Pastoral Staff

Senior Pastor of Grace since 1983, Jonathan has received degrees from Houghton College, Biblical Theological Seminary, and Covenant Theological Seminary.  Serving on the Boards of Covenant Seminary, Young Life and Mosaix Global Network, Jonathan’s passion is for multi-ethnic, cross-cultural worship and ministry, not only at Grace Church, but also throughout his denomination and beyond.  He has taught on the subject of worship in Mexico, Kenya & Ghana and is involved in the leadership and teaching ministry of Mosaix Global Network, a multi-ethnic, cross-cultural movement.  Married to his wife Dale since 1975, he has four children and six grandchildren.

Pastor of Community Outreach at Grace Church since 2007.  Formerly a bi-vocational pastor at New City Fellowship in  Chattanooga, TN,  Kenny was ordained in 1986 as an Independent Baptist minister while attending Tennessee Temple University and serving as an interim pastor at Alton Park Bible Church in Chattanooga.  Becoming convinced of the doctrines of grace, Kenny then took seminary courses from Covenant Seminary in St Louis, MO and was ordained as a pastor in the PCA in 2006. Some of the outreach ministries that Kenny has brought to Grace are Jobs For Life and the Hamlet Community Block Party. Kenny has been married to Connie Wigden Foster for 25 years and they have two living children.

Rev. Rick Bar received his B.A. from Gordon College and his M.A. of Theological Study from Chesapeake Theological Seminary.  An 11 year veteran on the Young Life Staff, Rick has been on staff here at Grace for 20 years.  See "Passionate Disciples of Christ" for Rick's vision statement on Youth Ministry.  Rick convenes the "Heritage Presbytery Youth Workers" who put on a yearly retreat for adolescents, and, periodic equipping conferences for parents and youth workers.  He is married to Beth—they have two grown daughters.  Rick loves camping, fishing and the Baltimore Orioles.

Jeff Rakes received his B.S. from Furman University and M.Div. from Covenant Seminary. He served as a church planter for six years in Edwardsville, Illinois and as an assistant pastor for six years in Plano, Texas before coming to Dover in 1993 as Grace's Pastor of Worship and Administration. Jeff enjoys songwriting and recording; he has produced several worship projects at Grace. He and his wife Celeste have three children and one grandchild. In his free time, you'll find him playing basketball or fiddling with Mac computers.

Peter received his biblical training at Elim Bible Institute in Hornell, NY, graduating in 1947 (after three years in WW2).  He was ordained by Elim Fellowship and served as a missionary in Cuba, Venezuela, Peru and Colombia for approximately forty eight years before moving to Dover in 1996.  Married to Marion since 1947, he has one son, four grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Retired, but with a lifetime of pastoral experience, Peter has served as Pastor of Visitation since arriving in Dover, assisting the pastoral staff in the spiritual care of the congregation.