Randy Ferguson

Tell us a little about your family, your vocation, and how long you have lived in Johnson City.

I have lived in Johnson City all of my life and met my wife, Larissa, in college at ETSU.  Since 1992 I have worked as an insurance agent, and Larissa is the college and career counselor at Providence Academy. We have been married 29 years and have three adult children: Mary Kate, Drew, and Amy. Mary Kate is married to Mitchell Sutton and they live in Knoxville where she is a school teacher and Mitchell is finishing his PhD at UTK. Drew graduated from Lincoln Memorial University this past May and is working at a medical lab in Knoxville. He is marrying his fiancé Hope Johnson this December. Amy is a junior at Milligan College and runs cross country and track.

How did you come to put your faith in Christ?

When I was about 5 years old, my mom, Vickie Ferguson, was responsible for helping me understand the gospel and leading me to place my trust in Christ.  She was also the one who introduced our family to GFC. She started attending GFC soon after it moved to Virginia Street around 1982 and recruited the rest of our family after a few weeks. Thankfully, I grew up hearing Tom’s teaching every week. Even when I decided I was not interested in spiritual things, God relentlessly pursued me through the teaching at GFC, and over time, it changed me. As a young adult I was exhausted from running from a relationship with God and decided to pursue Him instead. For me, “Grace” is the perfect first part of the name of our church.

How long have you been at GFC, and how have you been involved over the years?

When Larissa and I met, she started coming to GFC, and we have been attending together ever since. Like most people at GFC, we have been involved in different areas over the years as we went through different life seasons. Before we had kids we worked with Terry Maughon in youth ministry. Once we had children, we worked in the nursery and children’s ministry. For the last several years, we have helped to facilitate an adult small group.

What do you love most about GFC?

The thing I have enjoyed most about GFC over the years is the commitment to fulfill GFC’s mission to “Glorify God by joining Him in building a community to reach a community.” Over the years, I believe GFC has done a great job of building a community through the high caliber and clear teaching of God’s word. GFC has been blessed with pastors and teachers who are equipped through their training and talents to explain God’s word in a way that illuminates the meaning and makes the Bible practical and applicable to our lives. This teaching has changed me, my family, and many other individuals and families who attend.

I have also been encouraged over the years to see GFC reaching our community. Not only through the organized outreach programs like Mountain View, Regeneration, Camp in the City, etc., but through individuals who attend GFC. Over the years, I have heard many testimonies from people in our community who came to know Jesus through a coworker, neighbor, or acquaintance of someone who attended GFC. It is exciting to be a part of what God is doing at GFC.

David Paduch

How did you come to put your faith in Christ?

I came to Christ like many – through adversity. Back in 2000, I was living for myself and my relationship with Christ was broken. At that time I was living for the world and not for my savior. The day we moved into our new house, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and lost all the feeling on my right side, I could not move. Thinking in my mind I could handle this, and again still living for the world, I pressed on broken and unable to hardly hold a pencil or walk. I was not struggling well – rather defiant that I was fine and oblivious to the stress on my loved ones around me.

I visited the hospital three times over the next 6 years – the final time the day after my sister’s wedding. I finally hit rock bottom and hit the floor, crying out to God to save me from this disease and to help me understand what my purpose was in life. He showed me over the next few years that living for God and all His glory was so much better than living for this world’s approval. I now thank God for showing me that my MS is a gift – a gift of reality with His grace, that good can come in bad things if we are willing to listen and trust him. I still struggle with symptoms daily, but they just remind me what to focus on – Him.

Allison and myself are currently serving in GRACE Kids teaching a 3rd grade class during the second service. We have followed the same kids since kindergarten (thus starting our fourth year), and before this four year stint, I served in Grace Kids at different grade levels for 4 years from 2007-2011 roughly.My wife served as a middle school girls small group leader for 3 years also.

What do you love most about GFC?

The thing I love most about Grace is the people- everywhere I turn I see people who have made an impact in my walk with Christ. Whether it is Rob Adams giving me the courage to lead a group of people to Peru, and Tim Bowers, Larry Nees, or Tom Oyler ministering to me over the years to grow my faith and trust in Christ, or the many friends like Paul Jacobson who lend a ear just to talk. This is what GFC is all about.

Trey Spence

Jonathan Yates

Tell us a little about your family, your vocation, and how long you have lived in Johnson City. 

I was born in West Virginia,  but I’ve called the Tri-Cities home for over 25 years.  After graduating from ETSU, I pursued a career in insurance and financial services and now have offices throughout East TN and Southwest VA.  I was blessed to meet my wife, Heather in 2008, and we married later that year.  We have a 5 year old daughter, who is a beautiful reminder of God’s faithfulness.

How did you come to put your faith in Christ? 

I came to a saving knowledge of Christ in elementary school through the “AWANA” program at our church, but it wasn’t until middle school that I began living out my faith and following Jesus.  

How long have you been at GFC, and how have you been involved over the years? 

GFC was one of the first churches that Heather and I visited as newlyweds almost 11 years ago.  We knew instantly this was our church home!  Little did we know the impact the people of GFC would have on our lives over the next 10 years.  We have participated in and led several community groups and special community group events like ECHO.  I’ve participated in discipleship groups with other men, and I’ve supported Heather when she was on staff in women’s ministry.  We’ve learned a lot from our family here at GFC about what true service looks like, about what it means to live life with each other as we learn to struggle well.  Perhaps now my main passion is to see men grow in grace and become the men God made them to be!

What do you love most about GFC? 

I am proud of, and encouraged by, GFC’s leadership reflected in our culture to stay committed to truth while living in grace.