Staff

Pastor Doug Widger, Lead Shepherd

Pastor Doug has served churches full time for the past 35+ years. His experiences include youth ministry, family ministry, mission outreach and pastoral care. He and wife Karen were married in 1985 and have two adult children. Karen’s ministry is to pre-school children in a Lutheran School in Fort Worth. Sarah (daughter) and her husband Stephen live in the greater Houston area where they are raising Jonathan (born in 2019). Joshua (son) lives in the College Station area, having recently graduated from Texas A&M.

Doug loves to share God’s word through teaching and messages, and he delights in seeing the Holy Spirit bring new life to real people. One of his life verses is from 1 Corinthians 1:23a, “but we preach Christ crucified…”  If you get to know him you will likely hear some of his “go to” phrases such as, “We are a broken people, helping heal what is broken” or “You are more sinful than you want to admit, and a thousand times more loved than you dare imagine.” 

Doug likes drinking coffee and meeting new people. Give him a shout!

Read Pastor Doug’s blog: click here

Pastor Steve Roth, Community Care

Steve Roth had the honor of pastoring Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Queens, NY, for 32 years. After living in New York for most of his life, he and his wife, Alison, moved to Cedar Hill, Texas in 2017. Eventually the Lord led them to Grace Lutheran Church, where they now continue their ministry in a part time role. Steve and Alison have two wonderful children, Matthew and Jennifer.

Steve’s greatest joy in the ministry is watching how Jesus Christ changes and matures people in the Church. It’s humbling to play a role in that process. One of his “life” verses is Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Read Pastor Steve’s blog: click here

Dr. Serena Pace, Director of Ministries

Having grown up around the world, Serena calls Texas HOME. She is married to Mike and has one very active son. Her family enjoys fishing together. She has served churches in Virginia, Texas and Missouri, as well as Concordia University – Texas and on the mission field in St. Petersburg, Russia. She has served the church as a DCE since 1997 and began serving Grace in 2013.

She has always been excited about that ‘A-ha!’ moment that happens in spiritual formation and enjoys equipping God’s people in living out their faith and sharing the Gospel message. Proverbs 3:5-6 holds significance to Serena, as it serves as a reminder to place all trust and dependence on the Lord. “(5) Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Oh… and she’s a Longhorn! Hook ‘Em!

Laura Scott, Director of Early Education

Laura began serving as the director of Grace Lutheran Early Childhood Education beginning in the new year. As an Early Childhood Educator for almost 30 years, in the classroom and as an Administrator, it is her joy to offer parents and children practical learning activities that build Bible literacy and faith foundations in a safe and happy environment. She lives in Mansfield with her husband Mike, son James, and 2 pugs, Pip and Clara. But her roots are in Arlington, “Kick ‘Em Colts”, and she has rarely missed an Independence Day parade in the last 35 years. She looks forward to continuing the care that Grace Lutheran Early Childhood Education has been known for and growing the ministry to meet the needs of the growing neighborhood. 

Cynthia Jackson, Director of Operations

Cynthia came to GLC in April of 2019. She formerly served as the Financial Secretary for Fossil Creek Community Church in Fort Worth for almost 27 years before joining our staff. She has one daughter, Margo Elise Jackson, married to Ben Pearson, and they live in Fort Worth. In her free time, Cynthia loves to hike, travel, read, enjoy art and spend quality time with friends and family.

Cynthia now serves as Director of Operations, managing financial duties, plus overseeing communications and HR affairs of the church. She also continues to act in a supporting role “behind the scenes” in preparation for worship services. Her favorite aspect of partnering at Grace is developing relationships with its wonderful members. Having grown up in church, she is still daily learning what it means to be in relationship with Jesus Christ, leaning heavily on scriptures like this one – Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Lisbeth Jaquez Ruiz, Administrative Assistant

Lisbeth Jaquez Ruiz began to be part of the Grace Lutheran community by volunteering in the English classes. She started feeling in a community where she felt cared for. Currently she is blessed to be part of the staff working as Administrative Assistant. She is from the Dominican Republic which is located in the Caribbean, and she lived in the capital Santo Domingo throughout her childhood. When she was 12 years old, she moved to New York where she lived for 7 years. 

She attended a high school specializing in the fashion industry. Her major was fashion and she learned how to sew, how the business works in fashion and many things to prepare to make her own clothing. As well, she models for 5 fashion shows with her own designs. She is currently working on her business administration bachelor’s degree at Dallas College and transferring to UTA. She loves how God is walking with her in this new process. Her favorite verse from Psalm 119: “Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart.”

Mark Oxner, IT Systems & Support Admin

Mark has been in the Information Technology Support field for decades. After being in the corporate world for his whole career, he brought his skills and experience to GLC in late 2010. He describes his job as, “Doing my best to keep technology out of the way, even though it’s practically required in our society.” He strives to get the most out of technology without wasting anything. Both he and his wife Kristin (m. 1998) are interested in Texas and American history. They travel to historic places as much as they can and “collect” historical markers. Geocaching is another hobby. Favorite verse: “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.” –1 Peter 2:1

William Land, Worship Director

Will is a multi-instrumentalist, having studied percussion performance at Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music. After graduating with an audio engineering degree from UTA, Will has worked professionally as an arranger, audio engineer, keyboardist, bassist, and drummer. Will has served as our organist since June of 2019, and as of September 2022 as the Worship Director.

His favorite verse is 2 Corinthians 4:18 “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Red Hoar, Technical Director (Sound and Live Stream Production)

Red has been associated with Grace Lutheran Church since 1992 when he and his beautiful bride Susan were married in the Sanctuary. After 10 years on US Naval Submarines, they transferred their membership in 2000 back to Grace. He has taught Sunday school (Remember Kidmo?) and been on many kid retreats. He served two tours as a board member, where he fought hard to bring the UTA Student Center to Grace. He has been a big part of the Media Ministry, converting the system over from Arlington-Telecable and video cassettes, to a fully digital audio and video system. He helped bring in the sanctuary video screens and the live streaming of church services.

Red is the Software Development Program Manager for a local game simulation company. He loves to volunteer and with wife Susan and kids Jacob, Ryan and Rachel, has been a part of the Arlington Life Shelter for 21 years. He helps run the Ham Radio system for the City of Arlington. His favorite bible verses are Isaiah 56:12 and Psalm 150.

Alma Zamora, Hispanic Ministry

Deaconess Alma Zamora is a graduate of the Center for Hispanic Studies together with her husband, Pastor Juan. She received her call as Deaconess of Outreach in 2012.

Deaconess Alma has served filling several roles. She has served as a mentor for Sunday school teachers, and helped to develop curriculum for the education programs of different Hispanic missions which she has served in the DFW Area through T2C2. She is gifted in starting new outreach ministries and facilitating relationships between the community and the church.

Deaconess Alma has also worked to develop leaders throughout DFW for the T2C2 mission network, especially in the areas of family and children’s ministries. She has developed other resources that facilitate ministry to families in different settings during her time of service, including the developing materials for Latin America.

Alma is from Mexico. She and Pastor Juan are proud parents of a daughter, Stephanie, who attends Concordia University in Austin, TX.

Her greatest joys are that she gets to serve a multilingual and multiethnic congregation here at Grace. She loves it most when people from diverse backgrounds become friends and find their common need for Jesus.

Pastor Juan Zamora, Hispanic Ministry

Pastor Juan is a graduate of the Center for Hispanic Studies at Concordia Seminary and together with his wife, Deaconess Alma, received his call as Pastor in 2012. The Zamora’s make their home in the city of Hurst.

In recent years, Pastor Juan has assumed the role of Apostolic Missionary to DFW through the T2C2 Mission Network and Evangelist Trainer lead for Area B of the Texas District. In this role, he has helped and will continue to help develop new Hispanic missions in DFW. This role gives him the privilege of serving alongside several congregations and leaders to develop and advance the mission that Jesus Christ gave us.

Pastor Juan also enjoys serving as President of the Hispanic Missionary League, which seeks to promote the growth of Hispanic mission and equip Hispanic pastors in the LCMS throughout the United States.

Pastor Juan and Deaconess Alma have been married since 2002 and are parents of a daughter, Stephanie, who attends Concordia University in Austin as well as supporting and serving alongside them in ministry.

Juan’s greatest joy in the ministry is watching how Jesus Christ transforms people’s lives with the gospel.