Todd Nivens,
Pastor

todd@fbcgrapeland.com

Todd has served as a Southern Baptist Pastor for over 25 years. He also has served as a pastoral counselor for Minirith Clinics and assistant director of Life Builders Counseling Center in south east Dallas county. He has taught anger management seminars, has been a singles and student conference speaker and served as a guest radio personality for the national live call in show, Life Perspectives. He has taught high school Apologetics, Ethics, Bible Doctrines and Christian Worldview. He has worked as a hospital and police chaplain and for Habitat for Humanity. He is a graduate of Dallas Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the son of a Southern Baptist minister and has been married to his high school sweetheart for 27 years. They have a daughter and college age son who is a musician and involved in worship ministry at Lakepointe Baptist church. His favorite past time is hunting, fishing, cooking and spending time with his family.

Gabe Duron,
Minister of Worship

gabe@fbcgrapeland.com

Gabe has served First Baptist Church since March of 2007. Having served in the ministry in volunteer and bi-vocational positions for many years, Gabe felt the call to full-time vocational ministry and surrendered to the Lord's calling in 2002. Gabe served as Minister of Music & Education in Bryan where he was licensed to the Gospel Ministry before the Lord called him to Grapeland. Recognizing the Lord's calling upon his life, First Baptist Church ordained Gabe to the Gospel Ministry in 2008. In addition to serving as our Minister of Worship, Gabe also has the honor of serving as the President of the Singing Men of East Texas.

The son of a Pastor, Gabe has been in and around the church and ministry work his entire life. Proficient in many instruments, Gabe enjoys singing, playing the piano,excercising and website design. In June of 2004. Gabe married Aimee Martin and the Lord blessed them with two wonderful boys, Braden and Bryce. Spending quality time with his beautiful wife and children is a top priority for Gabe. A constant source of support and encouragement, Aimee is an invaluable part of Gabe's ministry.

Believing the Lord has called him to the Worship Ministry, Gabe's goal is to help lead people to the throne of God through worship.

Mark Stephenson,
Minister to Youth

mark@fbcgrapeland.com

Mark has been a member of First Baptist Church since June 2005 and has served on staff since 2007. Mark has served in a leading role with Tres Dias for approximately ten years. His love for young people drove him to bring Vida Nueva to East Texas, which is a youth version of Tres Dias.

Mark is a former national kickboxing champion and began a school for martial arts. About fifteen years ago, as God began to move in his heart, he dedicated his school to God's work and began using his talents to direct students to the Lord. He has used his kickboxing gift as a platform to reach hundreds of young people with the Gospel message. The motto of his school is, "Meekness is not weakness", which is used to teach his students about our true example of meekness, Jesus Christ.

Mark and his wife, Rene' have two children, Alex and Christopher.

Necia Huff,
Church Secretary

necia@fbcgrapeland.com

Necia has served as secretary of First Baptist Church since 1983. She is a "hometown" girl- born in Houston county and attended and graduated from Grapeland schools. Married since 1966, she and her husband Dan, have lived in Grapeland most of their married life. They are the parents of two children and grandparents of four. Through her job as secretary, she feels that she works with the most loving and caring people in the world.