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Elders & Staff

Thomas K. Ascol, Senior Pastor

Tom Ascol came to serve Grace Baptist Church back in 1986, when he had fewer children and more hair. He and Donna now have 6 children, the oldest of whom lives in Central Asia. He enjoys sports, photography, reading and mountains (even though he lives as far away from mountains as one can and still be in the continental United States!). For more information on Tom, click here.

Tim Brister, Associate Pastor

Tim Brister has been serving as Associate Pastor at Grace Baptist Church since June 2008 and has been enjoying every minute of it. While he does not share the Southern drawl of his beautiful wife, Dusti, it is true that he is from the great state of Alabama, home of Crimson Tide football.  With another little one on the way, the Bristers are excited to see their family planted and grown in the spiritually fertile ground of the Grace family of faith. Tim's passion is to demonstrate a life that trusts God, treasures Christ, and triumphs the gospel. Though his education and emphasis has been in evangelism, missions, and church planting, he also serves in other capacities at Grace, including preaching, teaching, and leadership development.  On the side, Tim enjoys sports (of all kinds), photography, cycling, blogging, and most importantly, spending time with his family.  Currently, he holds an undefeated record in ping-pong, and Tom Ascol (a defeated foe) has compared him to Forrest Gump (also from Alabama). You can read more about Timmy on his blog, Provocations and Pantings.

Asael Gonzalez, Pastor of Hispanic Ministries

Asael González is originally from Havana, Cuba. He came to the United States with his family in 1980 and was called to the ministry in 1998. He is a graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary where he studied pastoral ministry. Asael has served Grace Baptist Church as Pastor of our Hispanic Ministries since 2001. Along with his musical skills, Asael is hands-down the best cook among the elders. That isn't saying much, but it does give him bragging rights. He and his wife Martha have 2 children.

Ken Puls, Pastor of Music Ministries

Ken Puls is originally from Omaha, Nebraska, where he studied classical guitar and music theory at the Omaha Conservatory of Music (1973 to 1980). In 1980 he continued his study of music at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, receiving a BM degree in 1985. Ken is also a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he received the MM and PhD degrees in Church Music Ministry. He and his family moved to Cape Coral, Florida in January 2003. Ken serves with Founders Ministries as Editorial Director of Founders Press and Director of the online Founders Study Center. He also teaches Fine Arts as an online instructor for Dallas Baptist University and guitar for Edison State College.

Ken is a coffee connoisseur (rumor has it he has been a subscriber to Gevalia since he was a kid). Black. No sugar. Like real men drink it. One of his goals in life is to begin roasting his own beans. 

Ken has composed over 50 hymns, including hymns in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, which he helped edit. Ken and his wife, Celest, have four children, two boys and two girls.

Shawn Bergen, Pastor of Church Planting

Shawn Bergen joined the Grace pastoral staff on May 1 of 2009. He is an MDiv graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and currently is working on his DMin from there. After planting Everglades Baptist Church in Okeechobee, Florida, Shawn became the Minister of Evangelism and Married Adults at McGregor Baptist Church in Ft. Myers. 

Shawn says that the best preparation he has received for the ministry has come from his time in the Florida Everglades, where he has developed quite a reputation for his alligator hunting skills. Because he knows how to bag and skin leviathan (or at least leviathan-like creatures) he gets all the difficult counseling cases. 

Barb Reisinger, Administrative Assistant

Barb Reisinger has served in the church office since July 1994. She serves on the Finance Committee and also assists her husband Don (who has a reputation as a great squirrel hunter) with the church's Book table ministry and CD ministry. Barb loves cows. Especially Holsteins. She also makes an incredible apple pie.

 

 

 

Rachel Ascol, Secretary

Rachel is a graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and works part-time in the church office. She also loves cows. Especially the kind that advertise for Chik-fil-a. One local Chik-fil-a even displayed a picture of Rachel in a cow suit in their restaurant. 

 

 

 

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