Grace Baptist Church

OUR LEADERSHIP

The office of pastor has to do with the care, the nourishment and spiritual well-being, the protection and oversight of the infinitely valuable souls of men and women. Pastors are called to see that Christ is exalted in human hearts as their Prophet, Priest and King. Christ himself is the Chief Shepherd; he leads his people through the wise counsel of the pastor. It is the pastor’s sacred duty to study the mind of Christ in Scripture and to present the life of Christ to God’s people and to a lost and dying world. The pastors of Grace Baptist Church recognize the enormous--the impossible!--nature of this calling. Therefore, they delight in the providence of God, in the irresistible power of grace to transform hearts and lives, and in the fervent prayers of the saints.

Pastoral Leadership

Rev. Robert Flack is Senior Pastor at Grace Baptist Church. He is a graduate of Wheaton College (IL) and Grace Theological Seminary (IN). Pastor Flack has a passion to preach God’s Word and to shepherd God’s people. He is also an avid reader; his favorite books include “The Reformed Pastor” by Richard Baxter, “Holiness” by J.C. Ryle, and the poetry of John Donne. Pastor Flack and his wife, Lynn, live in Riley. They have five children: Elizabeth, Robby, Nathan, Kaley, and Jennifer.

Rev. Robert Arthur is Associate Pastor of Care and Outreach at Grace Baptist Church. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas and Dallas Theological Seminary. Pastor Arthur has a passion for evangelism and discipleship, and is a certified teacher-trainer for Evangelism Explosion. He enjoys sports and names his high school football coach and Campus Crusade founder Bill Bright as two heroes of his life. Pastor Arthur and his wife, Lois, live in Manhattan. They have three children: David, Jenny, and Josh.

Rev. Vaughn Kohler is Associate Pastor of Student Discipleship at Grace Baptist Church. He is a graduate of Wheaton College (IL) and Southern Seminary (KY). Pastor Kohler desires to see young men and women grounded in God’s Word and gripped by a passion for God’s glory. Pastor Kohler enjoys following college basketball and reading; his favorite books include “The Knowledge of the Holy” by A.W. Tozer, “Desiring God” by John Piper, and the Confessions of Saint Augustine. Pastor Kohler lives in Manhattan.

Our Elders

The congregation of Grace Baptist Church wants the office of elder to be held in high regard. Mark Dever, in his book “The Nine Marks of a Healthy Church,” writes: “Elders serve as spiritual overseers of the church. They are intended by God to devote themselves to the ministry of the Word and prayer. Ministry of the Word. Elders are quite literally deacons of the Word. This is the central responsibility of elders, and it is absolutely central to the life and growth of the church. Elders are to lead God's people by teaching God's Word. This teaching must be by the public handling of God's Word, the private counsel of biblical principles, and by an exemplary lifestyle that others may imitate. Prayer. Elders are also to devote themselves to prayer, both for themselves and on behalf of the whole congregation. Prayer not only counts as elder work, it is essential to the elder's work. In the ministry of the Word and Prayer, elders graze the flock on the Word, guard the flock from false teaching, and guide the flock on their homeward journey.” None of the elders of Grace Baptist Church would claim to perfectly meet the lofty standard presented in God’s Holy Word. Nevertheless, this is the standard to which they aspire, trusting in God’s sovereignty and grace to accomplish his purpose in and through them.

"Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;"

-1 Peter 5:2

"And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed."

-Acts 14:23

2901 Dickens Ave. Manhattan, KS 66502 Ph: 785.776.0424 E-mail gracebap@gracebchurch.org