New Castle Bible Church has many godly men and women in leadership serving under the authority of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Get to know our elders, deacons and staff below.
PASTORS
Scott Gnuse
Pastor of Teaching & Leadership
Seth Swartzendruber
Pastor of Student Ministries
Josh Gerber
Pastor of Care & Discipleship
ELDERS
DEACONS
Connie Johnson
Deacon / Staff Communications Director
Lisa Willmert
Deacon / Office Manager
Gabe Birkey
Deacon-in-Development
Tom Goehl
Deacon-in-Development
STAFF
Scott Gnuse
Pastor of Teaching & Leadership
Josh Gerber
Pastor of Care and Discipleship
Lisa Willmert
Office Manager
Sharon Carey
Children's Ministry Director
Natalie Williams
After School Program Director
Jamar Williams
Pastoral Intern
Lori Faughn
Administrative Assistant
Jackie Thompson
Administrative Assistant
Ann Knobeloch
Care & Discipleship Administrative Assistant
Calan Munao
Communications Administrative Assistant
Elaina Thorson
Student & Children's Ministry Administrative Assistant
Jeff Hill
Thrift Store Co-Manager / Intersection Building Custodian
Denise Ellis
Thrift Store Co-Manager
Marina Abdulkerimova
Main Building Custodian
Brandon Koch
Maintenance Assistant
Cayden Steinlage
Maintenance Assistant
Two Church Leadership Offices: Elders and Deacons
Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:1-13
An elder is a recognized, God-called servant-leader in Jesus’ church, equipped with the head, heart, hands, and home of a spiritual shepherd, who serves alongside other elders in the church.
A deacon is a recognized, God-called ministry leader in Jesus’ church, equipped with the head, heart, hands, and home of a spiritual servant, who serves alongside other deacons and under the spiritual leadership of the elders in the church.
The primary spiritual leaders of a local church are the elders, who are also called overseers or pastors in the New Testament. Elders shepherd the flock through the ministry of God’s Word and prayer (Acts 6:4, c.f. Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 3:1-7, 5:17; Titus 1:9; Heb. 13:17). Deacons also have a crucial role in the life and health of the local church, but their role is different from the elders’.
The biblical role of the deacons is to act as the elders’ agents to lead and administrate the church’s ministries according to the elders’ direction. Therefore, the scope and kind of deacon ministry is as varied as could be assigned by the elders. Because both elders and deacons are spiritual leaders in the church, they both possess leadership giftings and seek to equip and serve the saints for ministry. So truly the work of a biblical deacon is not limited to custodial service and facilities!
Scripture reveals some real distinctions between elders and deacons: elders are only male (1 Tim. 2:12-3:7; c.f. 1 Cor. 14:34), while deacons may be male or female (1 Tim. 3:11; Rom. 16:1). The elder’s
appointment transcends culture and is permanent, while a deacon’s appointment may be culturally-specific and temporary. According to Acts 6:4, elders focus primarily on spiritual priorities, while deacons may focus on both spiritual and physical leadership priorities within the church. Elders must be gifted to teach according to 1 Tim. 3:2, while deacons may or may not be gifted to teach.
For Further Study
The following two sermons will help you learn more about God’s design for elders and deacons.
Heart Qualities Essential for the Elder & Deacon
- Irreproachable character; unquestionable integrity, impeccable in reputation.
- Faithful to his own wife; a one-woman man.
- Leading his own family well, having children who believe, who are under control and who respect him.
- Not likely to be accused of reckless living or of lawbreaking.
- Not self-willed, overbearing, or stubborn.
- Not quick-tempered or quarrelsome.
- Not given to wine.
- Gentle; not a physically violent man.
- Not a lover of money; not fond of dishonest gain.
- Hospitable; opening his house freely to guests.
- A lover of goodness.
- Sensible; using good judgement.
- Just and holy.
- Self-controlled, temperate.
- Able to encourage and exhort with sound doctrine.
- Able to refute error in doctrine.
- Disciplined in life.
- Not a recent convert.
- Good reputation among unbelievers.
- Worthy of respect.
- Trustworthy in word; sincere in their speech.
- Not given to excessive drinking.
- Not greedy; not fond of dishonest gain.
- Clear conscience and tight grip on the truths of the faith.
- Tested and approved.
- Faithful to spouse; marital faithfulness.
- Leading his/her children and family well.
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. Do not lay hands upon any one too hastily and thus share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.
1 Timothy 5:21, 22