Here are our church leaders!
Jerry Lura
Pastor, Elder
My wife Jennifer and I have been members of Grace Community Church since 1995. We have two of our four children still at home. I have been involved in the Leadership of the church for the last 15 years and have been pastoring since 2019. God has placed a calling on and a passion in my heart to preach the good news and I am excited for the opportunities that He is giving me to live those out at this church. I am also involved in administrating a non-profit human service foundation that serves foster youth and families, and runs a residential teen program for foster and probation youth. I coach youth wrestling and enjoy exploring God's creation through mountain biking and backpacking. I believe that God has called us as His children to live out our faith in very real, practical, and at times, difficult ways on this earth, and that He has purpose for all of the ups and downs we experience. I believe that we should be living intentionally for God in every situation and circumstance He gives us, and I desire to see His children thrive spiritually in the face of those circumstances.
Gary Johnson
Elder
Gary and wife Nancy have been a part of Grace Church for over 30 years. Growing up in the Central Valley of California Gary received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior as a child. God has given Gary a passion for Children's Ministries and oversees our Christian Education here at Grace. Gary also oversees the Multimedia and Streaming Ministries. Gary and Nancy have been married for over 40 years and God has blessed them with three children and four grandchildren. Gary's life verse is Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your way acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."
Mike Nimon
Elder
Mike and wife Kathy have been part of Grace Church since July of 2022. We have a grown Son and daughter, and two grandsons living in Ahwahnee and Fresno. Mike has been in church leadership as an Elder for the past 25 years in Fresno, serving in youth, missions and ministry development. God has given Mike a passion for equipping, missions and community ministry growth. Mike serves on four Christian boards of HaitiGo (Churches, schools orphanages) , Next Door Ministries (Transition/Sober living home), Martin Park (Community safe park inner-city ministry) and Legacy building (building for 501c3 ministries in Fresno area). Hiking, backpacking, travel and running a Bed and Breakfast round out our world. The pursuit of growing within a healthy church, serving in ministry and glorifying our Lord as the Spirit leads are a priority.
Hebrews 10:25 – “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Lester Bridges
Elder
Lester Bridges gave his heart to the Lord in 1960. He moved to Mariposa in 1962 and has been involved in many different ministries over the years. He and his wife, Barbara, have been married since 1974 have three grown children and 10 grandchildren. Lester has a heart for teaching and has taught many men’s Bible studies over the years and enjoys the opportunity to teach from the pulpit on occasion. His current desire is to see the spiritual growth of the men at Grace Church through a discipleship ministry. His heart at this point is “To do whatever the Lord wants me to do.” His hobbies include Bible study, bicycle riding, running, and fishing. Lester’s, current, favorite verse is Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what Gods will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will”.
Jason Swartz
Elder
Jason and wife Jennifer have been part of Grace Church since July 2022. They have been married for 34 years and have 3 grown children and 3 grandchildren.
Jason has a heart for teaching people the truth of Christ and the practical application of following Jesus in our daily lives, emphasizing service to our fellow man - loving others as we love Christ.
James 1:25 (KJV) But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.