John is a native of Ashland. He came to Christ in 1978 and began to serve on the Grace staff in 1983. Prior to his ministry at Grace, which he enjoys immensely, he was an electrical contractor for 15 years. John has been married to Jane for 41 years, and they have three children and nine grandchildren. His time with his grandchildren is important to him and he enjoys golf on occasion. Verses of Scripture that are very meaningful to him are found in Psalm 16: “….you are my Lord, apart from you I have no good thing”. Also, I Peter 1:3-7, where believers are said to have been “given new birth into a living hope that through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade…”


John Rowe
Ashland Grace Brethren Church
419 289-8334 ext. 212
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Pastor Norm Johnson has been a part of Grace Church since 1975. He served as an intern under Knute Larson until being sent out as a missionary by the church to Brazil under Grace Brethren International Missions in Oct. of that year.
Norm grew up near Corning, New York and accepted Christ at LeTourneau College, Longview, TX. He was on two short-term mission trips to Brazil while at LeTourneau. It was at Word of Life in Brazil that he met his wife Cleo. They were married in 1970 and then moved on to Winona Lake, IN, where Norm completed the master of divinity program.
From 1975 to 1987 Norm and Cleo along with their two children, Heidi and Joe, served in Brazil. They helped to found a church in Uberlandia and later ministered in Brasilia.
In January 1987, Norm became part of the pastoral staff at Grace, presently serving as Pastor of Missions/ 50+ Adult Ministry.
In May of 2003, Cleo went home to the Lord, ten weeks after she was diagnosed with brain cancer. Based on Cleo’s request and God’s leading, Norm dated Ann Nichols, their widowed friend. Norm and Ann were married in January of 2004. The Grace family quickly accepted Ann and she loves to serve in her new family role!
Ann has two daughters: Kathryn Nichols (and son Benjamin) and Jaimee LaFave (married to Michael). Norm’s daughter Heidi is married to Pastor Jeff Bogue and has five boys (Josiah, Isaac, Micah, Gabriel, Elias) and a girl (Naomi). His son Joe is married to Lindsay and they have two boys (Knox and Kuyper, Candler) and three girls (Noah Grace, Cleonise, and Charis).
Norm’s and Ann’s hobbies and interests are the grandchildren, mission trips, and bike riding. Norm also likes to do woodworking while Ann enjoys reading.
Norm’s verse is: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2:20-21

Pastor Norm Johnson
Ashland Grace Brethren Church
419 289-8334 ext. 213
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Rob met his wife Cristy at Grace College in Indiana. They began their ministry life together at the Grace Brethren Church in Waterloo, Iowa. After 10 wonderful years there, God moved them to Grace in Ashland, where Cristy had grown up.
Twenty years of youth ministry was a great privilege and lots of fun. Eventually, however, Rob felt it was time to move to other ministries. Now he enjoys assisting with the Adult Bible Fellowships at Grace. Additionally he works with the Outreach Commission and oversees the Audio/Video department.

Pastor Rob Barlow
Ashland Grace Brethren Church
419 289-8334 ext. 215
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Pastor Jon grew up in a pastor’s home and graduated from Grace College in 1973, after which he interned here at Grace for one year under pastor Knute Larson. In 1978, Jon graduated from Ashland Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity and a major in Pastoral Counseling. He ministered in several churches before coming to Grace in 1997. Pastor Hall is responsible for assimilation and counseling/care.
In assimilation, Pastor Jon maintains the church’s database, providing the staff with helpful information about the spiritual needs of our attenders. He also chairs the Membership Commission.
In counseling and care, Pastor Jon ministers weekly in pastoral counseling and oversees the care ministry in the church and community. Since Ashland has several faith-based care ministries, Pastor Hall works with these ministries so that a coordinated effective Christ-oriented outreach is available in the Ashland area.
Jon’s wife, Linda, works full-time as a staff writer for the Wooster Daily Record. They have four children and two grandchildren. Andrea Hoverstock (Phil) lives in Canton and is a nurse practitioner. Christina graduated from The Ohio State University and works in southern California. Melinda is pursuing a Ph.D. at Vanderbilt University. Justin is a junior at Grove City College in PA.

Pastor Jon Hall
Ashland Grace Brethren Church
419 289-8334 ext. 214
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Pastor Nathan Wells has been a part of Grace  since 2002, beginning as the Youth Pastor. A graduate of the University of Ashland and Grace Theological Seminary, his current role is Pastor of EastGate Bible church, the East Ashland Campus of Grace. He enjoys weightlifting, fitness and camping with his wife and three sons.

Pastor Nathan Wells
Ashland Grace Brethren Church
419 289-8334 ext. 219
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Tami joined the staff of Grace in June of 2002 as the Children's Coordinator. Since that time, she has also become involved in Upward Basketball and Cheerleading, as well as Women's Ministry.
Tami and her husband Randy have two sons, Joseph and David.


Tami Van Hove
Ashland Grace Brethren Church
419 289-8334 ext. 229
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Greg began his involvement with Grace in 2006 as a Youth Intern, and has been serving as Youth Pastor since 2008.
Greg has been married to Sarah since 2004 and together they have two sons, Trenton and Gradon.
He sees his purpose as helping youth make sense of this world through the eyes of God and His Word, longing to see students come to Christ and become like Christ in our world today.


Greg Summers
Ashland Grace Brethren Church
419 289-8334 ext. 248
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Bessann, a native of the Ashland community has been involved in the ministry at Ashland Christian School since 1994. She started serving as a preschool teacher and then became the elementary principal in 1996.  In 2006 she became the school’s administrator. God has placed a great love in her heart for children and for the Lord’s work at Ashland Christian School. Bessann is married to Brad and they have three children – Ashley, Lauren, and Matthew.

Bessann Carr
Ashland Christian School Administrator
419 289-8334 ext. 233

Rich started attending Grace in 1995 while attending Ashland University where he majored in Philosophy and Political Science. In 2003 he was surprised to find himself volunteer teaching Logic and Philosophy to the 7th and 8th grades at Ashland Christian School. In 2007 he came onto staff fulltime as Director of Development & Worldview, where he serves as a liaison between Grace and ACS and plays an active role in the continued Christian worldview training for both, including Wednesday electives and Veritas ABF.  He and his wife have recently joined ranks with Fuse, where they seek to mentor the next generation of leaders. He also writes grants, plans events, and raises funding for ACS.

Rich is also a freelance writer and in his spare time enjoys spending time with his family, reading, watching baseball, and listening to music. He is haunted by Amos 8:11-12, is driven by Deuteronomy 6:4-9, and trusts in Psalm 112 and the finished work of Christ.

Rich’s wife Deidre has the staggeringly important calling of raising up their sons Jackson and Adam in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

Rich Policz
Ashland Christian School
419 289-6617 ext. 249
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Kris Swineford
Ashland Grace Brethren Church
419 289-8334 ext. 222

Cristy Barlow
Ashland Grace Brethren Church
419 289-8334 ext. 217
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Pat Hipp
Ashland Grace Brethren Church
419 289-8334 ext. 250
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Sandy Leedy
Ashland Grace Brethren Church
419 289-8334 ext. 235
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Cara McQuate
Ashland Grace Brethren Church
419 289-8334 ext. 211
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Jill Niswender
Ashland Grace Brethren Church
419 289-8334 ext. 217
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Dana Shymske
Ashland Grace Brethren Church
419 289-8334 ext. 242
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