Elders

Anand - Elder Page

Anand Samuel

Anand came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in the Middle East during his teenage years. He and his wife Priya moved to the UAE in 2002 where they had their three boys, Rohan, Aryan, and Daven.

Anand completed his Pastoral Internship at the United Christian Church of Dubai in 2010 and was then called to serve as an elder. He later served on staff as an Associate Pastor where he oversaw their Discipleship Initiatives and Pastoral Internship Program. In 2013, UCCD sent Anand out to plant and pastor Grace Evangelical Church Sharjah. Anand received his MA in Biblical and Theological Studies from Knox Theological Seminary, FL.

anand@gracesharjah.com
Alex - Elder Page

Alex Cruz

Alex grew up in a Christian home, served in the church at an early age but only came to saving faith in Christ during his teenage years when he heard preaching about man's total depravity and God's sovereign grace. He worked as an accountant while serving as an elder in the Philippines for 14 years before they decided to move to the UAE for work in 2010.

Alex joined Grace Evangelical Church in April 2015 and has been serving the church through teaching and discipleship.  He is married to Mildred and has been blessed with two daughters Michaela and Jessica.
alex@gracesharjah.com

Samson - Staff Page

Samson Thomas

Samson was raised in a Christian home and came to a true saving faith while he was in his teens. He moved to the UAE for an internship at the United Christian Church of Dubai in 2013. There his foundations of Christian life and ministry philosophy were shaped and refined.

After his internship he desired to continue serving in a church where he could be further trained and discipled, and so he came to Grace Evangelical Church Sharjah in August 2014 as an intern. In May 2015 Samson became a Pastoral Assistant and was later voted to serve as Assistant Pastor in 2018. He is married to Pushpa and has been blessed with three children Judith, Zoey, and Jeremy.

sam@gracesharjah.com
Will - Elder Page

Will Drake

Will was raised in a Christian home and trusted in the gospel at the age of seven when his Dad explained Jesus' parable of the broad and narrow path. Many years later, Will met his beautiful wife Maria while they both served in a ministry for students at The University of Alabama.

In 2011, Will and Maria moved to Louisville, KY to pursue a Masters of Divinity from Southern Seminary. One degree and three children later (Emeth, Eliana, and Aliza), God opened the door for Will to join the staff at Grace Evangelical Church Sharjah in January 2018.

will@gracesharjah.com
 

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