Tom Thiessen – Elder
Tom Thiessen was sent to plant Gospel Church Durango in 2011. He was raised by godly parents who started him young reading the Bible, the Reformers, and the Puritans. He has a B.A. in Philosophy from Fort Lewis College and a Master of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He did a ministry apprenticeship at Providence Reformed Evangelical Church (CREC) in Grand Junction. He is a full-time pastor at Gospel Church and is married to Nikki, who does a host of glorious things like overseeing the daily raising and educating of their four lively children, managing the household, and tutoring within Gospel Church’s homeschool co-op: Aletheia Academy. He loves to read, make music, and play outside. Every good thing in his life is a gracious gift from God.
Tommy Meadows – Elder
Tommy and Holly met and became friends in a little town in Texas in 1985. Two years later, they started dating, and have never been apart since. Four years later they married and started their family. Their grown children are Harmony, Aspen, and Tommy Jr.
The Meadows family moved to Durango in 2003 and joined Gospel Church in 2011. They have a deep interest in Theology and the Bible, they love the Church and are devoted to discipling the next generations. Tommy owns a CPA firm in downtown Durango. When they have time off, Tommy spends it working on their property, and Holly excels in the kitchen – baking, canning, and feeding her family and others. They also enjoy traveling together, and spending time with their granddaughters Dixie, Tara Linda, and Sulare.
Russ Hunter – Deacon
Russ Hunter serves as deacon at Gospel Church alongside his wife, Deb. They moved to Durango in 2015, a homecoming of sorts, as they were both raised in New Mexico and longed to move back to the mountain west, being great appreciators of the outdoor life and the New Mexican food. They have two grown daughters, and four grandchildren who live just a little too far away (in Texas). Russ and Deb share a home office where they work with people from all over the world to develop needed new drugs. They love hosting Gospel church members and missionaries in their home whenever they can convince people to make the drive out to the west mesa. Russ makes it his ambition to lead a quiet life and work with his hands, although he is not always successful.
Tim Miller – Deacon
Tim and his wife Marci became members of GCD in 2015. Tim serves alongside his wife Marci, who manages their home, the education of their five daughters and two sons, serves through hospitality, supporting and equipping local homeschoolers and mothers, and willingly stepping up to meet needs that arise around her. Tim serves as the Executive Director of Cross Bar X Youth Ranch, a local non-profit Christian camp that works with at-risk youth. Tim has an undergraduate degree in Youth Ministry from Colorado Christian University and an M.A. in Executive Leadership from Liberty University and completed his M.A. in Professional Counseling in 2021. Tim’s passion is to serve the members of GCD and to help support them with any needs that they may have. He delights in Jesus, the community and fellowship found in the Church, and the gift of family! In his limited downtime, Tim enjoys building just about anything, kayaking, sports, and the many adventures life affords.
