Our Staff - Blue Ridge Bible Church

Our Pastors & Staff

Jack Gill

Senior Pastor

Jack Gill | Senior Pastor

Pastor Jack Gill grew up in north Texas and was raised in a wonderful Christian family. After graduating from college, he married his sweetheart Karen and they began the adventure of military life. Jack served as a Naval Aviator, later transitioning to become a pilot for United Airlines. Upon moving and being based at Dulles Airport, he and his family promptly joined Blue Ridge Bible Church to serve the Lord through various ministry opportunities here. In 2003 the Lord began to prompt him to enter into the ministry as an associate pastor for our church. This began his journey from the cockpit to the pulpit! He later became our senior pastor in 2007.

Pastor Jack considers the legacy of a strong Christian heritage as one of the greatest blessings of his life. Having accepted Christ at a young age, he grew in his faith through the discipling he received from others in his family, but also from godly servants in the local church. Having experienced first-hand the impact of a church that is based upon the Word of God, Jack maintains an unwavering confidence in God’s desire and ability to use the church to cultivate gospel-changed lives.

Jack is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary. He and Karen they live in Round Hill and they have 3 married children and 4 grandchildren.

Tom Gossage

Worship Pastor

Tom Gossage | Worship Pastor

Worship Pastor Tom Gossage is a Florida native who loves God, ministry, music, auto painting, fishing, dirt bikes and Snoopy, but most of all enjoys being a dad and husband to nine children and his wife, Regina.

Tom was a music education and jazz performance major at the University of South Florida where he learned to compose, direct and perform music of many genres and on many instruments. In addition to leading worship at Blue Ridge Bible Church, he enjoys recording and performing with his family in the band “Ages.”

David Parker

Youth Pastor

David Parker | Youth Pastor

Youth Pastor David Parker grew up going to Blue Ridge Bible Church. He remained engaged in youth ministry after his own high school graduation by discipling students and teaching Sunday School. In 2013, David and his wife Breana began leading the Middle School youth group together, and in 2015 David began leading the High School group. In June of 2016, God orchestrated circumstances so that David could be brought on as the full-time BRBC youth pastor, where he now oversees both Middle School and High School youth programs.

David was ordained by BRBC after graduating with Masters in Christian Leadership from Dallas Theological seminary. Prior to vocational ministry David worked for various government contracting firms in the DC area doing market research and business development.

He and Breana have been married since 2013 and live in Berryville. They have five kids: Lavender, Boaz, Caden, Rose, and Magnolia.

Brittany Bayless

Communication, Operations and Mobilization

Brittany Bayless | Director of Communication, Operations and Mobilization

Brittany considers it a joy to be a part of the BRBC church family and a privilege to use her skills and experience in project coordination, communication, and relationship building to serve the church and community. Her role incorporates support for the body of believers at BRBC through communications and planning, as well as management of the Communications and Operations staff.

She and her husband Christopher live in Leesburg. They love being a part of the Johns Life Group and this church family!

Regina Gossage

Children’s Ministry Director

Regina Gossage | Children’s Ministry Director

Children’s Ministry Director Regina Gossage has been a member of Blue Ridge Bible Church since 2006, and the Children’s Ministry Director since 2012. She attended New Orleans Baptist Seminary after college where she worked on a Masters in Christian Education. After seminary she served on a church staff in Florida where she met her husband Tom. They have been married for 22 years and have 9 children. They feel blessed to work together on staff at Blue Ridge.

Ben Thompson

Web Applications Administrator

Ben Thompson | Web Applications Administrator

Web Applications Administrator Ben Thompson is a UK native. He and his wife, Madi, started attending Blue Ridge in 2022, and became members in early 2023. Ben has a degree in Information and Communication Technology from the University of South Wales. He also worked in an IT department 3 days a week during his 5 years of studies, gaining knowledge from all of the different teams within IT. After graduating, Ben took a little break from office life and worked in the hospitality industry as a Barista for a few years, while freelancing as a web designer/developer around this.

Ben and Madi met while working at Camp Highroad together in 2017. 5 years of long distance and a pandemic later, they got married in October 2022 which is what brought Ben to move over to the USA!

Ben loves coffee, tech and soccer (which he calls football) and will happily talk with you about any of these things

Roz Custard

Accountant

Roz Custard | Accountant

Accountant Roz Custard has been on staff since 2016. Roz graduated with a B.A. in Biology from Kalamazoo College and a M.S. in Biochemistry from University of Maryland. She worked for 28 years in various labs in the D.C. area including NCI, Ft. Detrick, Life Technologies, ATCC, and Fairfax County Health Department. She likes data and precision, so handling the finances for Blue Ridge is fun! She and her husband Bob moved to Lovettsville when he retired in 2014. She has three children and 5 grandchildren. Roz loves being a grandma and tries to spend as much time as she can with her precious grandchildren. Other hobbies include clogging, walking and enjoying my doggie, Scout, nutrition and alternative health, Bible study, reading, tennis, hiking, gardening, bicycling, traveling.

Randy Baer

Maintenance

Randy Baer | Maintenance

Randy Baer came on staff in late 2022 as the Facilities Manager. Randy grew up in Alexandria and is a former Surgical Tech (Sgt.),while serving in the USAF for 4 years. He graduated from Northern Michigan University with a B.S. in Bio-Chem. Randy has been in the Design/Build construction industry for over 40 years (Hospitals and Research Facilities with a bit of Security agencies and retired from Carrier Corporation in February of this year. He recently sold the family horse farm just North of town and downsized to a Leesburg (Townie) address. He loves cycling, skiing and hiking (former BSA leader and tookTroop711 to Philmont Ranch in New Mexico).). Gloria (deceased) and He have attended BRBC for 15+ years where they served in AWANAs and have made Missionary support trips to Normandy, France. Randy continues to mind the family; with Adina in Winchester and Eleanor (husband Jaydan) in Leesburg. Randy’s hobbies include home projects, dogs, Bible Studies (Men’s breakfast / Small Group), Camping/hiking with his buddys, Spin Class (stationary cycling at Ida Lee) and traveling the USA with an emphasis on beaches and mountains.

Lisa Vermaak

Office Manager

Lisa Vermaak | Office Manager

English by birth and South African by influence, Lisa moved to Australia in 2000 with her husband, Ian and children, Sarah and Stuart. She had a long career in creative operations in several advertising agencies and worked on many award winning campaigns around the world.

Knowing it’s never too late in God’s economy, she most recently fulfilled a long-held dream to gain a university degree and graduated with a degree in Creative Writing. Lisa and Ian have been visiting Purcellville and Blue Ridge Bible Church for several years since their son, Stuart married their beloved daughter-in-law, Anna. The pull of two beautiful grandchildren proved irresistible and they moved to Purcellville permanently in December 2023.

‘People with great relationships do amazing things together’ is a personal and professional philosophy Lisa aims to live by. This is especially true in the church. God made us to be in relationship with each other and to achieve His purposes in people’s lives together. This is an approach Lisa hopes to bring to the church office. Travel remains a love for Lisa as well as spending time with her family. Reading, writing and walking in the beautiful surroundings of Virginia keep her busy when she’s not being an organization and process nerd.

Lisa Hopper

Worship Tech

Lisa Hopper | Worship Tech

Our Elders

Elder means shepherd. Elders are shepherds for the Church. Elders at Blue Ridge Bible Church guard against false doctrine, minister to the needs of the congregation, and oversee all church matters as leaders.

Jack Gill

Senior Pastor

Jack Gill | Senior Pastor

Jack is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary. He and Karen live in Round Hill and have three adult children, two sons and one daughter.

Justin Boswell

Elder

Justin Boswell

Justin and his wife Claire have been married for 24 years. Justin was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. He met Claire, a native Texan, while in college at Samford University, in Birmingham, AL. Their daughter, Mirren, will soon turn seventeen, and son, Rory, is twelve. The Boswell family has lived in the northern Virginia area since 2002, and moved near Purcellville in the summer of 2021 when they also began attending Blue Ridge Bible Church. Prior to that, they were members of McLean Bible Church for twenty years where Justin and Claire served in various ministries such as, children’s Sunday School, AWANA, preparation for marriage classes, and leading small groups. Justin also served as a regional lay pastor and Bible teacher. Justin will soon complete a master’s degree in Christian Leadership from Dallas Theological Seminary. He enjoys teaching the Bible and theology, reading widely, listening to music, especially bluegrass and instrumental jazz, and doing pretty much anything outdoors. Justin has a passion for the local church, where, by God’s design, believers in community are equipped and strengthened for ministry and lives are transformed.

Tim Murphy

Elder

Tim Murphy | Elder

Tim Murphy and his wife Jan celebrated their 47th year of marriage this year. Together, they have experienced God time and again saying, “Get up and go to the place that I will show you.” In a 30-year Air Force career, they lived in over 13 locations. After retiring from the Air Force, they lived in Colorado until God said, “Get up and go back to Virginia.” In each place, they have experienced the purpose God had for them being at that place and that time. They have lived in Virginia (this time) since 2011 and been members of BRBC since 2012. Tim is passionate about studying Scripture and helping others catch that passion. He also cares deeply about preparing the next generation to lead the church into the future and the next by making disciples who are committed to making other disciples behind them. Tim and Jan have four children and are actively seeking to make disciples of their twelve grandchildren.

Andis Sraders

Elder

Andris Sraders | Elder

Andis Sraders, by the grace of our great God, received the gift of salvation in 2001. He has attended BRBC since 2007, becoming a member in 2008. He works as a Program Manager for a defense contractor. Andis has been married to his wonderful wife, Lisa, for 26 years. They have two daughters in college, Ellen and Anne. Andis has been blessed to be a LIFE group leader since the inception of LIFE groups, and he serves on the welcome team. Lisa serves on the worship team and in youth group. Andis and Lisa desire to serve the Lord in whatever capacity He directs.

David McKenzie

Elder

David McKenzie | Elder

David and his wife Chris have been married for 21 years and live in Berryville with their three daughters, Julia (16), Abigail (13), and Rachel (11). David and Chris both accepted Christ as their savior early in their lives, and they are thankful that their daughters have also trusted in the Person and work of Christ. The Biblical teaching and fellowship at BRBC have blessed them over the past 20 years. He has served through various ministries including the worship and security teams, Awana leader and director, and David and Chris lead and host a LIFE Group. David serves students and families in Loudoun County Public Schools as a middle school assistant principal. They have seen God’s faithfulness as He works in and through their lives, and they look expectantly to the great things He will do as He continues to build His Kingdom.

Bill Parker

Elder

Bill Parker

Bill Parker and his wife Linda have been attending our church for more than 31 years and Bill was an elder at BRBC for 27 of those years. He and Linda have been married for 45 years and have been blessed with 11 children who their beloved church friends here at Blue Ridge assisted in raising. Bill came to Christ in high school. After six years in the Navy, he and Linda moved to Northern Virginia where he began his career in industry. He has since served as an executive in several companies and is currently CEO of a technology services company that serves US federal and NATO clients. When Bill and Linda were raising their family, they often wondered where the generation before them had gone. And they determined then to stay and be here for the next generation. Bill’s motivational spiritual gift is exhortation. He has been blessed to be able to teach adult Sunday School classes and currently leads a Life Group.

Our Deacons

Deacon means servant. Deacons at Blue Ridge Bible Church serve the church through practical ministry support.

Tom Abdoo

Deacon

Tom Abdoo | Deacon Chairman

Tom Abdoo accepted Jesus Christ and was baptized in 2003 while attending Sonrise Community Church. He was a member of the United States Air Force for 8 years where he served in both the European and Pacific Commands. He is now a defense contractor at the Department of Homeland Security. He has been married to his best friend, April, for 21 years and has a 12-year-old daughter named Aaliyah. They started attending BRBC regularly in late 2010 and became members in April 2012. They are part of the Frye Life Group. Tom started our Kids Check-in ministry and has been a deacon since 2018. Tom has also been a volunteer basketball coach in the Western Loudoun community for seven years. He is humbled and honored at the opportunity to serve as a deacon at BRBC.

Mark Benedict

Deacon

Mark Benedict | Deacon of Global Outreach

I am married with 3 children and 3 grandchildren. My wife’s name is Jodi, whom many know from her teaching of children at BRBC Sunday school. We live on a horse farm in Lovettsville. My business background spans 4 decades as an attorney, counsel to a Member of Congress, and a chief negotiator for the US Congress. Upon leaving Congress I established my law firm which has been in operation for 24 years providing counsel to US manufacturers re government appropriations and US trade law.

It was in 1969, at 12 years old, that I received Christ as my savior and was baptized. My salvation initially came about due to my mother’s example of faith and a Boy Scout program known as “God and Country”. In my early college years, I experienced a milestone event when reading Mere Christianity, and other works by CS Lewis, which brought the reality of Christ into my daily life. This was followed by a deep hunger for and maturing in Christ under the teaching of Mike Minter at Reston Bible Church (RBC). Jodi and I became members at BRBC in 2008. It was then that I joined the world mission committee as a member until 2014 when I became Chairman, a role in which I continue to serve. I thank the Lord for allowing me to serve Him and for the hunger for His word that He has placed in my heart.

Doug Craig

Deacon

Doug Craig | Deacon of Finances

Doug Craig (deacon) and his wife Barbara live in Purcellville with their two daughters, Rachel (22) and Katey (20). They have been blessed to be members of Blue Ridge Bible Church community for 10 years and are members of the Johns Life Group, hosting the last 5 years. They have been blessed by the BRBC community which has played a key role in guiding their family’s spiritual development since joining. Doug has been working for NASA for 31 years, with the last 17 years at NASA HQ in Washington, D.C. Doug and Barbara have been serving on the Welcome Team for the last several years. Doug is honored by the opportunity to serve the Lord and the church as a deacon.

Paul Frye

Deacon

Paul Frye | Deacon for Sunday Worship

Paul Frye (for deacon) and his wife Becky have been married for 15 years and live in Leesburg with their twin boys Noah and Henry (age 8). They have been attending BRBC since 2018 and became members in 2019. Paul serves on the security team with children’s check-in and as a Life Group leader. Paul was saved at age 7 during family devotional time. God has blessed Paul with a job in the federal government. Becky enjoys staying home and homeschooling the boys. Paul is humbled by the opportunity to serve God and the church as a deacon.

Lee Darnold

Deacon

Lee Darnold | Deacon of Men’s Ministry

I grew up in a very loving Christian home where both my father and mother encouraged me to go to church. At the age of 10, in El Paso, Texas, I felt led to surrender my life to Jesus and I was baptized the next Sunday. Since that time, and particularly since graduating from college, I have been actively involved in the church and have grown spiritually through the faithful discipleship of Godly believers. I served as an elder at Grace Valley Fellowship in Pennsylvania and at Hillside Fellowship in San Antonio, Texas, before moving to the DC area. I have served as the teacher and leader of several Sunday school classes, men’s ministries, and with mentoring engaged couples, alongside my wife of 26 years, Jennifer. I am currently CEO of a homebuilding company that builds in several states across the southeast and I’m the proud father of Carson (21) and Cooper (19), both students at Baylor University. It is my deep desire to lead my family to a closer relationship with Christ and to model for my boys what a strong Christian man looks like. I am honored to have been asked to serve BRBC by shepherding the men’s ministry.

Josh Johns

Deacon

Josh Johns | Deacon of Life Groups

Josh and his wife Bethany have been married for 13 years and live in Clarke County with their six children. They have been attending BRBC since 2009 and became members in 2010. Josh feels enormously privileged to serve as a life group leader and to assist in coordinating BRBC’s life groups. Both Josh and Bethany are so thankful to watch their children growing up in this body of believers, and for the wonderful relationships that make this community their home. Josh became a Christian at a young age, but didn’t really own his faith until his teenage years. Josh is honored by the opportunity to serve as a deacon.

Mike Horner

Deacon

Michael Horner | Deacon of Security

Michael and his wife Lori live in Charles Town, WV and have two adult daughters, Anastasia (24) and Alexis (21). Michael retired from the US Army in 2002 and has been working as a federal contractor in the Washington Metro area. As a trained educator, Lori homeschooled both Anastasia and Alexis and now has her own business as an educational therapist. Both Michael and Lori have been active with BRBC ministries to include Lori working on the Local Outreach Team and Michael as a leader on the BRBC Security Team. Michael previously served as a BRBC Deacon for six years (2016-2022). Michael and Lori have been members of BRBC since 2013 and attend the McKenzie Life Group in Berryville.

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