A smiling man with a beard and short hair, wearing a navy blue zip-up jacket over a red and white checkered shirt, standing indoors near a wood-paneled wall.

LEAD PASTOR CHRIS HURST

Pastor Chris sensed God's calling to full-time ministry during his high school years and took on leadership roles in student ministry during his freshman year at Texas A&M University. After marrying his college sweetheart in 2006 and becoming parents to two boys, Chris joined Grace Fellowship in 2004 as the student pastor while pursuing a Master's in Divinity. Following this, he served as the High School Pastor at Woodlands Church in Texas and later became the Dallas Campus Student Pastor at Prestonwood. His journey continued as the Executive Student Pastor at Crossroads Fellowship in Odessa, where he eventually became the Teaching Pastor.

In 2018, God led Chris and Julie to seek his guidance for their next ministry season, and they discerned a clear calling to return to Grace Fellowship in Paradise, Texas. Chris joined the staff as the Teaching Pastor and Weekend Experience Director in December 2018, following a transition plan devised by founding pastor BJ Rutledge. In February 2021, he assumed the role of Lead Pastor. With a vision to inspire and equip people to know and follow Jesus, Chris eagerly anticipates witnessing the manifestation of God's power in Paradise.

LEADERSHIP TEAM

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Mark Morgan

Executive Pastor, Operations
& Next Steps

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Rocky Johnson

Executive Pastor, NextGen/Reach

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Michael Ramirez

Service Programming Director & For Our Communities Director

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Chad Eubanks

Business & Finance Pastor

STAFF

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    AUBREY POWERS

    Student Ministry Assistant

  • A woman with long blonde hair, smiling and looking at the camera, wearing a dark green sweater with large buttons, standing indoors with a wooden wall in the background.

    BETHANY MEADOWS

    Preschool Director

  • A smiling older woman with short gray hair, glasses, and hoop earrings, wearing a black blazer over a white and beige striped shirt, standing indoors against a background of a wooden wall and beige wall.

    CHRISTI PITTS

    Operations Manager

  • A young man with brown hair and blue eyes smiling, wearing a dark teal, long-sleeved Henley shirt with buttons.

    CODY HUFF

    Technical Coordinator

  • A young man with curly brown hair, light skin, and a mustache, smiling, wearing a maroon shirt, standing indoors with a wooden wall on his right.

    COLTON RUDDER

    Associate Student Pastor

  • A smiling bald man with glasses and a beard, wearing a beige button-up shirt over a white T-shirt, standing indoors with a wooden panel on the wall behind him.

    COREY HARMON

    Communications Director

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    EMILY SMITH

    Digital Media Assistant Director

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    GABBY KLINE

    Grace Kids Assistant

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    GABE RANGEL

    Children’s Pastor

  • A smiling man with a full beard and shaved head, wearing a gray quarter-zip sweater, standing indoors with a light wall and wooden panel background.

    JEREMY RUTLEDGE

    Facilities & Teaching Pastor

  • A woman with long blonde hair, blue eyes, and a wide smile, wearing a peach-colored top with puffed sleeves and a silver necklace, standing indoors near a wooden wall.

    JESSICA GOMEZ

    Grace Kids Early Learning Preschool Director

  • A smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a black top, standing indoors against a background of a white wall and a wooden panel.

    JESSICA MOWERY

    Lead Pastor Assistant

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    JIM T CAIN

    Life Groups Pastor

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    KIM EDWARDS

    Executive Assistant, Next Gen & REACH Ministries

  • A young woman with long, wavy brown hair wearing a black top and a necklace, smiling in front of a wooden wall and a white wall.

    KRISTIN SMITH

    Groups Coordinator

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    KRYSTIN TAYLOR

    Preschool Ministry Admin Assistant

  • A smiling man with a beard and short dark hair wearing a light blue denim jacket and black shirt, standing indoors against a background with a wood-paneled wall.

    LAINE MELIKIAN

    Student Pastor

  • A woman with light skin, long brown hair, glasses, and a white top, smiling winking at the camera, standing against a background with a white wall and a brown wooden panel.

    LEEANNE GREGG

    Grace Kids Early Learning Assistant Director

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    MADISON RUDDER

    Weekend Experience Assistant

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    MARK ZAMORA

    Digital Media Director

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, blue eyes, and hoop earrings smiling wearing a light purple turtleneck sweater.

    MEGAN STEWART

    Operations & Next Steps Executive Pastor’s Assistant

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    MICHAEL UPCHURCH

    Worship Pastor

  • A woman with curly light brown hair and blue eyes smiling, wearing a pink dress with white lace embroidery.

    MICHELLE SMITH

    Financial Administrative Assistant

  • A middle-aged woman with short, light brown hair, wearing glasses and a pink patterned sweater, smiling and standing indoors with a wooden wall on her right side.

    PAM FARRIS

    Receptionist and Care Coordinator

  • A man with dreadlocks wearing a white headband and a light-colored short-sleeve button-up shirt, standing indoors in front of a wooden wall and white wall background.

    SCOTT GT

    Digital Media Associate