J.C. Collins comes to us, having recently finished a distinguished career in the United States Air Force. J.C. had been in full time ministry working in both youth ministry and as a head pastor before being called up to active duty in 2001. His wife Joann who is always by his side is attaining a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Cincinnati Bible College while both his children are married and live out of state. J.C. is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary.
Associate for Childrens and Youth Ministry
Andrew and Heather Costa join us from Athens Ohio. Both attended Ohio University, courted on its picturesque campus and Heather even returned to get her masters degree. Meanwhile Andrew is a Masters of Divinity Student at Liberty Baptist Seminary. Andrews’s first career was youth ministry working with Young Life in Athens County and at the Plains United Methodist Church. They are expecting their first baby in July and are excited to be a part of what God is doing in Hamilton Ohio.
Nancy Brown has been a secretary in various capacities with private industry, U.S. Government (Navy and Air Force), and city schools. She has been our church secretary for the past 8 years following the death of her husband. She has served in the community as a Volunteer Hospital Chaplain at a local hospital. She also has served on the Visitation Committee here at Grace Church. Nancy is a movie buff and can be heard laughing and having a good time around the office.
Our Church Treasurer
Kari Shaw and her family have had a long time connection with our community here at Grace. She is married to Jeff Shaw who works for the City as fire fighter. Together they have four children. Kari is heavily involved in Talawanda local schools and before that she was a manager at a local financial institution. She is also active in the children’s ministry from serving its council to helping teach music and dancing at Vacation Bible School.
Doris Castator retired from Champion International in 1992 after 34 years of service working in the Sales Department as Senior Sales Representative. She joined Grace Church in 1995 and began working as a volunteer in the office. She later accepted positions as Membership Secretary and Financial Secretary. She has served on SPRC and Nominations Committees and is currently on the Hospitality/Outreach and Finance Committees. Doris is also one of our worship service greeters and lady ushers. She has two sons and two granddaughters. Doris collects angels and Precious Moments figurines. Her favorite music is gospel sung by her favorite artists, the Gaithers and Ernie Haase and Signature Sound. God has blessed her with a loving family and her best times are those spent with them.
Gene Erbe, Music Director, has served the Lord as a church musician for 43 years, the last 7 years have been at Grace. A graduate of the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati has afforded him many professional opportunities. However, family became a greater focus. He has a large family and many interests to keep him busy in addition to his daily avocation of architecture.
Tami Thompson has served as pianist for Grace since 1999, and has been a church pianist since age 15. In addition, she is Director of our Children's Choir, and teaches private piano students. Tami has been married to husband Todd for 27 years; they have two grown children, and one son-in-law. Two dogs round out their family. In addition to music, she enjoys cooking, travel, spending time with the family, and long rides in the country.
Barbara Hornsby has been a musician for over 34 years and the blessing of being the organist at Grace for a number of years. She enjoys photography, traveling with her family and making memories every day.
Kelly and Gary Mozingo have been leading the music for the 8:30 a.m. worship service at Grace for nearly 10 years. Gary, who plays the guitar, is a retired mathematics teacher from Hamilton City Schools. Kelly, a flautist for over 31 years, is a hospital lab technologist. Kelly and Gary were raised on the hymns of days gone by and incorporate those same traditional songs in our morning worship services today.