Grace Church Staff
BILL GEHM – Senior Pastor
Pastor Bill has been the Senior Pastor of Grace Church, Calvary Chapel Amarillo, since 1985. Bill's number one focus has always been to feed God's people with God's word. Bill and his wife Cindy have been married for over 46 years, and they have three grown children and ten grandchildren. Bill enjoys various outdoor activities such as riding his motorcycle, camping and working in the yard with his wife. His greatest hobby is reading the Word of God.
DOUG M. GEHM – Executive Pastor
Pastor Doug has been on staff since September 2005. He currently oversees all aspects of ministry at Grace. Doug attended and graduated from Calvary Chapel Bible College in California, England, and Spain. He is married to Kimberly, and they are blessed with five children. Doug enjoys reading, cold weather, and sports.
NATHAN VAINIO - Youth Pastor
Pastor Nate was born and raised in Joplin, Missouri until God called Him here to be a part of Grace Church in 2018. He is married to the lovely Jaymarie, and they have one son together, Nathan the 3rd. He loves his family, Marvel, building stuff, and seeing students deepen in their relationship with God.
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Hector Casanova - Youth Assitant
Hector started attending Grace church in 2019. He has enjoyed the opportunity to volunteer in the youth ministry and serve alongside Pastor Nate. Hector is very grateful and blessed to serve full-time and vocationally the community here and near Grace Church since 2024. Hector enjoys reading, being active, and continuously seeking to know God and help others experience the same.
CINDY GEHM - Women's Ministry
Cindy met her husband, Bill, at Bible College. When their oldest son was one year old, they moved to Amarillo. They had two more children and started Grace Church right before their youngest was born - she was the first new baby in the church! Cindy now oversees the Women's Ministry and the Bookstore at Grace. She loves babies and children's books, and when the weather is nice, she loves to pull weeds!
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JOHN VASQUEZ - Worship Director
I was born and raised in the border city of El Paso, Texas. Music is my passion, so I went to school to become a music teacher. I am happily married to Berenice Belmontes, who is my beautiful Songbird.
Both of our parents were worship leaders, so we were surrounded by music. My favorite hobbies are art form and cooking, and Sour gummies are my favorite candy
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JENNIFER SIMPSON - Children's Ministry Director
Jennifer has attended Grace Church since 2000. She began serving in the children's ministry in 2005 with numerous roles such as co-teacher, teacher, director's assistant, and leading the registration team. Jennifer enjoys the work God has her doing and feels it is a privilege to serve the Lord in the children's ministry along with Melissa Campos and all the wonderful volunteers. She desires that each child will come to know God's amazing love. Jennifer married her high school sweetheart, KC, in July 2001 and has two daughters whom she homeschools.
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DOUG S. GEHM - Biblical Counselor
Doug has been on staff at Grace since October 2007. His main focus in ministry is providing Biblical Counsel to those searching or in need. He also functions in other pastoral roles here at Grace as needed. Doug is a retired policeman of 25 years from the Denver Police Department. He also served with Exchanged Life Ministries for three years. He is married to Cheryl Gehm, and they have four children. He thoroughly enjoys reading.
JODIE ZICKER - Biblical Counselor
Jodie Zicker, M.A., has been a part of Grace Church since 2013 and has served part-time on staff at Grace Church as a Biblical Counselor since 2016. She has been a certified Biblical Counselor for Healing Hearts International since 2012. Jodie has a Bachelors in Psychology from the University of New Mexico and a Masters in Biblical Counseling from The Master's University. Jodie is married to the love of her life, Michael. They have four amazing children--Jessica, Madison, Matthew, and Jason. ​
MARY VENABLE - Pastoral Assistant
Mary has been on staff at Grace since July 2005. She serves part-time as a Pastoral Assistant and helps manage the Bookstore. After growing up in Colorado, she attended Calvary Chapel Bible College in California and England, graduating in 2004. Soon after, she moved to Amarillo to work as an intern at Grace, where she met and married her husband, David Venable, in 2007. They have two children, who bring them so much joy. She enjoys homeschooling her kids, gardening, baking, and spending time with family.
LAUREN WARDEN – Administrative Assistant
Lauren has been on staff at Grace Church since March 2022. She serves as our Front Desk Secretary and as part of the Grace Church communication team. Lauren has the privilege of being married to her wonderful husband, Shane Warden, who also serves with her on the Grace Church staff, where both use their artistic giftings to serve the Lord. Lauren's passion is serving God's people and teaching others about our Lord and Savior. Her life motto is "Saved to Serve."
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CHANCE SMITH – Operations Manager
Chance has been a part of the team at Grace Church since 2012 and, as our Operations Manager, oversees various functions and needs of ministry here. He manages HR needs and facilities' staff and coordinates building projects, events, and weekly operations. He works closely with the entire staff as a steward of the property and resources that God has blessed Grace Church. Chance and his wife Amee have been happily married since 2008 and are blessed with a beautiful family. He enjoys spending time with his family and working with his hands.
LINDA GRIGGS - Financial Assistant
Linda retired from full-time employment in 2016 and started working at Grace in April 2017 on a part-time basis. She is married to Cary and has one daughter, Amy. Linda enjoys traveling and quilting.
JOYCE WORD - Custodian
Since 2017, Joyce has been a custodian for Grace Church. Over the last couple of years, Joyce has found great joy in keeping the church a tidy and inviting environment for people to have fellowship, hear the Gospel, and praise God! Joyce is blessed with a wonderful family and grandchildren. In her spare time, Joyce enjoys going for walks, gardening, and reading. ​
CHRISTY PORTER - Custodian
Christy has been on staff at Grace Church as a custodian since the beginning of 2019. She takes pride in keeping the church a clean place where people can come to worship and receive God's word. Christy has an A.S. degree in Health Science, is happily married, and is blessed with a wonderful daughter. In her spare time, Christy enjoys creating art, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with friends and family.
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MELINDA CHILDRESS - Custodian
Melinda started attending Grace Church in December of 2017. She has served with the custodial staff intermittently since 2019 and officially became a part of the team in July of 2022. Melinda married her best friend, Dennis, in 2006, and they have been blessed with two daughters, Skylar and Haven. She loves animals, spending time with her husband and family, and Fall is her favorite time of the year.
TODD ROLLISON – Communications Director
Todd has been a part of Grace Church since 1998 and on staff since 2008. As Communications Director, He oversees all of Grace Church's multimedia. He and his team maintain websites, social media, and mobile apps and create the print and visual media used at Grace Church. Todd has a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations and Advertising from West Texas A&M University. He also has a master's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing from the University of Phoenix. Todd is married to Mandy and has two children. He enjoys computers, movies, and just hanging out with his family.
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SHANE WARDEN - Creative Tech
Shane is a creative visionary with a love for design and marketing. He found interest in art and technology at a young age and started pursuing Graphic Design at the age of sixteen. He went to Amarillo College, where he majored in Graphic Design and was a member of the honor society. In 2016 Shane met his best friend and wife, Lauren Warden, at a local coffee shop; the two were married in 2020 and work together on the creative team. Shane and Lauren have two cats: Klaus and Ruth, who also bring joy to their lives. Shane loves Christ and the Church body as a whole and has a desire and vision to share the Gospel through means of art and technology. Shane's interests include film, music, collecting comics and toys, video games, playing guitar, and most importantly, sharing time with his wife, the love of his life.
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RICKY QUILODRAN - Facilities Manager
Ricardo had been serving at Grace Church for five years. He was born and raised in Amarillo and graduated from Universal Technical Institute. His hobbies include collecting and modifying 1/64 scale cars like "Hot Wheels," drawing, and singing for fun. He maintains the Facility and also volunteers in the youth ministry.
EDUARDO RUIZ - Spanish Study
Eduardo Ruiz ha estado sirviendo desde Octubre 2017 en la Iglesia Grace Amarillo. Graduado de la escuela de ministerio de Calvary Chapel de Costa Mesa California en 2012, también estudio la Biblia y Teología sistemática en el Instituto de Expositores (Idex) del 2015-2017. El nombre de su esposa es Elizabeth, ella también graduado de la Escuela de Ministerio de Calvary Chapel en Costa Mesa, California en 2016. Sobre los años ellos experimentaron juntos la gracia y misericordia de Dios. Ellos tienen dos hijas, dos hijos y siete nietos.
Eduardo Ruiz has been serving Grace Church Amarillo since October 2017 at the Spanish service. He graduated from Calvary Chapel School of ministry in 2012 in Costa Mesa, California. He also studied Bible and Theology at Idex (Instituto de Expositores) from 2015-2017. He is married to Elizabeth, and she also graduated from the School of Ministry at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa in 2016. Over the years, they have experienced grace, mercy, and faithfulness from God. we have two daughters, two sons, and seven grandchildren. ​