Grace Baptist Church

Tom Ascol

Tom Ascol has served as Pastor of Grace Baptist Church since 1986. Prior to moving to Florida he served as pastor and associate pastor of churches in Texas. He has a BS degree in sociology from Texas A&M University (1979) and has also earned the MDiv and PhD degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. His major field of study was Baptist Theology. He has been an adjunct professor for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in their SW Florida extension and has also taught systematic theology and pastoral theology at Reformed Theological Seminary and the Midwest Center for Theological Studies, respectively. Tom serves as the Executive Director of Founders Ministries, an organization committed to reformation and revival in local churches. He edits the Founders Journal, a quarterly theological publication of Founders Ministries, and has written numerous articles for journals and magazines. He is a regular contributor to TableTalk. He has also edited and contributed to several books. Tom regularly preaches and lectures at various conferences throughout the United States and other countries in addition to authoring the Founders Blog and writing for Examiner.com.

Tom enjoys riding motorcycles and, though he currently is "in between bikes," lives with the hope that one day he will have his own Harley. His wife, Donna, told him that he would have a better chance getting struck by lightning than getting his own hog. Since last summer, Tom is feeling much more hopeful that a bike is in his future. He and Donna have six children, five of whom they are still enjoying in their home.

Ken Puls

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 (Founders Press, 2004), which he helped edit. Ken and his wife, Celest, have four children, two boys and two girls. You can read more about Ken on his website.

Tim Brister

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.