Dr. Leigh Crockett

Senior Pastor

Pastor Leigh 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.

Josh Crockett

Associate Pastor

Pastor Josh Crockett has been at Grace since 2005.

He graduated with honors from Bob Jones University in 2001 earning a B.A. in Public Speaking and a minor in Business Administration. The next year he and Karie were married in her hometown of Raleigh, NC after she finished her degree in piano performance.

Pastor Josh Crockett taught speech at BJU for three years while earning an M.S. in Counseling and a Master of Divinity.

"God has poured out His grace in my life. I grew up with godly mentors and family, married the love of my life and have been blessed with two daughters, Karis (4) and Tessa (2), and a little son, Micah."

Pastor Josh Crockett has a passion for practical, dynamic expository preaching and making disciples in the local church. He counsels and oversees many of the ministries at Grace. Pastor Josh has had the privilege to speak at camps and school retreats across the country. In his free time, he enjoys basketball, tennis, reading and graphic design.

Kevin Plew

ICA Administrator

Kevin Plew accepted God’s leading to become the third administrator of Grace's school ministry, Indiana Christian Academy, in 2009. He is the first ICA grad to lead the school. Kevin began his education at ICA in the 70s, won a basketball championship in the 80s, taught high school and coached a volleyball championship in the 90s, and served as elementary principal.

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 children: Abby (5th), Hannah (2nd), Kendall (1st) and Seth (3).

David Luttrull

Ministry Assistant

David Luttrull joined Grace Baptist Church as a ministry assistant in August of 2011. David works both at Indiana Christian Academy and the church. At the school, David enjoys teaching both Junior High and High School Bible as well as Physical Education. At the church, he leads the youth group during Wednesday night services and Sunday school. He also helps coordinate the church’s technology department.

David graduated high school at Indiana Christian Academy in 2007. Then he received his Bachelor of Arts in Youth Ministries from Maranatha Baptist Bible College in 2011. David is currently working on his master’s degree online through Northland International University as part of his pastoral internship.

David grew up at Grace; his mother taught at the Christian school until he graduated. While the Lord saved him when he was very young (five-years-old), the gospel continues to impress and humble him daily. He considers Proverbs 3:5-6 to be his life’s passage. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

David gets excited about teens being changed by the gospel through practical but most importantly biblical teaching. In his free time, he enjoys reading, spending time with other believers and working on anything related to computers.

Melvin Wittkamper

Maintenance Director

Melvin Wittkamper has been on the staff of Grace Baptist Church since 1995. His job as maintenance director requires that he oversee all of the maintenance of the church and school buildings. While Melvin enjoys working alongside the staff here at Grace, he has also enjoyed being a part of mission trips through the church to help in New Mexico and assist relief efforts in Louisiana after Katrina.

Since accepting Christ as his Savior in 1980, John 15:7 has had an influence on Melvin’s life: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” In his spare time, Melvin enjoys riding his motorcycle and four-wheeler, fishing, and helping out others who are in need when he can.

Melvin and his wife, Darlene, have one daughter, Megan (Welsh), and two sons, David and Devin, as well as one granddaughter, Mallory, and another on the way.

Nelson Escalante

Custodian

Nelson Escalante has been on the staff of Grace Baptist Church since 2009. As church custodian Nelson oversees the cleaning of the church building. He also serves as director of our ministry to Spanish-speaking people in the community. Nelson has enjoyed opportunities to travel around the US to do translation work.

After attending Central American Mission in 1982, Nelson accepted the Lord as his Savior. Nelson’s favorite verse is John 5:24: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” Nelson is originally from El Salvador and is a graduate of Puerto Rico Baptist College.

Nelson and his wife, Sharon, have one son, Nelson Jr. and two daughters, Joy and Grace.