Elder Board
Dick Neiser - Chairman
Dick has been attending Grace Bible since 1979 along with his wife, Joy. He became an elder a few years later and is now Chairman of the Elder Board. Although being Chairman keeps him busy, he and his wife also do marriage counseling. He has been married to Joy since 1960. They have three children, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Dick loves that Jesus Christ is preeminent in all that Grace Bible does. He says, “God’s Word is not viewed as general guidance for this day and age, but rather our lighthouse, guiding the church and its people through a world filled with blinding fog.” Dick enjoys woodworking, boating, and spending time at his river house in Inglis, FL. He is now retired, but enjoyed practicing law in St. Petersburg for 55 years.
dr. Jay SAlomon
Jay first started attending Grace Bible in 1996. He loves that the Bible is central to the teaching and that the people at Grace Bible are open, honest and humble. He was asked to be an elder in 2007. He enjoys teaching Junior Church and the middle school/high school class (Aftershock). He also leads the youth group (Frontline) with his wife, Mary Beth. They have been married since 1997 and have three children. Jay enjoys reading about WWII aviation history and building WWII airplane models. He is frequently seen wearing orange and blue and is an ardent UF basketball and football fan. He is a pediatrician in St. Petersburg and has enjoyed working at his own practice since 1995.
Rand McNeal
Rand and his wife, Mary Beth have been attending since 2010. He loves that the people at Grace Bible are very friendly and that the church is small enough so that he can get to know most of the people. He also appreciates that it is strictly Bible-based and God’s Word is taught in our church services and Christian Education classes. Rand has been an elder for a total of five years. He also helps with the finances of the church, is on the Good News Club team, and he is a discussion leader for a men’s Bible study. Rand enjoys playing golf, biking, is an avid Tampa Bay Ray’s fan, and enjoys mentoring in the Public County Schools. He is a financial counselor with Crown Financial Ministries and also manages personal real estate investments along with providing real estate consulting services. He and Mary Beth have been married since 1978 and they have three children and eight grandchildren.
Gary Ripple
Gary was at Grace Bible in the early 1970s and then since 1980. He was asked to serve on the Elder Board in 2004. Gary is also our church’s worship leader, and enjoys singing in the choir. He has also been a teacher for adult Christian Education classes for many years. Gary says the most important thing about Grace Bible is that it has balanced Biblical teaching. He also appreciates that GBC embraces all ages and backgrounds. In his free time, Gary enjoys exploring St. Petersburg on bicycle, studying genealogy and collecting maps. He was with AAA for 35 years and is now in mail production at FIS.
PERRY SUDDUTH
Perry has been attending Grace Bible Church along with his wife, Lori, since 1994. He is an Awana T&T Director, helps teach Kinder Church and has been on the Elder Board since 2018. He said he truly loves the people at GBC because they really care for one another. He also loves our church because he agrees with all their teachings about Christ. He and Lori have been married since 1988 and they have three children. Perry enjoys restoring cars and ATV’s with his son, David. He has worked for Frontline Communications as a Senior Project Electrical Engineer since 1993.
Ken Jensen
Ken and his wife, Jo have been worshipping at GBC since 1978. Ken has served on the Elder Board since 1995. He enjoys serving together with his wife at the Good News Club that takes place at Bear Creek Elementary School. They also co-chair together on the Missions Council. Ken and Jo have been married since 1973. They have four children and seven grandchildren. Ken loves the people of Grace Bible Church and also the Bible-centered teaching. Ken said, “We love the Lord and His Word as a congregation, which makes our fellowship very sweet and encouraging.” He enjoys photography and playing sports with his grandchildren such as pickle ball, ping pong, archery and baseball. Ken also enjoys spending time with Jo walking around the park and the beach. He is retired now, but worked in the electronics and media field for over 40 years and retired as a Senior Electrical Engineer.
Dr. Howard Diamond
Howard and his wife, Roseann have been worshipping together at Grace Bible Church since 1991. They have been married since 1973. He enjoys teaching an adult Christian Education class and is also an amazing teacher for our Good News Club. You can find him on Wednesday evenings as the game director for Awana. What he loves and appreciates most about our church is the strength and unity that it has demonstrated in the past. Howard enjoys bicycling, rowing, and anything Garnet and Gold. Howard is a family physician who has been in solo practice since 1992. He has also worked in an Urgent Care Clinic since 1998.
MARK BARNES
Mark joined the Elder team in January 2021. Mark and his wife Terry began attending Grace Bible Church in 1986 while on furlough from the mission field. They have been missionaries with Ethnos360 (formerly New Tribes Mission) since 1984, serving in Papua New Guinea for 21 years. Mark now serves Stateside as a Representative and Mobilizer for Ethnos360. What attracted Mark and Terry to Grace Bible Church was the Bible-based teaching, the clarity of the gospel and the close-knit family atmosphere. He and Terry both work in the Awana ministry. Mark enjoys filling the pulpit whenever asked to speak, and he loves mentoring young men. Mark serves on the Board of Directors for Camp Gilead and as the Advisor to the Board for AMSA (Aviation Ministry Support Association) supporting mission aviation. Mark’s favorite pastimes are hunting, fishing, and playing the guitar. Mark and Terry have been married since 1975 and have two sons and one precious granddaughter.