Chris Jones
Elder
Chris is married to Alisa, his college sweetheart. They have two fun, sweet daughters, Elisabeth and Tori Jane. They also own a playful golden retriever named Buttercup. The Jones family lived in North Carolina for nearly a decade before moving to RVA in 2017 to join Grace Community. Chris first came to faith in Christ in 1996 and began to grow in loving obedience to God through the discipleship efforts of his high school youth minister. He graduated from SEBTS in 2011 with his M.Div. and in 2019 with his Ph.D. in biblical studies. He has served in youth and associate pastor positions in Louisiana and North Carolina. Chris loves to spend time with his family, and his hobbies include reading, golf, fishing, and coaching his daughters’ sports teams.
Stanley Lankadasari
Elder
Stanley and his wife, Satya, were born and raised in the southern part of India. They have been married for 6 years and have two little boys. He graduated with a Master’s in computers and software engineering. Stanley literally grew up in a church in India and decided to follow Jesus at age 15. As a Christian, he felt compelled to share the gospel to those younger than him and has led Sunday school and young adults Bible study. Stanley and Satya have been part of Grace since 2010. He currently serves in our youth ministry. Stanley is passionate about prayer and is called to intercede for God’s people and the furthering of God’s kingdom as well as praying for the salvation of those he comes across during his daily commute. He also loves to read, drive, and cook for his wife.
Don Phelps
Elder
Don and Linda met in Fort Worth, Texas while he was in seminary. They have been married for 45 years. The Lord has blessed them with 4 daughters, sons-in-law and 7 grandchildren with love for more. Don believed the gospel and received God’s gift of salvation at the age of 9. Linda began her relationship with Christ also as a child. Don has been in the gospel ministry for 42 years. He graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with an M.Div. and years later earned a D.Min. His graduate studies also include a M.S. in Patient Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University. Don has served as a pastor, minister of missions, International Mission Board missionary in the Philippines and as a North American Mission Board endorsed hospital chaplain. He is a community group leader at Grace and this is his 2nd term to serve as an elder on the church council. Don and Linda enjoy hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing and grandparenting.
Greg Pinkard
Elder
Greg and Sherry met at Virginia Tech in the late 80’s and got married a few weeks after Greg’s graduation. Not many weeks later, they had moved to Richmond for jobs and they visited a church in a day care center called Grace Community Baptist Church. Through the years, they’ve had some wonderful opportunities to serve with youth and children’s ministries, as well as leading community groups. Greg met the Lord as an 8 year old when a thoughtful, young new teacher in hs Christian school led him to see his need for forgiveness through Christ. Now, many years later, Sherry and Greg have two adult children living in the Richmond area. Greg loves the Word, fiddling around in the garage making things, and enjoys cycling all over Richmond and in the Blue Ridge mountains when time allows.
Jim Wilson
Elder
Jim met his wife Pam at Virginia Commonwealth University in the ’70s and married three years later. They have a daughter Amy, who lives in Powhatan with her husband Alex and our three grandchildren; a daughter Ann Marie, who lives in Utah; and a son Michael, who lives in South Africa with his wife Casey, and their other two grandchildren. Jim and Pam helped start Grace in 1985 and this is his second term serving on our church council. He also serves as a children’s Sunday School teacher with his wife Pam, on the worship team, and with the men’s ministry. He enjoys running, bowling, pickleball games, ping pong with Pam, and tooling around Richmond in a ’31 Chevy. More than anything, he enjoys and benefits greatly from his relationship with God and His word.
Julie Newton
Children’s Director
Julie has been married to her high school sweetheart, Devin for 23 years. They have one daughter Ariel who was homeschooled through high school and currently attends Brightpoint Community College. Julie loves science and taught middle and high school science at a local homeschool co-op for 6 years while her daughter was still in school. Julie came to know the Lord in middle school at Perkins Baptist Church. She loves working with children of all ages and led Storytime and planned many programs at the Goochland Library for 6 years before having her daughter. At her previous church, Julie directed VBS for many years and taught kids church weekly. She likes managing schedules, planning children’s events, and working with a team. She has served in the Grace Children’s Ministry since 2019. Prior to coming to Grace, she was the Children’s Ministry Leader for 9 years as well as the Administrative Assistant for 9 years at her former church, where she was a member for 18 years. She enjoys watching college football and cheering on her favorite team with her husband, and spending time with her family.
Brenda Burnett
Office Manager
Brenda and her husband Paul met at their church in northern Virginia and have been married for 36 years. They have two children – Rachel, lives in the Raleigh, NC area with her husband Justin and daughters Sage and Haven, and a son, Daniel who lives west of Richmond. Brenda has been part of Grace for 25 years and has served in children’s and youth ministry and participated in mission trips to Honduras and Asia. She currently serves as our Office Manager. She came to know Christ in elementary school and loves serving in the local church and helping to equip people in their everyday lives in Christ. Brenda loves spending time with her family, most anything that has to do with, on, or in the water, local history, and cooking/baking for others.