Bruce Stinson
Senior Pastor

Bruce's Blog

Born and raised in Northeast Texas, our pastor, Bruce Stinson, knows what it's like to live in a small but growing town. Bruce grew up in a Christian home, was saved at the age of sixteen and felt God's tug on his heart to enter the ministry by the time he was seventeen. After attending Bible college, getting married and pastoring youth for 3 years, Bruce accepted his first pastorate in the Beaumont, Texas area. Serving nearly 10 years there, in October of 2006 he joined the GBF Family as their Senior Pastor.

During his free time Bruce enjoys spending time with his wife, Gina, and their two children Savannah and Tucker. He loves sports of any kind and attempts most of them!

"Hear us from Heaven" is the theme for 2007 for the church. Bruce has encouraged the church to pray so that heaven will hear from us and so we will hear from heaven. God is already pouring out His blessings and we look forward to seeing what He has in store for us in the months and years ahead.

If you are looking for something different, relevant, encouraging, challenging, exciting, and growing, then why not come experience Grace Bible Fellowship?

Roy Layman
Youth Pastor

Roy's Youth Blog

I grew up and have spent most of my life in the thriving metropolis of Howe TX. To borrow an illustration from pastor and author Chuck Swindoll, my life can be describe in three stages: thinking I was a somebody, realizing I am a nobody, and now the best part, seeing what God can do with a nobody. In Christ the possibilities for my life are endless. However, apart from Christ I have been described as a pasty face white boy, with a bad hair cut, and less muscle than a canned ham.

I love to share the message of Christ with anyone of who will listen. But God has given me a specific burden for student ministry. I find students to be passionate, genuine, and moldable, not to mention HILARIOUS. Who wouldn’t want to do this right? I served as Youth Pastor for FBC Howe from 2005 to 2008. Before that we attended Legacy Bible Church in Sherman where I served as a Youth Leader for 4 years.

In my free time I hang out with another group of hilarious people, my family. My beautiful wife Casey and I have 2 kids, Quinten and Trinity, and our third, Norah, will be here in about 2 weeks. As a family we like to go hiking, camping, watch movies, and the occasional game of Dodge the Rubber Chicken or Indoor Dart Tag. Stop by and play sometime! I also love to read my Bible and a wide range of Christian authors. I love my ipod. I fish when my cool friends with boats ask me to : ) I mostly watch sports but still like to play a little basketball….Oh, AND I enjoy whitewater basket weaving, mullet spotting (it’s a competitive sport), and of course, underwater bb stacking.

Mandy Turner
Children's Pastor

Mandy's Children Blog

Mandy Turner was born and raised here in Gunter, TX. This is the place where she and her family call home. She has spent the majority of her life running up and down the streets of this small town and playing at the fields….both during her youth and now during her children’s youth.

Mandy was educated at Paris Jr. College where she played basketball, Stephen F. Austin, and University of North Texas. She began her career teaching at Gunter I.S.D. but became a stay at home mother once her first child, Addison, was born. She stayed home for 6 years raising Addison 8, Zander 7, and Gabe 4.

After working part time preschool jobs during her early motherhood years, Mandy went back to teaching. She taught at Celina Christian Academy as a 2nd grade teacher and the Reading Lab Teacher. During her 4 years of working for CCA, God began to pull on her heart strings to become more involved in the ministries. After a year of prayer, the opportunity came available for her to take on the role here at Grace Bible Fellowship as the Children’s Minister. God made it clear that it was indeed time to take on this challenge and wonderful opportunity, right here in her hometown.

For hobbies, Mandy enjoys running, being outdoors with her family, and traveling with her husband, Todd.

Mandy’s goal as a Children’s Minister is to show the children of our community that each one of them matter to God. She wants to show them how to receive His love and how to love Him back.