Grace Bible Fellowship of Silicon Valley
Phone: (650) 630-0009
Email: info@gbfsv.org

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Elders

Elder rule is one of the distinctives of Grace Bible Fellowship.  These men provide spiritual oversight and leadership for our church. Our elders include both our pastoral staff as well as lay elders who have full-time jobs outside the church. Together they share the crucial task of shepherding, protecting, and praying for the saints of GBF.

Cliff McManis, Teaching Pastor

Rev. Cliff McManis has been in pastoral ministry since 1989, where he first began ministering to children at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA. He graduated from The Master's College with a B.A. in Biblical Studies and earned an M.Div. from The Master's Seminary. He went on to earn his Th.M. and his Ph.D. in Ecclesiology from the Bible Seminary in Independence, Missouri.

Cliff has served in churches in southern California, northern Utah, San Antonio, Texas and San Francisco Bay Area. He has also taught in several Christian schools. Over the years Cliff has served as a pastor for children, middle school, high school and adults. He is committed to Biblical counseling, personal discipleship, and expository preaching and teaching. He also loves writing and is the author of Christian Living Beyond Belief (Kress Publications, March 2006).  He is a regular contributor to The Master’s Seminary Theological Journal. He served as a consulting editor for Charismatic Chaos (by Dr. John MacArthur) and The Transforming Community (by Dr. Mark Lauterbach), and presented a paper at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS). Cliff likes to partner in ministry with other local like-minded churches, is an adjunct professor of Theology at Cornerstone Seminary in Vallejo and teaches Greek at Live Oak Academy in San Jose.

In his spare time Cliff enjoys playing basketball, watching basketball, and coaching basketball in his local community. He also enjoys reading about politics and World War II history, camping with his family, playing chess with his four children, listening to good Christian music, wrestling with his dog, following NFL stats and collecting NBA basketball cards. He is the youngest of 10 children and has lived to tell about it. Cliff and his wife Debbie have four children who have lived to tell about it too.

Scott Varney, Associate Pastor

Scott Varney earned a B.A. in Religious Studies and History from the University of North Carolina, where he also participated as a cross country and track athlete. He is a trained biblical counselor and is completing his M.Div. through GBF and The Cornerstone Seminary in Vallejo, CA. Scott moved to the Bay Area from San Antonio, TX and joined the GBF staff in 2008. Currently Scott serves as the Associate Pastor and is an Elder, having been ordained in 2009. He oversees the adult Sunday school classes, our home Bible study ministry, men's ministry, music ministry, and the hospitality ministry. He also works with discipleship, biblical counseling and leadership training at GBF.

Scott has served in previous churches in San Antonio over the past twenty years, along with his wife Mary, leading home Bible studies, evangelism training, music ministry, discipling and counseling collegiate and young marrieds. Most recently he served as a deacon at Believer's Fellowship of San Antonio, TX, overseeing church finance, baptism and curriculum development for adult Christian Education. On the personal side, when he's not fishing for men, he loves to fish for fish! His greatest joy is hanging out with his wife and daughter. He's also always up for a conversation about sports and business.

Sam Kim

Sam was born into a church-planting family. He attended the University of the Pacific, in Stockton, CA, where he received a BSEE. Sam has served in church leadership for many years, as Class President, Adult Sunday School teacher and small group leader. He served at Sacramento Korean Presbyterian Church as Youth Director for 3 years, and at Full Gospel Church of San Mateo as English Ministries Director for 13 years. A sales and marketing executive, Sam and his wife Lily have 3 daughters, Melissa, Jessica and Stephanie. Sam also loves music and sports, but says that he is not handy around the house.

Tim Wong

Tim originally hails from San Francisco. He earned a BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from UC Berkeley. Tim was saved while attending a "start up" work called San Francisco Bible Church, where he was grounded in the faith and completed a 2-year Leadership Training program. Other significant training opportunities included classes at Western Seminary in theology and Greek, and practical ministries at First Baptist Church Los Altos as a nursery worker, helper in Children’s Church, Adult Sunday School class officer, co-founder of Asian American Ministries, Membership Class teacher, and deacon. Tim and his wife Donna have three daughters. Searching for words to Christian music, playing Mastermind with his youngest child, and watching, coaching, and playing basketball are favorite pastimes of his. Tim admits to a dislike of maintenance work of any kind.

Deacons

Grace Bible Fellowship is blessed with a group of deacons who model Christian service in our midst and complement the leadership and oversight of our elders. They serve our congregation in many ways and are an essential part of our church servant leadership team.

Kyle Asire

Kyle grew up in a Christian home and was saved in May 1996. Kyle’s ministry experience is diverse and includes AWANA leader, weekly set-up/break down, worship music leader/coordinator, financial assistant, Kids-for-Truth leader, Sunday-school teacher, and small group discipleship. Currently at GBF he is a Bible study co-leader, a GBF book cart coordinator, involved in small group discipleship, and has organized large group service projects for GBF saints.

Nathan Beach

Nathan grew up in Michigan and became a believer as a teenager, through the ministry of his high school youth group. He graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI, where he studied Computer Science. While there, he had an opportunity to lead several small groups and Bible studies as well as mentor and disciple a number of fellow believers. Nathan is passionate about serving the church body through regular discipleship.

Steve McCoy

Steve grew up in Mountain View. He attended Mountain View schools, before attending the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA., where he graduated with a B.S. in Industrial Psychology. Steve currently works at the Mountain View Police Department as a Community Services Officer. He became a believer in high school. He has grown spiritually since joining Grace Bible Fellowship. He serves in teaching the Youth Sunday School, overseeing the Fellowship meal and in other ministries. Steve has volunteered for the AWANA youth program at Valley Church in Cupertino. Steve enjoys traveling, photography, the outdoors and most importantly spending time with his niece and three nephews.

Robert Saams-Hoy

Robert grew up in Colombia in a broken home, with some exposure to Christianity. Robert trusted in Christ with a full understanding of the gospel in 2001. Currently he works as an Emergency Room Technician. His wife Deloris is a homemaker and works in sales and marketing. They have three children. In the past Robert has served in many ways including leading weekly men’s ministry fellowships, Bible studies, home group fellowships, prison ministry, couple’s ministry fellowships and personal evangelism. Robert is currently studying Christian education through The Christian Bible College and Seminary. At GBF, Robert is currently serving as an elementary Sunday school teacher, greeter, usher, facilities, in addition to many other ongoing intangible acts of service.

Scott Snyder

Scott grew up in Cupertino and Saratoga. While he was young, he turned to Christ, looking for a father figure. After high school, he spent 11 years in the Masonic Order, rising to the rank of 32nd Mason. Seven years ago, by God's grace and sovereignty, he was reunited to Christ. He has served in the music ministry as a sound engineer and drummer. He currently works as a carpenter and kitchen/bath designer; and has experience as a lifeguard and volunteer firefighter. Scott is blessed with two wonderful children and enjoys working with children as PTA president and a baseball coach. In his spare time, he enjoys volleyball, hiking, outdoor events, and mission trips. One of his delights is helping people with their needs.