Pastoral Staff

Pastor Larry earned a bachelor’s degree with a double major in accounting and business management in 1972. After he was married and had served in ministry for five years, he returned to college to earn a Master’s degree in Educational Administration and Leadership in 1980. Although his formal education occurred in an academically challenging environment, it also fostered legalism and judgmentalism. In contrast, his ministry at gracespring is characterized by the majesty and freedom of God’s irresistible grace. Larry is an effective communicator and teacher of the Bible, and his teaching is marked by Biblical accuracy, humor, and living practically.

Before coming to gracespring Larry served for over 20 years at Southside Baptist Church and Christian School in Greenville, SC. At this time he joined the faculty of Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, and still teaches for them from time to time. In addition to teaching and speaking, Larry loves to read, write, and play racquetball.

His wife Karen, whom he met at college, holds a bachelor’s degree in French and English education, and is a full-time stay-at-home mom who also spearheads the drama ministry at gracespring. They have eight children: Gavin & Liz (Chicago, IL), Tiffany (California), Brittany & Shadd (Allendale, MI), Neville (California), Blakeley & David Mays (Kalamazoo), Destry (Kalamazoo), Chelyan (Nursing Program at Western Michigan University), and Kuldin (Cornerstone University). The Kisers have two grandchildren, Genevieve Cosette Kiser, born July 14, 2010 and Seneca Rayne Clausen, born December 31, 2011.

An architect and construction manager for 18 years, Bob felt God’s call at age 42 to leave his role as regional vice president of an international firm and enter full-time ministry as an executive pastor. He served at two churches in California for 16 years before joining the staff at gracespring in 2003. Bob’s B.S. Architectural degree was supplemented for ministry in the form of evening Bible School courses along with many years of Bible teaching and church leadership experience.

He feels blessed to have become ordained through that process, using the spiritual gifts of leadership, shepherding and teaching, and he cherishes the “call” of pastor on his life. As executive pastor at gracespring he provides daily direction to the pastoral and administrative staff and his chief responsibility is to ensure that Pastor Larry’s vision and the goals of leadership are implemented in all of the church’s ministries.

Bob’s personal ministry passions lie in the areas of leadership development and marriage enrichment and he has enjoyed the opportunity to develop and teach these subjects. Bob has been married to his “dynamic bride” DJ since 1966. Together Bob and DJ’s varied experiences as partner, parent, pastor, professional, and “person” have made them eager to share how Christ’s transforming power continues to grow them into more committed marriage and ministry partners. They have two married children: Scott & Carrie live in Lansing, with their daughters Sydney Paige (August 2004) and Ashlyn Grace (February 2009) and Jenni & Toby live in Hawaii with their sons Cody Kai (August 2005), Caden Koa (Sept. 2007), & Caleb Keahi (April 2010).

Howie graduated from Arizona College of the Bible in 1987 with a double major in Bible and Church Music. He finished his master’s degree in Applied Music (Choral Conducting) in 1995 from the University of Houston. Before joining the gracespring staff in September 1997, Howie had 17 years of full-time experience in worship and music at three churches, including Kingwood Community Church near Houston, and Galilee Baptist Church in Glendale, Arizona. He met his wife, Dawn, in college in Arizona where they married in 1989 and they have three children, Madeline (born 1995), Tyler (born 1997), and Mackenzie (born 2000). Howie loves to lead and facilitate worship, and one day would like to write a book on worship. He believes that choirs, contemporary praise teams, and powerful dramas all have a unique role in leading people into an intimate encounter with God.

Providing a “Circle of Care” around people in need has been a passion of Rob’s for over 20 years. He has a Masters Degree in Counseling and in Biblical Studies and is an ordained pastor and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Michigan. In addition to his work with various churches, he has taught at Spring Arbor University, William Tyndale College and Koinonia Theological Seminary in the Philippines. Rob loves the outdoors and enjoys kayaking, hiking, and playing in the mud with his jeep. Rob and Sandy married in 1982 and have two children, Nicolle and Jeremiah. They are excited about what God is doing at gracespring and are honored to be a part of it.

Jeremy has always been a person who has loved to connect people ever since he was connected to his mother at birth. He joined the gracespring team in order to help oversee our small groups and discipleship ministries, assist in leading worship and help create and sustain a plan for people to connect to each other and our church. Before coming on staff, Jeremy spent 4 years as one of the directors of Gull Lake Ministries, discipling the college staff and helping lead the sales, marketing and music teams. Jeremy and his wife Kimberly love coming alongside people to watch them thrive in the area with which the Lord has gifted them and encourage them live an abundant life in Him. Jeremy has a bachelor’s degree from Taylor University, spent some time studying at Hong Kong Baptist University and is a certified Team Coach with Ministry Coaching International. Jeremy and Kim got hitched in 2005 and have a ball with their daughter Clara (born March 2009) and son Wesley (born May 2011). The Heaveys enjoy entertaining people in their home, pasta, road trips, family movie nights, camping and just spending time outside. They are excited to be a part of the gracespring family!

Blaine has served in ministry for the last 24 years. Blaine met his wife Lesa at a church in Texas where he was on staff, thus starting a dynamic partnership in marriage and ministry. Together, they have served in churches in Richardson, San Antonio and Plano, Texas as well as Aurora, Illinois and Walled Lake, Michigan. They have been married for over nineteen years and they have four awesome kids, Lauren (18), Tyler (17), Caleb (15), and Casey (13).

The Farr Family enjoys spending time together outdoors and one of their favorite things to do as a family is camping. Also, the Farr family enjoys their family nights where they love to watch movies and play games together.

Blaine graduated from Dallas Baptist University in Dallas, Texas, where he received a Bachelor’s of Arts and Sciences degree with majors in Business Administration and Christian Ministry and a Master of Arts in Christian Education.

Jason graduated from Cornerstone University in December of 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in Youth Ministry and has been a Youth Pastor in the Kalamazoo area since February 2001. He joined the gracespring team as a part-time worship director for the youth ministries in May of 2004, and was hired full-time in November 2004 to oversee the Middle School ministries of gracespring. In 2010 Jason became Pastor of Student Ministries at gracespring.

God has given Jason a passion for students and an ability to connect with them on many different levels (maybe a few too many). Jason has a lovely wife, Sarah, who he met in high school and married in 2000. They have two sons, Tyler (born Jan. 2005) and Josiah (born Oct. 2007), and a daughter, Allison (born June 2010). God has worked miraculously to bring Jason and Sarah to gracespring and they are excited to be part of the gracespring family.

Peter is the third of eight children. He was homeschooled all the way through high school and has a BBA in Sales and Business Marketing from Western Michigan University.

Peter has been attending gracespring since he was in 8th grade. He attended Impact and was an active member of Charlie Walker and Aaron Eichholz small group(they are still faithful Impact small group leaders!).In his junior year of high school, Peter started interning for the student ministries department. From that point on, he’s been hooked! He believes God has called him into ministry and it is one of his life's passions.

Peter started dating his beautiful wife right out of high school. The couple dated for four years and on May 28, 2010 they were married. She is his best friend and biggest supporter.

Peter loves middle school students because of their energy for life, their open and blunt honesty, and their desire to figure out who they are. It was his 8th grade year that he decided to really follow Christ with his whole heart. His prayer is that through the ministry of Impact, many students will make decisions like that.