By Laurie Lechlitner
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — “I’m the local kid who was born and raised on Main Street in Warsaw,” stated Jeff Grose. “Many Warsaw natives have known me for most of my life. I took office as mayor of Warsaw on January 1, 2024. But I am not serving as mayor on my own. My Savior is in my heart, and in faith, He walks with me. Those walking with Christ will exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23: ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.’ Those who exhibit this fruit are truly living their faith.”

WARSAW MAYOR JEFF GROSE

Grose attended the Presbyterian church with his parents as he was growing up and into his young adult years.

“I accepted the Lord into my heart when I was a young child,” he said.

However, it was in his college years that he did some deep soul searching.

“I had a blood clot in my leg that traveled to my heart and lungs. I had no idea I had a blood clot. My calf had been bothering me, but the pain went away. While I was on a local golf course, I got a heavy feeling in my chest like an elephant was sitting on me. I went home and sat in a chair that night. The next day I went to the hospital and spent eleven days there, ten of them in intensive care.

“All those days in the hospital, I had time to reevaluate my life. I decided that instead of majoring in business, I wanted to be a teacher and coach — making a difference in the lives of young people,” he said.

When Grose was dating his future wife Rachel, her father insisted he join them at Winona Lake Grace Church.

“I’ve been there ever since. I even taught an adult Bible fellowship class for several years,” he said.

Working with his friend Jim Gilmer, who was also a social studies teacher at Warsaw High School, helped Grose grow in his faith.

“Jim became a good friend and an important spiritual mentor. I still go to him if I have a question about my spiritual walk,” he said.

Grose also enjoys the logic of apologist C.S. Lewis.

“Mere Christianity is a marvelous book that has influenced me greatly. It approaches Christianity in a logical and systematic way. I think it’s the teacher in me that loves approaching my faith walk this way. The book helps us to think and process our Christianity. Lewis inspires us when we stumble to get up and keep going, always focusing on Jesus,” he said.

Grose believes strongly that our actions speak louder than our words.

“My mother always stressed that fact. She would always tell me that my actions will do the speaking for me and that people aren’t interested in how much you know until they know how much you care,” he said.

Still teaching history and politics at Grace College, Grose walks the tight rope of presenting other world views without compromising his Christianity. He strives to do the same thing in his office as mayor.

“I think it’s important to listen to and try to understand others, even those we don’t agree with. In Him, I will communicate my faith by living it,” he said.