually led Brady to teach at Grace Christian School and he and his family got involved in all kinds of ministries at Grace. In 2007 he would join the church pastoral team part time and eventually would transition from the “school side” to the “church side,” serving as the Pastor of Young Adults. It was during these first days of Pastoral Ministry that Brady would experience what he calls his “Gospel Revolution.” God began to show him how much He really loves and cares for us all unconditionally because of the work of Jesus, not the work of Brady. The Gospel is not something we use to just secure our ticket to Heaven. It is the event whereby we are changed daily and forever into the likeness of Jesus. Brady and his wife, Joy, have 4 young adult children: Victoria, Alex, Carter and Daria. Brady has degrees from Baptist Bible College of Pennsylvania, Regent University, and Liberty Baptist Seminary.
Brady's Hope for Grace
Brady’s great desire for Grace is that we would truly become a disciple making church that sees all come to an understanding of the awesome nature of God’s grace and it’s power alone to change us. His prayer is that we would “grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ,” becoming like Him in his death and resurrection. He envisions a church of deep family love for each other and for our neighbors who aren’t part of the church…yet.
Mark Tanious
Pastor of Preaching and Vision
Mark’s parents emigrated from Egypt to raise their family in America. His father mentored him with the belief that God would do great things through Mark's life. When Mark was still a young teen, his father went home to Heaven. Yet through that pain and loss, Mark emerged with an even greater sense of God's calling in his life. Although he studied at the University of Maryland to become a physician, he realized that the Lord wanted him to be a soul physician.
When Mark was studying at Capital Bible Seminary, he became friends with a family who attended Grace. Through that friendship, Mark sensed a calling to Grace to help fulfill its vision of reaching people who are far from God and helping them become fully devoted followers of Christ. He came on staff in 2008 overseeing the evangelism and connection ministries. Before coming to Grace, he served in a cross-cultural context as a youth pastor in Washington D.C. Mark has two degrees from Capital Bible Seminary with training in pastoral ministry and counseling. He is married to his high-school sweetheart, Dani Beth. They have three children, Elijah, Naomi, and Benaiah.
Mark's Hope for Grace
Mark’s passion is for Grace to be a church that centers everything on the message of the gospel and is sent out by the mission of the gospel. He envisions a multi-cultural and multi-generational church that passionately loves God and people. His prayer is that Grace would be a place where struggling and hurting people find freedom through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Jamie Miller
Pastor of Children and Administration
Jamie placed his faith in Jesus Christ at a young age having grown up hearing about Jesus and the importance of what Christ has done for us. Jamie explains, “One night, as a child, I overheard my mother talking to one of my older brothers about Jesus; I asked her about Jesus, heaven, and what I had to do to be in heaven with Jesus. That night my mother explained to me again about how God showed His love to me, and I placed my faith, my trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of my sins and I began a great new relationship with Him that has changed my life forever.” Jamie first came to Grace as a college student looking to get involved in a good church. He began serving in the church’s AWANA program and soon became a pre-school Sunday school teacher. Upon graduation from the University of Maryland, Jamie joined the staff at Grace Christian School, teaching middle school math for several years. In 2007 Jamie joined the Pastoral Team as the Pastor of Children. Jamie is married to his wife Genevieve (Gen) and together they have four sons: James, Timothy, David, and Joshua. Jamie has degrees from the University of Maryland and Liberty Baptist Seminary.
Jamie's Hope for Grace
Jamie’s hope for Grace is that the church will grow in their love for God and people as it grows deeper and wider. He sees a church that learns God’s Word but also stays humble as hearts are expanded to receive God’s never ending love and grace. His prayer is that Grace would share this love and grace of God within families and around our community.
Bill Blackford
Pastor of Students
Bill grew up in rural Indiana and was the youngest of six kids. He grew up in a strong Christian home and it was his family and church that showed him his need for a personal relationship with Jesus. But it was not until his college years that he took his relationship with God seriously. Bill decided to go to Liberty University and study Physical Education. There, God was really working in Bill’s life and he decided that he wanted to serve God in a Christian school. It was there that Bill also met his wife, Lisa. Bill and Lisa first came to Grace through Grace Christian School in January 1983. Bill started the Physical Education and sports programs at GCS. In 1986 Bill joined the Church staff as they were in need of a Youth Pastor. He felt God leading him in that direction and so now, rather than coaching students on the athletic field, he is coaching students in the greatest adventure of their lives as they live for God. Bill and his wife Lisa have two adult children: Bryce and Amber who are involved in many of the ministries at Grace. One of Bill’s greatest joys is having his children working in ministry alongside him.
Bill's Hope for Grace
Bill’s passion is for youth and so his hope for Grace is that students would realize the greatest gift they have is their lives and that they would accept Jesus sacrifice at an early age and then follow and grow in Him. He wants to encourage students to get connected to a caring group who will disciple, train and challenge them to live for God 24/7. Bill’s desire is that the church would love this community and world as we show them Christ.
Andrew Craig
Pastor of Music
Andrew grew up in the Chicago area and was raised in a faithful Christian family. At a young age he came to an understanding of the gospel and his need for salvation while in Sunday school. He gave his life to Christ and accepted Jesus as the Lord and Savior of his life. Later as he grew, Andrew entered a period of his life marked by continual rebellion and resistance to God. Through faithful, patient discipleship, he was graciously shown God's grace and mercy, and brought to repentance by being confronted with the radical gospel truth found in scripture: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Romans 1:8. He was then motivated to recommit his life to Christ and pursue a life of musical artistry for the Glory of God. Following careers as a professional music director and fine arts educator in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Minnesota, Andrew felt the Lord's call to pursue full time pastoral music ministry in the local church. God initially connected Andrew with Grace Baptist Church in 2018, and after an extended time of waiting and spiritual growth, he came to Grace in 2020 as the Pastor of Music. He and his wife, Liz met while in college and have been married since 2014. Andrew has music degrees from Belhaven University and Tulane University, and a certificate in worship leadership from Samford University Ministry Training Institute.
Andrew's Hope for Grace
Andrew's great passion for Grace is to make disciples of Christ by leading His Church to worship in spirit and in truth. Andrew's desire is to do so by pursuing Jesus in his personal faith journey, encouraging disciples through musical expression, training and developing the next generation of worshipers and worship leaders, and administrating platforms that empower believers to serve God more effectively. His vision is for Grace to serve God’s kingdom by declaring His truth expressed through music and then inspire and empower the next generation in the work of the gospel. He wants Grace to glorify God in and above all things, and worship Jesus passionately through authentic and culturally diverse modes of worship. He also desires for those who serve in music ministries to possess, in addition to a strong vertical focus, a strong emphasis on cultivating individual hearts in pursuit of Christ and practically living out faith in radical expression toward His glory.
Pastoral Assistant
Golden Aina
Non-Staff Elders
Bryce Blackford
Bryce came to a saving faith in Jesus Christ when he was 6 years old, and he was later baptized at Grace Baptist Church. Bryce was born and raised at Grace Baptist Church with his dad on staff from the time he was born. Now he and his wife, Kristen, are raising their family Dawson, Peyton, and Molly at Grace.
Jim Guidry
Jim was saved at 16 years old after being influenced by the book Joni by Joni Eareckson [Tada]. He eventually joined a Bible-based church and was scripturally baptized in 1991. Jim met Debbie after college, and they were married a couple of years later. They have been active members in local, Bible-based churches throughout their marriage. Jim and Debbie joined Grace Baptist Church in 2001.
Nathan Heijermans
Nathan was saved at the young age of five, and was baptized as a teenager. Growing up in a missionary family in Europe exposed him to to the gospel early on, as well as many aspects of discipleship and church ministry. He and Tara were married in 2005, and now have four children (Hannah, Micah, Leah, and Noah). They've been part of GBC since 2018, when they moved back to the area from Germany.
Don Jillson
Don is married to Jennifer, his wife of 30 years. They have three grown daughters and three grandchildren. Don was saved at the age of 14 years old after growing up in a Christian home. He and Jennifer became members of Grace in 1992 when they were stationed in the area when Don was on active duty with the Coast Guard.
Dan Redmond
Dan started attending Grace when he was thirteen and put his faith in Jesus as his Lord and Savior at the age of 14. He and his wife, Megan, have been married for 30 years and have three children; Amanda, Brandon, and Clayton.
Mike Yeager
Mike grew up in Bowie and has been in Bowie for 50 years. He met his wife Cindy, who joined the church in 1988 and worked at Grace Christian School as the music teacher for 9 years. They have three children, Stephanie, Hayley and Aaron. Mike met with Pastor Price in 1980 and he accepted Christ as his savior. Mike was baptized and became a member in 1982.
Ministry & Support Staff
Gregg Kendall
Business Administrator
Gregg moved to Bowie in 1994 after graduating from UMD. He and his wife, Emily, found Grace Baptist Church right away and transferred their memberships in 2002. They have two adult children; Jordan and Olivia. Gregg has worked in finance for 30 years. He uses his professional skills and the resources God has provisioned for the advancement of the work of Christ.
Kristen Blackford
Church Office Manager
Kristen loves interacting with people and helping them with whatever they need. Grace is where she found her closest friends and a true church family. As she puts it, "Attending church here is awesome and working here is an extra special bonus!” Kristen is married to Bryce and have three kids: Dawson, Peyton, and Molly.
Russell Murphy
Facility Manager
Russell came to know Christ in 1969 through the prayers and witness of his wife Vicki and her parents. Russell has worked in maintenance for over 4 decades. In 2014, he decided he wanted to use his gifts and expertise to serve the local church. Russell loves being able to work in an environment of Christian fellowship and brings a fun, helpful spirit to the staff.
Daniel Vakharia
Manager of Media & Communication
Daniel has been attending Grace since he was eight years old. He came on staff in 2016 when the pastors saw a need for a visual communicator. Daniel uses his skills in videography, photography, and web/graphic design to advance the mission of the church and spread the gospel to those in the community. He met his wife, Katie, at Grace and they got married in 2019.
Cindy Yeager
Music Assistant
In 1988, Cindy came to Grace Christian School as the music teacher and later joined the church staff as the music assistant. Cindy met her husband Mike at Grace and together they have raised their three kids in the church. Cindy loves serving alongside music pastors that have a deep love for the Lord and a deep desire to make music an integral part of the corporate worship service.
Joy Wolcott
Administrative Assistant
Joy came to Grace with her husband Brady in 1998 to work at Grace Christian School. “We’re a package deal,” she says. She came on staff with the church in 2010. Joy loves using her secretarial and administrative gifts to serve the church. She loves the relaxed atmosphere and the fun, friendly, loving people on staff at Grace.
Susan Toczylowski
Nursery Director
Susan joined the church staff in 2004. She loves working at Grace because her position enables her to provide tangible help to families with young children, not only on Sunday mornings but throughout the week.
Eunice Abutan
Children's Ministry Assistant
Eunice grew up in church ever since she could remember. Yet, true knowledge of salvation didn’t occur until the age of 17. She attended Bethany Baptist Bible College in the Philippines; where she met her husband Roy. God lead the couple, along with their children Johanna, Josette, and Jeremiah to join Grace in the summer of 2019. Eunice is fun-loving, enjoys interacting with others, and is humbly blessed to be part of the children’s ministry.
Dorothea Harrison
Biblical Counselor
Dorothea has been a member of Grace since 2004. She was encouraged to pursue an MA in Biblical Counseling which she received in June 2019. Since graduation she has served the church and community through counseling individuals and families, walking with them through difficult times and ministering the gospel. She and her husband Victor raised five children in the church.
Liz Craig
Social Media Manager
Liz moved to Maryland and came to Grace in 2020 with her husband Andrew when he joined the pastoral staff. She and Andrew have one child, Arlen. Liz joined the church staff in 2023. She loves serving the church by using her photography and web/design skills.
Deacons