Grace Community Church
Developing Bibically Grounded Followers of Christ
Staff
Our Ministry Staff
Answering questions, even the ones you aren't asking...
Dave Reimer senior pastor
Dave was born in Canada, but that’s about all he did there, except learn to walk and talk. The rest of his life has been a north-south migration through the plains states, growing up in South Dakota and Nebraska, attending Grace University in Omaha, Nebraska (where he met his musically-gifted wife, Marilyn, from Kansas), and then attending Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas. After ten years as pastor-teacher in the Dallas area, he returned to pastor in his adopted native state, South Dakota, for five years. In 1987 he and his family moved to Newton where a fledgling group had formed the nucleus that became Grace Community Church. The great privilege of his life has been to watch God bless that group’s vision and transform these 13 original attendees into what the church is today.
Dave and Marilyn have three grown children, two adorable grandchildren, and the assorted grand-cat that drops in for awhile. When not building Sunday messages, he may be found making woodchips in his shop (out of which an occasional piece of furniture appears), garage sale-ing with Marilyn, or trying to correct a persistent slice on the nearby golf course.
Steve Friesen counseling and discipleship
Born at the mid-century mark (that’s the 20th century, of course) Steve claims Kansas as his birth state, but his upbringing includes large chunks of time in the land of seaweed and shushi. He spent the majority of his childhood and youth as an “MK” in Japan with parents who were lifetime missionaries in Osaka. After heading back to the States solo in 1968, Steve graduating from Tabor College in 1972. He then moved to the Lone Star State in the fall of 1972, where he enrolled in Dallas Theological Seminary that fall, and later met and married Bobbie (an MK from Guatemala) in 1976. Graduating with his Masters of Theology from Dallas in 1977, he and Bobbie left for missionary service in Japan in 1979, serving in youth ministry and church planting until the summer of 1997. After a major transition back to the US with three made-in-Japan sons, Steve started his State-side ministry as Education Pastor here at Grace in the fall of 1997. In addition to coordinating the education and discipleship programs of the church, Steve has enjoyed teaching, preaching, counseling, and taking mission trips to Mexico. With the growth of body at Grace, Steve is transitioning into a focus on pastoral counseling, recovery groups, and equipping care-givers. This past summer he and Bobbie welcomed two daughters-in-law into their family circle. His recreational dream is “breaking 80” in golf without breaking his back.
Jim Horning student ministries
Hey, my name is Jim Horning and I'm the Director of Student Ministries here at Grace. In other words, I'm the youth pastor guy who oversees ministry to junior and senior high students. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Pastoral Ministry from Taylor University-Fort Wayne (1998) and have been serving at Grace since February of 2000. My goal for ministry is that each student knows that 1) They are LOVED 2) They have a place to BELONG and 3)They are VALUABLE and have something to contribute. When I'm not hanging out with kids, I'm usually playing some type of sport, guitar, or watching a good movie.
Adam Utecht worship and community life
I'm the Pastor of Worship and Community Life at Grace. I came on staff in September of 2006. I have the privilege of leading God's people here in worship through song regularly. We are always looking for more tech people/musicians. If you are interested in getting involved, fill out the Worship Team Application. When I am not working on the worship ministry, I am meeting with Coaches. Not football coaches at Newton High. Coaches are leaders of leaders and I guess that makes me the leader of leaders to leaders. Whoa. The Small Group Ministry at Grace is a growing part of what God is doing in our midst. We are realizing that the larger we get, the smaller we must become. I am pretty fired up about small group ministry because it is all about people getting deep with each other, supporting one another and getting to know God better as a result. Check out more about our Community Life Ministry on our website.
I have to tell you about my fabulous family. I am married to a beautiful lady named Jill and have two adorable daughters, Hannah (3) and Sophia (1). I am originally from Wisconsin, so I like cheese curds, and do wear a foam cheese on my head to support the Packers. Starbucks is a staple in our home and I graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 2002.
Kris Reed children's ministries
Kris Reed’s world has been turned upside down several times. She was born and raised in Ohio, graduated from Bowling Green State University with a degree in Business Education, and later received a law degree from Capital University Law School.
Kris and her husband, Mike, served for 15 years in their local church Awana club. Then, one life-changing day, God called them to serve as full-time Awana missionaries. Not long after, God moved them from the land of the Buckeyes to their “Africa,” the plains of Kansas. The world of law, attorneys, and courts became the world of Awana clubs. While they will always miss their family and the trees and the hills of Ohio, Kansas and its beautiful sunsets have become home to Kris and Mike, their four children, and their two dogs.
Kris’s family began attending Grace Community Church upon their arrival in Newton in August, 2004. She has been involved at Grace in Awana, Kingdom Kids’ Worship, One-to-One Ministry, VBS, and nursery. Just when things were falling into a routine, God added the world of children’s ministry to the world of Awana clubs and volunteer church involvement when He called Kris to join the staff as Children’s Ministry Director in July, 2007. She very much looks forward to the new journey God has laid before her.