Elder
Mark Hogan
Mark Hogan was called to vocational ministry at GBC - Van in 2023 after serving as a church planter in North Dakota from 2017. He is married to Christine and they have 4 boys. Mark is a graduate of Westminster Seminary, California and enjoys preaching, reading, and shepherding the people of God!
Cliff Cooper
Elder
Cliff Cooper retired in 2022 from full-time vocational ministry at Grace Baptist, but still serves as elder. Cliff has served as elder since planting the Grace Baptist in 2005. Cliff has been married to Cheryl Ann Merrell Cooper since 1982, and they have two adult children, Cassie and Clint. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Wayland Baptist University (1984), and an M-Div from Southwestern Baptist Seminary (1990). The emphasis of his studies has been in apologetics and New Testament Greek. He began pastoring in 1981, and has pastored in six Baptist churches in Texas and Mississippi for 35 of the last 40 years.
Robert Fitzgerald
Elder
Robert has been a member of Grace Baptist since its founding, and has served as one of the elders since 2013. He is a licensed attorney in Texas (1986) (B.A. with distinction in Econ./Bus. from Hendrix College – 1981; J.D. from University of Arkansas – 1985) and has practiced primarily in the area of commercial litigation since 1989. Robert is married to Vicki (1986), and they have been blessed with seven children and one grandchild.
Paul Takach
Elder
Paul Takach has served as one of the elders of Grace Baptist Church since 2014. He previously pastored for 6 years at another Baptist church in East Texas. He has been married to Dana since 2001, and they have been blessed with three children. Paul has a Certificate of Ministry from East Texas Baptist University (2008). He is fully convinced of the sovereignty of God in salvation, the need for expository preaching and the importance of the regulative principle of worship.
JD Warren
Deacon
JD has served as a deacon and gifted brother since 2018. JD has been married to Mindy since 2013, and they have been blessed with 4 children. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Theology from Landmark Baptist Seminary and works as a Project Manager for a local home builder.
Brady Clark
Deacon
Brady has served as a deacon since 2020. Brady has been married to Abra since 2014, and they have been blessed with 2 daughters. Brady is a former Marine who works for a Texas based tank trailer company. He moonlights in smoking brisket and pork.
Deacon
Ben Carter
Ben has served as a deacon since 2023. He has been married to his wife Brandy for 21 years, they have 5 children and 1 on the way. Ben served in the US Army, a former restaurateur, he is now a corporate chef for a food distribution company. He can usually be found cooking, smiling, and serving his church family.