Leaders

David McMurry serves as our Senior Pastor. He loves his work and prioritizes a) teaching about Jesus from the Scriptures; b) leading the church staff to equip volunteer leaders; c) praying and planning with the elder board; and d) coaching new pastors and global partners.
Dave earned a Master of Divinity degree from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis in 2002. Covenant emphasized that reformed theology should always train students to share the message of Jesus in the manner of Jesus. Dave made a lot of Presbyterian friends in St. Louis, and then returned to Temple Bible Church as Children & Family Pastor from 2002-2006. TBC commissioned Dave and other leaders to found Grace Bible Church in 2006.
Dave has been married to Autumn for 31 years! He hopes you get a chance to meet her and see how her eyes sparkle.
Dave and Autumn have a history of coaching and assessing young leaders together. They are Bell County natives who did youth ministry for many years in Temple and College Station. They received leadership training with Act 29, Young Life, Navigators, Son Life Ministries, and various temperament and Biblical counseling systems.
Autumn is a health and nutrition coach. She has worked previously as an educator in public, private, and home settings. They delight to spend time with their three adult children, in-laws, and grandchildren. The family has been involved in community theater, sports, music, and education throughout Bell County. They helped found Providence Preparatory School in 2010, and have both served on various community boards. Dave and Autumn enjoy hiking, cooking, weight-lifting, and reading to each other.

Chris Webster serves as our Worship Pastor. Chris is our resident artist and uses his gifts in music and graphic arts to help us vividly encounter Jesus Christ every Sunday. He also oversees communication and assimilation ministries.

Born and raised in Austin, TX, Chris began leading worship in his high school youth group at Hill Country Bible Church. While in college, he continued to lead worship as a youth intern at Temple Bible Church, and enjoyed writing and performing original music as a part of Central Texas rock band, Three Nails Short.

Chris graduated in 2005 from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor with a degree in Computer Graphics and double minors in Art and Music. While working as the Web Services Manager at UMHB, he was convinced by Dave to help start Grace Bible Church. After serving part time for several years, Chris was hired in 2011 as our full time Assistant Pastor of Worship and Communication.

In between his other duties, Chris continues to write music. He has written some of our favorite worship songs, and is excited to continue to write music with and for the local church. Dave and Chris love to study and pray over upcoming sermon passages, and enjoy working together to combine truth and beauty as we walk through the Gospel each week as a church.

Chris married his childhood sweetheart, Brooke, in 2005. They have four young children: Eli, Clara, Rose, and Henry.

Joey Colón loves to study and teach God’s word. As a high school student he knew God was calling him to ministry but was unsure where that call would take him. From the golden coast of California, to some of the dustiest places in the world, and eventually here to the Great Place, God would bring Joey right to where He would have him to be - Grace Bible Church.
Joey became a full time staff member at GBC in 2015. He currently serves as the Pastor of Administration, Education, and People Care.
Joey is blessed to have married the love of his wife Kathryn in 2013 who is the most talented, steadfast, loving, life-giving wife, mother, and teacher anyone could ever dream of being gifted. Together they have four children who are an endless joy to be around. They almost always sit in the front right of the sanctuary during the first service and would love for you to come sit with them, they are saving a seat for you!

Having been an army wife for more than 20 years, Cathy understands the unique challenges, hardships, and opportunities of being in a military community. Knowing this cultural reality, Cathy leads women who are here for a short time or here for the long haul to plug in quickly, grow deeply, and serve lovingly. She loves helping women who love Jesus find a place to use their gifts to bless others.

Cathy grew up in the great Northwest of Idaho fame (not Ohio, not Iowa), and met her husband-to-be, Oscar, in Germany while she was serving with Cadence International as a summer intern. She earned a Master of Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary back in the 20th century when Oscar was attending the seminary for his ThM. Graduating together is a highlight of their married life!

Cathy enjoys God’s beautiful creation and one of her delights is watching fireflies dancing at dusk with her husband. She also loves hanging out with her fun, adult children and snuggling with her cat!

I was raised in a Christian home and I was always very involved in the church. When I was in high school I became a pastor's kid, and even before that my family always modeled serving in church. I am very thankful that I never had a time that I didn't know and believe in God, and at the age of 13 I came to a personal faith in Christ. However, getting involved in GBC was the first time I truly understood the grace of God. During the time I have been a member of Grace Bible Church, I have been able to let go of the legalism I was raised with. I finally fully embraced my identity in Christ.
I am married to Kirk, who you can often find helping with the youth ministry, and we have 3 girls: Carleigh, Laynie, and Maddie.

When I first came to Grace I was very involved in the youth ministry, and when I had my middle daughter I started serving in the nursery and working as a part of the child care staff. I have worked with children since I was a teenager, helping in Awana, Children's Ministry, nursery, VBS, and doing child care. Now, my husband and I lead a small group and I also help occasionally in Women's Ministry.

I am passionate about sharing the big truths of the gospel with our littlest church members in ways they can remember and understand. I love to come alongside parents seeking to train their children to know and love God. I believe the gospel is big enough to take a deep theological dive that lasts a lifetime, but it's also simple enough for even young children to understand. I am blessed to be a part of planting seeds of truth in the children of Grace Bible Church.

"Howdy! My name is Lindsey Vaughan and I am incredibly thankful and honored to serve your families as the Elementary Director! I love watching children praise and worship our Lord, opening their Bible and learning about Him, and I always want them to feel loved and valued when they're with us.

I am one of the few central Texas natives (gig 'em!) around. I was born and raised in Belton until high school when we moved to Northwest Arkansas and I lived there for 10 years (woo pig sooie!), then made my way back home to central TX in 2017.

I have always loved working with children. As a young child you could find me in the nursery of the little church my grandpa preached at helping with babies. I started babysitting in junior high, then in high school helping my aunt run her VBS program, I worked in preschools and that's where I met the family whom I would nanny for for 3.5 years, during that time I also started my ministry work serving as a volunteer and becoming the children's director. Since moving back to Texas I've had the privilege of running a children's ministry for 3.5 years at a church just a little south of here where I thoroughly enjoyed teaching through Sunday school, AWANA, VBS, and other programs/events.

I am married to Matthew Vaughan who serves on the welcome team and alongside me in elementary. We have four children and homeschool, Sadie-Jane, Ruby-Grace, Ezra and Elias. We love Grace Bible Church and the clear truths that are preached and are thankful for Godly leadership. We appreciate God's creations in the outdoors and hope to homestead one day. I enjoy all things birth related, football, attempting to keep plants alive, and being crafty."

I became the Mercy Team Director in November of 2021 shortly after becoming a Grace Bible Church partner. I was drawn to the authentic worship and powerful, Biblical teaching offered at this church. Getting to serve others and alongside others has been such a blessing to my life!
I am a native Texan and grew up in a Christian home in Kempner. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was nine years old at a small country church in Briggs, Texas. I graduated from Copperas Cove High School in the late eighties and went on to get my bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. I moved to the Dallas/Ft Worth Metroplex after graduation and worked at the JCPenney Home Office for many years. During that time, I became very involved with a large church in North Dallas and began to realize the importance of a church family. I also began serving on various ministries and started discovering my talents and gifts. In 2004, my daughter and I moved back to Copperas Cove to be closer to my parents. I began working for Copperas Cove ISD and became active in the church I had attended as a youth. I taught children’s Bible classes, organized church events, led the Leadership Training for Christ youth program, worked with global missions through World Bible School, helped with
meals, and whatever else was needed.

I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, and I love to travel! I enjoy experiencing all the beauty and diversity of God’s creation. Since partnering with Grace Bible Church I have been involved with an awesome small group, served on the Welcome Team, participated in a Guatemala mission trip, assisted with the Afghan Resettlement Team, and led the Mercy Team. It is my hope and prayer that others will see the work we are doing, praise Jesus, and want to be a part of a ministry that encourages and blesses those who need it the most.

Howdy! My name is Brittany Hyde and I am blessed to be able to serve as the Welcome Team leader here at GBC! I love meeting new people and I desire for everyone who walks through the door of this church to feel welcomed, valued, and loved.

My first introduction to GBC was as a high school student back when we were still meeting in an elementary school in Harker Heights - yes, I feel old! While there have been many changes to GBC over the years, the most important things have stayed the same: faithful teaching of God's word, close-knit church family, and sharing the Gospel. I have moved in and out of Central Texas over the years but this is definitely home for me and I am blessed to serve here! I graduated from Texas A&M Univ. in 2012 with a degree in Sociology and then from the Univ. of Mary Hardin-Baylor with my nursing degree in 2020. I currently live in Killeen and I am a nurse at Baylor Scott and White Hospital in Temple.

In addition to the Welcome Team, I have also been able to serve as part of the Global Outreach Team and play the piano for the Worship Team. Cross-cultural missions have always been a big part of my life and hold a huge place in my heart. I also love music and have played the piano since I was seven years old. It is a huge blessing in my life to be able to serve the Lord through the strengths he has gifted me with. In my free time I love hosting people in my home, playing the piano, gardening, visiting coffee shops, and traveling!

I pray that the Lord will continue to grow and mature Grace Bible Church so that we may continue to be a church that serves faithfully, loves unconditionally, and preaches the Gospel fervently.

Lauris Shepherd is a member of the Elder Board, and leads our prayer ministry. He and his wife Rhonda have 8 grown children and 13 grandchildren. Although they grew up in Kansas and California respectively, they have a long history in Killeen. They have spent 32 years sharing Jesus and their lives with military families at Fort Cavazos. Lauris is a senior staff for the Navigators Ministry. Their passion for authentically walking with Christ makes them a wonderful blessing to the team.

John retired from the Army in 2018 after 27 years of service. He arrived in the Killeen area in 2008 and has been attending Grace Bible Church since 2013.

John has been married to his wife April since March of 2011. He has three adult children; a son and two daughters, John, Brianna, and Raelin. He is thankful to have found a church home where he can learn and grow with so many amazing people.

Contact Earl at [email protected] to learn more about Celebrate Recovery.

Brian Dosa is an elder, but currently on a sabbatical. Brian is a runner and fitness buff. He and his wife Roberta have 8 children, and 13 grandchildren. God has blessed them with incredible wisdom and patience, and we are blessed to have them serving with us. They are natives of the Northeast, but consider themselves Texans now. Team Dosa spends a lot of time serving in the nursery and leading marriage groups. In between shepherding the church and loving his family, Brian retired from serving as a Colonel in the Army, and is the Director of Public Works for Fort Cavazos.

Coming soon

Coming soon

Ed Jagodzinski is a member of the Elder Board and is a co-leader for the Brown small group in Nolanville. He and his wife, Trisha, have 2 grown children and 3 grandchildren. The Army brought them to central Texas and GBC in 2009 years ago. In that time, the Lord has given them opportunity to serve in the children's, youth and deacon board ministries at GBC and the AWANA program at a neighboring church. Ed enjoys hunting, the outdoors, and wildlife managing some land in a nearby county. Ed retired from the Army and is currently a DA Civilian on Fort Cavazos.

Jim enjoys hunting, sometimes with a crossbow, playing fix-it-man on cars, appliances, and anything that breaks and he sometimes breaks stuff that wasn't broken. After retiring from the Air Force, Jim & Diane served as Hospitality House directors with Cadence International in Germany for many years. He has been married to Diane for almost 54 years. Diane is definitely his better half, and they have 2 grown sons and 9 grandchildren.

I was born and raised in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. My husband, Matt, is stationed at Fort Cavasos, and we are excited to be a part of the Killeen community. I was saved when I was 5 years old, and have been a part of ministries my whole life. I am passionate about how ministries are run so they can serve their communities most effectively. I have been an administrator before, but never for a church. It is such a blessing to be able to do work that I enjoy for this body of believers. God has already brought us so many blessings in Killeen, and I look forward to seeing what He has in store for Grace Bible Church!

My husband (Allan) and I have been married since 2006. Although I have an elementary education degree from College of the Ozarks, my first after college job was in accounting and I realized then I loved it! Our daughter Mikayla was born in 2011 and Celia was born in 2014. Currently, both girls enjoy learning piano and volleyball. With Mikayla also exceling in violin. You can find Allan most days at the Harker Heights Post Office encouraging those he meets to join him on Sunday at Grace Bible Church.
Our family arrived in Central Texas in March 2019 after fleeing Northern California after the Camp Fire, November 8th, 2018. God has used this church body to grow and challenge our faith in so many ways. We are so very thankful for the arms of grace and support we received after our trauma filled life change.
Just as I thought life was feeling a little bit normal again God opened the door for me to utilize my background in accounting/bookkeeping for our wonderful church. I will never forget my first week…also the first week of nation-wide lockdowns for Covid 19. Although a challenging first year navigating our new normal, what a blessing it was to be surrounded by Jesus loving, grace giving leaders and members.

Hey there! I'm Chris Johnson, and I serve as the Ministry Intern here at GBC. I grew up in the Temple-Belton area and have spent my whole life here in Bell County. This place is where I came to follow Jesus and know him better through many good friends and mentors over the years. I felt God was calling me to ministry as the end of my sophomore year and whilst I was wrestling with that calling, Dave called me and offered me a job as his intern so I could get an idea of how a church is run. My main responsibilities currently include building our new college ministry from the ground up and helping with other daily tasks at the church.
I've been here at GBC for the past three years while finishing up my undergrad degree in Christian Ministry at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, TX. When I graduate in December, I hope to pursue a career in full-time ministry, whether that's worship or college specifically. Wherever God leads, that's where I'll go!