OUR STAFF

Nevin Gnagey
Teaching Pastor

Nevin has traveled an unconventional path to the pastorate. After graduating from Broadcast School in 1978, he began a career in radio and television that culminated with a television news administrative position in Waterloo, Iowa, in the 1990s

But a funny thing happened along the way. Nevin was saved in November of 1982, and embarked on a walk of faith that has included personal healing, some very painful growth, and the continuing monents of joy that only Jesus can give. Shortly after his conversion, he began to teach Sunday School classes and by the mid 1980s, Nevin was serving as a bi-vocational pastor in a small Christian church in the little town of Greentop, Missouri.

After the move to Waterloo, Nevin and his wife, Cheryl, became involved in a large Wesleyan church (Cedar Valley Community Church). In 1996, after deciding the call from God to full-time ministry was just too strong to remain in TV news, Nevin was added to the staff of Cedar Valley as the paster of evangelism.

In 1998, Nevin moved his wife and three children to Jonesboro, Arkansas to assist Pastor David Burgess in building Community Fellowship Church. In May of 2003, Grace Community Church was born, and Pastor Nevin was called into a role of leadership.

Nevin’s philosophy has always been fairly simple. The church’s call is to people and its role is to encourage and guide people into deeper, more meaningful relationships with God. God’s plan for His children is encouraging, and is found in Jeremiah 29:11, 13, 14: “For I know the plans I have for You”, says the Lord.  “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope...if you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me.  I will be found by you.” says the Lord.

Email Nevin at pastornevin@gccworship.com.

Emily Gnagey
Youth Pastor / Worship Leader

Emily Gnagey, daughter of Pastor Nevin and Cheryl Gnagey, leads worship and serves as Youth Pastor at Grace Community Church. At age 21, Emily is the middle child of three, but only by a minute or so. She has an older brother, Drew, and a twin sister, Sarah. When the twins came, Emily led the way, and her leadership qualities are still intact.

Saved at age 4 in Waterloo, Iowa, Emily has always been a “bulldog for Christ.” She shared her faith with kids on the playground, was very active in children’s church and youth groups, and shared her gifting in, and passion for, evangelism whenever and wherever she could. A veteran of the mission field, Emily has spent time in the Dominican Republic, Uganda, Romania, Cambodia, Colombia, and Russia. She headed up a recent GCC mission trip to New Orleans, where adults and youth joined with Operation NOAH to rebuild and repair homes devastated by hurricanes.

An avid musician, Emily has played bass guitar for many years, and she now plays guitar and leads Sunday worship at Grace. She has burden and a plan for our youth, simply leading them to the throne of Christ where they will find answers to life’s most perplexing problems. Her goal, she says, is to prepare every student under her care for life after high school. As a young woman, Emily understands the pressures and temptations our youth face; as a woman of Christ, she also understands Jesus is always the answer.

The verse that currently guides Emily’s life is found in Isaiah 26, verse 8: "Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts".

Email Emily at emily@gccworship.com.