Elders

ELDERS, OR PASTORS, ARE THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH GIVEN OVER TO PREACHING, TEACHING, COUNSELING, AND LEADING. 

  • JOSHUA B. HENSON

    Pastor Josh is happily married to Christina and is a father to Cohen and Caleb. The Lord sovereignly brought Josh to saving faith at the age of 18. Josh is a firm believer in a ministry characterized by the ordinary means of grace. He has studied in Israel, was a missionary-teacher in Mexico for three years, is an avid cyclist, loves watching Star Wars with his kids, going to the beach with his family and reading good books. His favorite book in the Bible is Ecclesiastes. Josh holds a B.A. in Biblical Exposition from The Master's University, an M.Div. from Westminster Seminary California, a Th.M. and a Ph.D. in Old Testament Studies from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. 


  • KEN OCHSENREITHER

    Ken came to know the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ in the fall of 1983. A few months later he began attending our church and has been involved in increasing capacities ever since. Ken served as a Deacon for 20 years before his installment as an Elder in 2010. He retired from the Naval Reserve as a photographer in 2004 and retired from the US Postal Service in the spring of 2017. He currently serves the church as an  administrative assistant. Ken and his lovely wife Lori stay busy with ministry and keeping up with their three college-age sons: Joel, Luke and Noah. When he does get some free time Ken enjoys bicycle repair and restoration. 

  • Jim Sireci

    In 1977, Jim was stationed on Guam when he received the gift of salvation through Christ Jesus. He was baptized in the Pacific Ocean and began serving the Lord in a local Baptist church. Jim left the Navy for a few years and attended Bible college where he met and married his best friend, Renee in 1983. 

    Jim returned to the Navy where he served the Lord in various capacities on two ships, in Alaska, Scotland, Florida, Maine, and Washington state. Since retiring from the Navy in 2007, Jim has worked in various positions as a government contractor, small business owner, and most recently a Project Manager at ADP. Jim earned a BA in Liberal Studies from Excelsior College, and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. 


    Jim was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament at Grace Covenant Church in November 2018. Jim and Renee have four married children and eight grandchildren. Jim takes great joy in 1 Corinthians 1:23-31.

Deacons

DEACONS ARE SERVANTS OF THE CHURCH COMMITTED TO MEETING THE PHYSICAL NEEDS OF GOD'S PEOPLE.

  • Calvin and his wife Barbara have been married for over 45 years and have been at Grace Covenant for 40 years. Calvin has served for 20 years as a treasurer and secretary on the deacon board. They have two children and love to spend their time perfecting their Ballroom, Square, and Round dancing skills. 

  • Kenny Rhea is a native of Hampton Roads, born and raised in Norfolk. He began attending Grace in 2007 at the invitation of his brother and sister-in-law and was converted a year later under the ministry of former pastor Joe Gilliam. Kenny's service and love for the Grace Covenant community is evident to all and the church has been blessed by his diaconal service since 2012. Kenny stays busy working in the family business at R&R Motor Company and body shop. He and his beautiful wife Leeann love their enormous Goldendoodle Boomer and look forward to every minute they get to spend with their two grandsons Terrance and Gabriel.

  • Matt Schultz

    Matt has been married to his wife, Tara, since 1997 and they have been blessed with three children: Mackenzie, Jamisenne, and Liam. Matt was led to saving faith in Christ as a young man after a providential time of hardship in his teens. He holds a Certified Working Chef degree from Baltimore International College and has been in the hospitality industry for over thirty-five years. He and his family have been a part of Grace Covenant Church since 2010, and he considers it an immense joy and a humble privilege to serve the church body and have his family sit under the means of grace. Matt’s favorite book of the Bible is Ecclesiastes; he is thankful to be able to enjoy this life with the wife whom he loves, all the days that the Lord has given him under the sun.

  • David and Cary Woodbury have been married since 1985. David attended a Christian high school but didn’t come to saving faith in his Lord Jesus Christ until 1997, “the unbelieving husband made holy because of his wife” (1 Corinthians 7:14). After David completed thirty years of naval service in 2008, he and Cary started a local family business in 2009. They look forward to retiring from this second career soon so they can spend more time with their son Eric and his beautiful wife Debora along with their heart-stealing grandson, Abraham.  David was appointed to the diaconate in 2019. He and Cary are thankful they have been given this opportunity to serve the body of Christ at Grace Covenant Church.

STAFF

  • Tara schultz , Administrative Secretary  (gccvb.ats@gmail.com)

    Tara and her husband, Matt, were married in 1997 and they have three children. They are blessed to have been members of Grace Covenant Church since 2010. Tara is currently serving as GCC’s administrative secretary where she thoroughly enjoys supporting the church “behind the scenes."