Dr. Leigh Crockett
Senior Pastor
Pastor Crockett has shepherded Grace Baptist Church since 1984. Before coming to Grace he was an evangelist and chairman of the speech department at Maranatha Baptist Bible College for six years. He has served on the PACE board and currently serves as the Great Lakes Regional Legislative Director for the AACS. He also serves as vice president of the Indiana Fundamental Baptist Fellowship and Indiana Association of Christian Schools.
Pastor Crockett holds a B.S. in Speech Education, an M.A. in Bible and a Doctor of Divinity degree. He is privileged to speak at conferences, retreats, banquets and evangelistic meetings around the country as well as on the foreign mission field.
Pastor Crockett and his wife, Beth, have four sons, all of whom are serving in full time Christian ministry.
Jerry Ascher
Music Minister
Jerry Ascher has been the music director at Grace since 1995. Before coming to Anderson, he served on the music staff at Marquette Manor Baptist Church. In 1990, he married Lori Burke and together they have three children, Trent, Trevin, and Caitlin.Jerry received his B. Mus. and M. Mus. in Church Music. His ministries include directing the church choir, orchestra, and handbell choir, as well as coordinating the special music and congregational singing. Under his ministry and direction, Indiana Christian Academy began its instrumental and handbell programs, which have competed at the state and national levels.
Jerry’s other responsibilities in the ministry include teaching private instrumental and voice lessons, coaching Jr. High soccer and basketball, and teaching elementary music classes.
Ben Evans
Youth Pastor
“I came to know Jesus as my Savior at the age of 5. My parents had been saved a year earlier, and we began spending time as a family studying God’s Word. It was during one of the family devotions in July of 1975, the Lord convicted me of my sins and my need for a Savior.”
Ben Evans, Youth Pastor, was born in Athens, Georgia–home of the Georgia Bulldogs. He grew up in Atlanta, Georgia until his parents took a position on staff in 1980 at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. He graduated with a BA in 1992.
He has been serving as youth pastor at Grace since 2000. He and his wife, Debbie, have adopted two children from Guatemala. Their goal is to help teens take the next step toward Christ-likeness, wherever they are spiritually.
Josh Crockett
Associate Pastor
Since my folks moved to Grace when I was four, I feel like I have grown up in this church family. I consider myself a true Hoosier. My wife is from North Carolina. As a kid she would hold her breath when they drove past a cornfield. Now that she lives in Indiana, she doesn't even try. Karie was my college sweetheart. We married a few days after she finished her degree in piano performance in '02.
I studied speech communication in undergrad and worked as a teaching assistant in grad school while finishing my master’s degree in counseling and master of divinity. A few days after seminary, Karie and I moved back to Anderson to serve at Grace.
God has poured out His grace in my life. I trusted Christ as a child, grew up with godly mentors and family, received superb training at our Academy, married the love of my life, have the privilege of serving in my home church and am blessed with two adorable daughters, Karis and Tessa.
Kevin Plew
ICA Administrator
Mr. Plew has trained and served as a pastor and seeks to bring a shepherd’s heart to the school. His vision is that “while still maintaining high academic standards, our main pursuit at ICA this year will be to show respect and unconditional love to each parent and student that enters the school doors.”
Kevin and his wife, Kim (’95 grad) have four kids of their own: Abby (4th), Hannah (1st), Kendall (K5) and Seth (2).
