Leadership

Pastor Tom Baran was born and raised here in Connecticut, and he and his wife Donna live in Bristol. They have been married for over twenty years and are blessed to have three children and five grandchildren. God has always focused them on the city of Bristol and the surrounding communities and they are committed to serving the Lord and reaching the Bristol community with the hope of Christ. Tom’s desire to serve in pastoral ministry led him to enroll at Liberty University in 2011. After completing his undergraduate degree in Biblical Studies, Tom enrolled in Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and completed his Master of Divinity in Pastoral Ministries.  After completion of his degree Tom received his pastoral license, and in the fall of 2018, he went before the ordination council of Converge, and was ordained.  Pastor Tom has recently completed and holds a Doctor of Ministry from Liberty University where his doctoral work focused on Church Revitalization. Pastor Tom was called to serve as pastor of Grace Baptist Church since February of 2019. In addition to his ministry at Grace, he serves as chaplain of the Bristol Police Department, providing spiritual support, counsel, and a gospel presence among local first responders. He is passionate about preaching God’s Word with clarity, shepherding God’s people with compassion, and helping the church live out its purpose: so that all people can know and grow in Christ.