Greg Schwab (Elder):
My life has been shaped through many people who have spent years sharing the Gospel with me. Roger and Pat Schwab (my parents), John and Barbara Popp, Patrick Tankersley, Julie Schwab (my wife), Mark Irving, Troy Temple, and Matt McDonald are just a few people God has used to reveal Himself to me. By God’s grace, when I was 7, he saved me. The Spirit of God revealed to me my sin and need to be cleansed of that sin. The Spirit showed me only by believing and trusting in Jesus could I be saved. I am blessed to be surrounded by people that remind me of my need for God daily. They remind me that I am not perfect and still need to trust in
God’s grace every day. They remind me that Jesus loved people like me and that He is my most important relationship.
I hate writing – which is why this bio is filled with run on sentences and other poor writing stuff. I am not perfect or close to it. I desire to live and love as Jesus did, but I often fail. I love God. He has saved me from my sin and self. I love my wife Julie and my 3 kids Addison, Cooper, and Claire. Julie is the most faithful, wonderful woman. She is the best wife for me. Addison is super sweet, Cooper is adventurous and Claire…she is full of life and spirit. I love people and being a pastor. God has given me a heart to walk with people in all circumstances. To love them through joy or sorrow. To remind them to trust God alone in all of life.
I love Gospel Life Church. It feels like family. I love Jackson, MO. I like to be in the woods, sometimes to hunt, but also just to be in them. I like to golf, but the game is hard and tempts me to sin. I like soccer, but enjoy almost all sports. I went to school at Cedarville University in Ohio and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky.
My Hope for Gospel Life Church:
That we would all humble ourselves and learn to love God as our greatest treasure. That we would actually enjoy being with God. That we would be a church that sees people as the most important and would give of ourselves to love others as Christ has loved us. 1 John 4:19
Elliott Swoboda (Elder):
I am especially passionate about living life with people and helping them develop as a follower of Christ. My wife, Becky and I are Cape Girardeau natives, we were high school sweethearts, and we both graduated from Southeast Missouri State University. Both of us were raised in church, and Becky became a Christian early in life. However, it wasn’t until the summer after I graduated high school that the Holy Spirit revealed the truth of the Gospel and the Person of Jesus to me. We have a rich history with the ministry of Young Life—in fact, I was on Young Life Staff when the Lord revealed my pastoral heart and called us to pastor at Gospel Life Church.
We felt the Spirit’s pull to the church community soon after it was planted (2013). I met Matt and Greg through a mutual friend of our Young Life community. We resonated with the church’s emphasis on mission in community. We began attending in 2015 and soon after became members. We have five daughters: Aliyah, Elliana, Amareese, Eliza, and one due at the end of August 2019. We really enjoy being outside together, going camping, and fishing. We love a good story and relaxing with a good movie.
My Hope for Gospel Life Church:
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one…” John 17:20-22
Mac Davenport (Elder):
One of the things that the Lord has blessed me with are parents that know the Lord and were faithful to raise us up in the gospel. While there was somewhat of a legalistic church background, God used the faithful preaching of my dad to bring me to salvation. It wasn’t, however, until my senior year of high school that my relationship with Christ became a daily desire. Along with that desire, came the desire to pastor God’s people. As a student at Missouri Baptist University, I sat under Gospel-centered teaching that fueled and fostered in me greater affections for Christ and His church.
During my time at MBU, the Lord led me to my wife Brittany. We fell in love and were married in 2015. We have one boy (Johnathan) and another boy on the way. I have lot of hobbies, but, to name a few, I enjoy anything sports, spending time with friends and family, reading, and writing.
“I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking him in his temple.” Psalm 27:4
My Hope for Gospel Life Church:
That we would be a people who lead others into everlasting joy in Christ through planting more Gospel fluent churches.
Tom Kimbel (Deacon):
I was baptized when I was 8 years old along with my dad, and again on Mother’s Day in 1973 by my brother. But not until I had my own family did I realize the importance of living for God. I came to Christ in 1976 soon after Jodie and I were married. My life really turned to Christ in deeper ways 3 years ago when the Lord woke me up when I was in the hospital preparing for open heart surgery. In the hospital I surrendered my life to God and told Him, “God, I will do what you want me to do, and go where you want me to go.”
My wife and I were both born and raised in this area and now reside in Jackson. We have been married for 42 years, and we have 3 children. We are blessed to have 9 beautiful grandchildren and one sweet little great grandson.
We are both retired. I retired in 1996 from The Jackson City Police Department. I drove a school bus for 30 years for Jackson RII and St. Paul Lutheran schools. I am currently serving on the City Council, for Board of Aldermen. Jodie retired from, “A Small World Preschool”, where she worked for 20 years. We enjoy being a big part of the Jackson community.
We are enjoying our retirement traveling to visit our children and grandchildren. Jodie spends her time quilting, making quilts for charities. I love spending my time serving the church and the community.