Church Staff and Leadership
Rev. Bruce Grentz, Senior Pastor
Rev. Bruce R. Grentz started a second career in 1998 when he came to First Christian Church of Plano as Associate Pastor. From 1981 until he came to First Christian Church, he had been in private practice counseling adolescents, individuals, couples and families. He served as Associate Pastor from March 15,1998 to August 3, 2003 when he became the Senior Pastor.
Pastor Bruce has initiated many Bible based classes from doctrine (Foundations) to parenting (Parents Encouraging Parents) to noon bible studies to evangelism and cults. He helped launch a contemporary praise and worship service (The Connection) in March of 2004 and two Sunday School classes (Trinity and Homebuilders). Stephen Ministry, a lay counseling and support ministry, was also initiated and developed under his direction.
Rev.Grentz's education includes degrees from Holy Cross College (B.A. History, 1973); Florida Bible College (B.A. Biblical Education, 1975); Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M. Pastoral Ministries,1980); Texas Woman's University (M.S. Marriage and Family Therapy, 1984). Additionally, he completed all of his course work in Family Studies but lacks his dissertation for his Ph.D. in Family Studies.
Married since 1978 to Janet, they have two children, Amy and Laura Beth. Rev. Grentz has a passion for reaching people with God's love in Christ and for helping believers grow in their faith. He loves coming to work every day at First Christian and considers himself blessed to be the Senior Pastor of such an historic and caring church.
Rev. Shannon Grubbs, Associate Pastor to Children and Families
Shannon Grubbs was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and grew up in various towns throughout north and central Texas as her father served as a minister in the United Methodist Church. She graduated from Waco High School in 1989, married, and moved around the country for a few years with her husband who served in the United States Navy.
Shannon attended the University of Hawaii until her son was born in 1992. In 1994, She went to work for EZCorp, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia where she worked as an Executive Assistant until she transferred to the Dallas area in 1997 after having survived a divorce. While living in the Atlanta area, she served on the Praise and Worship team and worked with the children at The Shepherd's Door Church in Conyers, Georgia.
In October 1999, Shannon left her position at EZCorp, Inc. after having received the call into the ministry. She began working with the children's choir at Eastridge Park Christian Church (EPCC) in Mesquite, Texas, and in January 1999, became Children's Minister for that congregation. She received her ministry license from the North Texas Area Disciples of Christ in 2002, and in January 2005, she became Minister to Women and Children at EPCC.
Shannon married her husband, Paul, in 1999, and is proud to be mom to Trey and stepmom to Todd and Ian.
Joe Shafer, Director of Chi Rho
Joe Shafer was hired by First Christian in August, 2007 as Youth Director for Chi Rho. Joe has a gift for working with youth, and has shared that gift through years of volunteer work at First Christian Church; as youth sponsor and as Chi Rho Sunday School teacher, and through years of leadership in Boy Scouts of America.
Joe and his wife Melinda have two grown sons.
Minuette Wilt, Interim Director of CYF
Minuette Wilt was born in North Pole, Alaska, while her parents were stationed at Eielson AFB. She moved with her family to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1985. Upon graduating from high school in 1993, she was a crew leader on a mission trip to Tlaquepaque, Mexico, where their group helped to establish a church. Minuette was also a crew leader with Wilderness Trek, an organization that leads Christian youth groups to hike to the summit of 14’ers in Colorado. Minuette attended Harding University and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs before transferring to Texas Christian University in 1994. At TCU she met her husband, Danyell, and they were married in 1995.
Minuette taught Sunday school for four years, and Danyell and Minuette were VBS teachers and Children’s Bible Hour Directors for three years at their church in Fort Worth. Danyell and Minuette were also actively involved in the Convalescents Ministry in Benbrook, International and Local Missions Ministries and World Bible School
The Wilts joined First Christian Church of Plano in July of 2006, and they deeply love this congregation.
Michele Sargent, Organist and Bell Choir Director
Michele was born and raised in the Chicago area. She stayed in Chicago for her undergraduate work, graduating from North Park College with a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance (with a minor concentration in organ). She then attended University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, earning a Master of Music in Piano Performance (with a minor concentration in harpsichord).
Michele moved to Dallas to join the faculty of Richland College, teaching piano at the community college level and in her private studio. She has held organist positions at Presbyterian and Methodist churches and been an active free-lance accompanist in the Metroplex.
Michele is an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church USA and has been organist at First Christian Church since February 2001. She has one college-age son, Jonathan.
Debbie Johnson, Interim Director of Music and Children’s Choir
Melinda Shafer, Administrative Assistant
Melinda Shafer was born in Independence, Missouri, but has spent most of her life in the Dallas area. She earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from the University of North Texas in 1976 and married FCC Chi Rho Director, Joe Shafer, in 1977. Having stayed at home for many years with their two now grown sons, Melinda then entered the workforce at Williams High School in Plano ISD. Melinda Shafer happily joined the FCC staff as Administrative Assistant in November of 2007.
Don Jones, Facility Technician
Married in August 1965, Don and LyndaGail have three children (Debra, David and Steven) and nine grandchildren. They live in Carrollton and attend Hillcrest Church.
Don has been working quietly behind the scene at First Christian Church since January 1998. He has true enjoyment preparing God's building for worship by His Church. He firmly believes the physical setting helps set the atmosphere for worship. Don puts his heart into his work and no task is too small or too large for him.
Lori Shoe, Financial Secretary
Julie Overman, Nursery Director
Mark Hendricks, Chairman of the Board
Grover Brillhart, Chairman of the Elders
Corky Ellis, Chairman of the Deacons
Last revised 04/29/2008