Leadership Team

Russ Hilsinger

Senior Pastor

Pastor Russ married his high school sweetheart, Pam, in 1973. Together they have three children, Cassie, Phillip, and Rissi; and they have two grandchildren: Elizabeth and William. Pastor Russ worked a number of different vocations before his call into full time ministry. These included being a Lab Technician at Underwriters Laboratories; a Customer Engineer at IBM, a Real Estate Mortgage Broker Representative, a Real Estate salesman, car salesman, insurance salesman, and food service broker representative. In 1983 God called him into full time ministry, moving the Hilsinger’s to Portland, OR for Bible College. Pastor Russ holds a B.S.B.E and Master of Divinity from Multnomah Bible College and Biblical Seminary. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Western Seminary. Pastor Russ planted a church in Rocklin, California and has pastored 2 other churches prior to coming to Grace Baptist Church in Dallas, Oregon in 2003. He is in love with Christ’s Bride, the Church, and rejoices when people come to know Jesus as Lord. As a student and lover of God’s Word, he preaches biblical messages and provides Bible based counseling. Pastor Russ also serves Dallas as a Chaplain working with the Police and Fire Departments. His hobby is woodworking and he delights in creating and gifting his woodworking projects for others to enjoy.

Pam Hilsinger

I am really an introvert. I would prefer to sit quietly and have a good cup of tea, reading a good book. I read a lot of different kinds of books–historical novels, biographies and the like.

I do not have a green thumb–mine are brown. In fact, when we were first married, we had what we called our “dead plant table.”

I love animals and if I had my way, we would probably have a lot of different animals around our place.

It is said that I am a good cook. Of course, that is something I enjoy–not the cleanup. When the kids used to ask what was for dinner the answer was always “food,” then what kind of food “good food. I used to do a lot of canning, but not so much lately.

We have been married since 1973, lived in at least 16 different places–only 2 in the last 17 years. We have 3 children, Cassandra (Cassie) with her husband Jake & 2 living kids, Phillip and Karissa (Rissi) with her husband Erik. It has been an adventure in life together. I was a stay at home mom for many years, as well as Russ’ secretary–typing his papers and church bulletins, etc. I enjoy being with our grandkids and their parents.

Stann Lyman

Elder - Retired, Promoted to Heaven

Stann was in a leadership position at our church and was involved in many outreach ministries. He was a retired pastor, retired alcohol and drug counsellor, and was very active in the Grace Baptist Church Outreach and other church ministries.

Stann was diligent about mailing church materials, making telephone calls, and following up with those in our community searching for the Lord. He also reached out to those that were unable to attend church. Stann’s outreach was invaluable to our church, our community, and the Lord’s work.

Ed Gilkison

Elder - Retired and Loving Life

Ed’s leadership position at Grace Baptist Church means service. He was baptized 60 years ago. He finds a lot of comfort in 2 Peter 3:18 “¹⁸But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”

In Ed’s life, he fell away from the Lord for a while in his younger years. He came back and continued to serve. Learning more about the Bible and the Lord and serving others is what being in a leadership position means to Ed. He serves in whatever capacity that he is needed, that is within the talents that the Lord has given him. Just one recent example is that he has been delivering produce to the Falls City Foodbank for several years and continues to fill in for other duties as needed.

Richard Trube

Elder - Retired and Taking It Easy

For a long time, I just knew there was something missing in my life. When I did something wrong, I would just feel bad about it. I was always trying to do good things for people I knew, but I just felt something was still missing.

Then I had a life-changing experience. I had a heart attack 24 years ago (I call this my wake-up call.) From my childhood Sunday School experience, I realized that I did not have Jesus in my life and that is what was missing.

But for a long time, I did not know how to go about finding Jesus. So, my wife and I started going to church. One Sunday the church was doing something called The Lord’s Supper. I was listening to the pastor. I was so convicted that I knew I was not a Christian. So, I went forward to turn my life over to the Lord. That was January 2^nd.

I know that if I died tomorrow, I would have eternal life and would be in heaven.

Graceann Trube

Staff Secretary

Grace has been a Church Secretary for more than 18 years. Her ministry involves helping others with whatever needs to be done. This includes doing many tasks that assists Pastor Russ in ministering to the people of Grace Baptist Church as well as the Dallas community. Grace was saved when she was 14 years old. She recommitted her life to the Lord when she was 25 years old.

One of Grace’s gifts is prophesy. She has the ability to go up to anyone and share Jesus with them and invite them to church. Grace is dependable, trustworthy, and is someone you can share a confidence with and be confident that the information will go no farther. Grace has given her life to serving the Lord, her family, the church, and anyone else that needs a kind word of encouragement. Grace considers her job at the Grace Baptist Church a “Job for God.” It is a blessing that she would pick again and again.

Becky Drake

Deacon

Becky was raised in a small logging/lumber community and formed many long-term friendships. She accepted Jesus at a fairly young age and was baptized in the Siletz River. She fell away from Jesus, but when her boy’s father died in a freak accident, a neighbor lady introduced her to her church and all their loving kindness. She was re-baptized and got involved with teaching the young children. She even went on a trip to Mexico with her son and the youth group. She really enjoyed being involved with the kids in Sunday School, Children’s Church, and Vacation Bible School. She also enjoys doing special seasonal parties for kids.

Becky’s special gift from God is hospitality. She loves to bake for the church, her life group, her family, and especially for the children. As a newly appointed Deacon, she is looking forward to organizing the kitchen and getting back to doing potlucks and other church get togethers.

Dennis Fritz

Deacon

I have nine grandchildren and one great grandson. I have four children: Rick, Heidi, Alison, and Carey. I accepted Christ on April 10, 1971. I have been a work-in-progress since!

My life is wrapped-up in following Christ and my family. I spend leisure time playing golf and bowling. I love the Lord, my church family, and my biological family! I do whatever I can to help those in my life and those at my church. I love serving the Lord.

Charlotte Lyman

Deacon

As a deacon at Grace Baptist Church, Charlotte’s responsibility is to support the pastor in his ministry with the skills and gifts that she has.

She leads the church’s Garden Ministry, with assistance from others. Since its inception 10 years ago, the church garden has donated over 87 tons of produce throughout the Dallas and Falls City communities. Providing fresh fruits and vegetables to others in our communities is a service that they would probably not have access to without the Garden Ministry.

Charlotte also cares for the flowers and plants around the church building to keep God’s house looking beautiful. She also serves on the Church Worship Team as a pianist.

Monte and Vickie Trube

Audio Technicians

Monte was born in Dallas, Oregon. He and his family moved to Nevada in 1977 where he lived until 2007, when he moved back to Oregon. He has 3 kids – 1 girl Desirae, and 2 boys Anthony and Devon. Two grandkids – one girl Maddison and one boy Elijah (Eli). Monty became a Christian in 2000 and was baptized at Grace Baptist Church in 2012. Monte is the 6^th of 7 children.

Monty is very diligent at working in the sound and projector booth for church services. His ministry is supplying microphones, projecting information onto the screen in front of the sanctuary, and keeping the church services organized. The Grace Baptist Church services would not be the same without the sound booth ministries.

Vickie was born and raised in Vancouver Washington. She, has 1 child, a boy named Alex. Vickie was raised in church and was baptized in 1978. She is the 5^th out of 5 children. She moved to Monmouth Oregon in 2013 for work

Vickie is very diligent at working in the sound and projector booth for church services. Her ministry is supplying microphones, projecting information onto the screen in front of the sanctuary, and keeping the church services organized. The Grace Baptist Church services would not be the same without the sound booth ministries.

Bob Doll

Deacon / Head Usher

My life has been one of adventures. Christ called me from a young age, but I did not listen. I saw hypocrisy all around me. It took a long time before I and God had that conversation at the bottom of the ocean. Now I am a friend and servant of God. He has blessed my life so that I can bless others. I take seriously the opportunity that God has given me to give to others. My laugh is distinctive and contagious and I believe that also is a gift from God. While I have done many things in my life, my greatest honor was to serve my country. I continue to be involved with veteran service through the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, two organizations that are veterans helping other veterans and their families. I continue to have a heart for adventure and service and am always looking forward to meeting new friends.

Nancy Doll

Deacon

Grace Baptist Church has been an important part of my live for 25 years. Over these many years I have learned to find great joy in serving God and serving others. I have been blessed to serve here at the Grace Place in a variety of capacities from taking my turn at cleaning the building to providing Wednesday evening meals when the church needed an extra dose of unity. I have taught AWANA’s and Children’s Church and Managed the Nursery for many years, until my body no longer was able to do so safely. I have partnered with others to do an annual garage sale and continue to serve on the Missions Team. Christ called my name when I was a small child, three to be exact. Never underestimate the true heart and beliefs of a child. There are times I wish my faith was a pure as it was when I was a child.