Missions

Ministries

Missionaries & Ministry Partners

The Grove is honored to partner with the below missionaries and ministry partners! Read more about each here.

Jordan & Jenny Standridge

Jordan & Jenny Standridge are missionaries in Rome, Italy. Over the next few years, they will develop a team, scout an unchurched area in Italy, start a church, and write a variety of Italian resources. Jordan would love to be involved in training Italian church leaders in evangelism, preaching, and theology. 

Africans Reaching Africa (ARA)

Billy and Jen Nelson have led Africans Reaching Africa (ARA) since 2018. ARA’s vision is to evangelize, disciple, and plant churches among unreached people groups across Northern and Western Africa by mobilizing, equipping, and supporting African believers. ARA’s mission is to mobilize African believers to go as missionaries to unreached people groups in Africa in obedience to the Great Commission.

Grace Ministries International

Bruce & Aimee A. have been serving the Lord in Ukraine since 1992 where Bruce trains and mentors pastors at Grace Bible Seminary and is one of several pastors in his Kyiv Church. His goals are to equip national pastors to to accurately preach the Word and be effective church leaders in Ukraine, and to develop seminary graduates and missionaries who will plant churches and Bible training schools wherever the Lord sends them. 

Southeast Asia M&R

M&R are missionaries in Southeast Asia that long to proclaim Christ among an unreached language group with the aim of planting churches, translating God’s Word into the native tongue, and raising up mature disciples who will lead and plant other indigenous churches. As they go out, their hope is anchored in the sufficiency of God’s Word, the assurance of His presence, and the promise that Christ will build His church. 

Meet Our Team

Missions Leadership

Deacon of Missions

Mission: To equip both our local body and the bodies of other churches across the world. We equip the local body with the knowledge of what to pray about, opportunity to serve and give, and knowledge of how the Lord is working across the world. We equip other churches across the world with training, finances, prayer, and more.

Chad Barnes

Deacon of Missions

Andrew Dobrescu

Assistant Pastor

Wife: Amelia
Years at The Grove: 2021-Present

About Andrew

I was raised in Chicago, Illinois by a God-loving family, but what I thought to be a relationship with God, I eventually found out was just knowledge about Him. Ever since that realization, I have sought relationship with God. I pray that I never lose the passion that I have today. 

For my ministry training I have had the privilege of studying at Trinity Christian College and Northern Seminary in order to receive my bachelors in Theology and Masters in Divinity. Prior to my time at the Grove, I served and worked at Harvest Bible Chapel for 8 years, which was beneficial to my spiritual growth as a leader. 

I am most passionate about: 1) Building young leaders; 2) Building relationships with people; 3) Doing all things for the sake of the gospel. As for my favorite things, I enjoy athletics, games, and music. I always have a bundle of energy, which helps me fit in well and keep up with the student ministry.

Fun Fact: I love doing videography and photography in my free time!

Nisu Patel

Pastoral Resident

Wife: Lily
Children: Ezra
Years at The Grove: 2021-Present

About Nisu

Christ saved Nisu from gaining the whole world and forfeiting his soul on March 22, 2017. On that night, through His servant Kurt Gebhards, Nisu went from a hardcore atheist to a slave of Christ. By the grace of God, his heart and life were immediately transformed.

Nisu spent seven years serving families in financial planning. During the last four years, God gave Nisu the privilege of shepherding in a variety of forms including teaching, children’s ministry, and street evangelism. In December of 2020, God brought Nisu into full-time pastoral ministry and moved him down to Florida to be with The Grove.

Nisu is currently pursuing an M.Div. at Shepherds Theological Seminary, and Lord willing, will be sent out to plant another local Church in His timing. He treasures morning quiet times with the Lord, sharing a meal (especially after corporate worship), and being with the saints in fellowship.

Fun fact: In my free time, I really enjoy escape rooms and trying to ethnic cuisines!

Kevin Huggins

Elder

Wife: Heather
Children: Huck
Years at The Grove: 2015 – Present

About Kevin

God arrested the affections of my heart and granted me saving faith in my King and Master, The Lord Jesus Christ. God rescued me from a life saturated with sin and debauchery and saved me from His Just and Holy wrath, He graciously moved me to repent, trust Christ and to be enamored by His Sovereign Majesty and Love.

I graduated from a ministry called Crossing Cultures International, completing the “Bible Training Center for Pastor’s” curriculum. God has blessed me with a diverse array of ministry opportunities including… periodically teaching CCI classes, serving in a nursing home ministry, being a leader in a recovery ministry for three years, going on a short term mission trip to India, and the occasional itinerant preaching opportunity. My greatest joy is serving in the local Church and Proclaiming Christ.

I am overwhelmed by King Jesus, madly in love with my precious bride, Heather, and love being a father. My passions are to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ, spend time with my family and read good books. SOLI DEO GLORIA!

Fun Fact: I love poetry

Dan Claassen

Elder

Wife: Teri
Children: Casey, Sienna, Claire
Years at The Grove: 2014-Present

About Dan

I am thankful that, by God’s grace, I was born into a Christian home where I came to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Where I was once a shy little boy struggling with shame and fear, the Lord has now given me confidence in Him alone and a daily deepening knowledge of His grace in my life.

The Lord has been gracious in allowing me to have a wide variety of professional opportunities ranging from having been a police officer in central Indiana for ten years, to leading several different Christian foster care ministries in central Florida. The Lord used my time as a police officer, specifically being a Detective investigating internet crimes against children, to show me the depth of sin in our world, while also affirming that true life changing and eternally lasting hope can only be found in Jesus Christ.

I find great joy in hearing other’s stories and walking with them in life while watching them increase in the likeness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is an even greater blessing to have Teri Claassen as my wife, and to be the father of our three children. Our home is my greatest mission field, one in which I am reminded daily of God’s grace and love. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and roasting coffee. (Yes, I am a coffee snob and nerd…. I buy green coffee beans and roast them at home.)

Fun Fact: I have always enjoyed aquariums with my favorite fish to keep and breed being Lake Tanganyika cichlids

Kurt Gebhards

Senior Pastor, Elder

Wife: Julie
Children: Reilly, Shea, McKinley, Camdyn, Macy, Dax
Years at The Grove: 2019-Present

About Kurt

I was saved out of a home where there was no gospel influence. God rescued me and gave me light for my darkness, hope for my despair, and Christ’s righteousness for my sin. The beauty and power of the gospel of grace overwhelm me to this day.

For my ministry training I have had the privilege of studying at The Master’s Seminary and serving at Grace Community Church under John MacArthur. The 15 years I spent at Grace were amazing and shaping grace to me. I have completed a D.Min. in Expository Preaching and Leadership at Southern Seminary. The Lord has sent me to serve with ministries in North Carolina and Chicago. And now we are home in Central Florida, where my roots run deep.

I am most passionate about: 1) Making disciples 2) Training leaders and 3) Doing all things for the sake of the gospel.

As for my favorite things, Julie and my six kids are tremendous gifts from God. I love time with them, doing ministry with them, and seeing His goodness through them. When I am not holding my wife’s hand, I am probably holding a Puritan biography.

Fun Fact: I love the mets! I think they will win the World Series this year…