Jeff Miller - Elder
On July 27, 1967, Jeff gave his heart to the Lord Jesus Christ after being led to salvation by a neighbor at Vacation Bible School and was blessed to grow up in a Christian home with two godly parents and a younger brother, who is a pastor in Texas."I was drawn to Grace because it's a church that so strongly holds to the teaching of sound doctrine, the truth of the Gospel"
Acknowledging the propensity for sin in all of us, Jeff credits the Lord with saving him from committing the mistakes of drug use and other crimes that could have kept him from entering a career in law enforcement. “In 1977, when I first began working for a police department, many of the “youthful indiscretions” we now tolerate would have disqualified me from the job," he says. “God had my career chosen, and protected me as I was growing up."
Jeff and his family moved to Hollister in 2003 and soon began attending Grace Bible Church. Prior to that they attended Santa Rosa Bible Church in Santa Rosa and Los Gatos Christian Church. Together he and his wife have taught Sunday school and have worked in the nursery, caring for children of all ages below 2 years old. He attended Bible Study Fellowship, where he served as a Children’s Leader and as a Discussion Leader.
Since 1979 Jeff has been a career law enforcement professional, but has also taught college part time and has been a substitute teacher at the elementary, middle school and high school levels. Jeff became a police officer because he wanted to help people, and because he looks upon his career as a ministry, Jeff finds Romans 13:3-4 particularly relevant, “For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
As an elder, Jeff’s greatest desire is to preach, teach and offer Biblical counsel. He loves the Word of God and God honoring materials that magnify Christ and His eternal truths. Jeff is always looking for a great book to compliment his growing library emphasizing doctrine and theology. “I was (and am) particularly drawn to Grace because it is a church that so strongly holds to the teaching of sound doctrine, the truth of the Gospel, the reality of our condition before God and the clear teaching of Ephesians 2:8-9 and Acts 4:12.”
In 2009 he and his wife Madelynn celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. They have three beautiful adult daughters, Alexandra, Jessica and Juliana.