Our Elders

Grace is led by a plurality of elders who are considered to be true equals. Each elder is a pastor with varied shepherding responsibilities within the body. The elders direct the affairs of the church through prayer, study and teaching of the Word, and careful communication with the congregation.

Chris Riser

Pastor/Teacher

Chris came to GCC in 2004 after graduating from the Master's Seminary in Sun Valley, CA with an M.Div and a master's degree in Biblical Counseling (MABC). While in seminary, Chris had the privilege of working as a pastoral intern at Grace Community Church (pastured by John MacArthur) in overseeing the children's Sunday School program. Before attending seminary Chris was involved in youth work for fifteen years, nine of which he served as pastor to Jr. and Sr. High youth at Cape Bible Chapel in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Chris' great passion is to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to be a godly husband and father, and to shepherd the local body of believers at Grace with passion, grace, and truth.

Chris is married to Alisa (since 1989) and has two children, a son, Josiah, who was born in 1995 and a daughter, Johanna, who was born in 2003.

Chris' life verse is Hebrews 12:1-4 "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;"

His favorite quote (currently) is: "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

Andy Smith

Andy and his wife Margaret have attended Grace Community Church since 2001 when they moved to Maryville from Florida (having grown up in upstate New York). Andy has been privileged to serve as an elder since 2003. He is also a Family Physician working with a group of Christian physicians at Trinity Medical Associates. Another GCC member, Tom Webb, serves as a Christian counselor for their practice.

Margaret and Andy recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. The Lord is good! The Lord blessed them with seven children, 4 of whom they are home-schooling and 3 are off to college. The verse that has defined their family for several years has been 3 John 1:4 "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

Andy enjoys writing and has written three booklets which he uses in his medical practice. One conveys the gospel wrapped around patient stories (A Second Opinion From the Great Physician), and the other two take a Christian view of depression and anxiety. Otherwise, he enjoys hanging out with his family, hiking, and getting pounded in racquetball by Pastor Chris (a ministry to keep Andy humble). Margaret enjoys (usually) trying to juggle the nine lives that revolve around her, while educating the children, and serving as a magnet to draw them all home.

I cannot end this description without noting (to quote a character from the classic book, Cry the Beloved Country), that the bottom line is "I am a sinful man who the Lord has chosen to use." It is completely by His grace that we stand. A much-loved verse that encourages our hearts while giving credit where it should be is Jude 24-25:

24: Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Ron O'Dell

Ron and his wife, Rachel, have had the privilege of being involved at Grace Community Church since 2000. The Lord has blessed them with three children, Brittany, Madelyn, and Ronnie, who bring much joy and laughter to their household.

Ron has served as an elder since May of 2008 and has enjoyed overseeing the Children's Ministry. The vision for Grace Community Church's as well as Ron's personal passion for his own family is

To glorify God and His Son, Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit in teaching our children the whole counsel of God so they may grow with confidence in the knowledge of the truth of God's Word.

The Lord has enabled Ron to work as a flooring installer for over eighteen years. He enjoys reading (especially church history), escaping to the mountains, and spending time with his family.