Thomas Ascol

Tom Ascol has served as Pastor of Grace Baptist Church since 1986. Prior to moving to Florida, he served as pastor and associate pastor of churches in Texas. He has a B.S. degree in sociology from Texas A&M University (1979) and has also earned the M.Div and Ph.D degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. His major field of study was Baptist Theology. He taught two years as an adjunct professor for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary at their Southwest Florida extension. He has also served as adjunct professor of theology for Reformed Theological Seminary and is a Visiting Professor for their Nicole Institute of Baptist Studies. He teaches adjunctively for the Midwest Center for Theological Studies and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary through their Equip Center.

Ascol serves as the Executive Director of Founders Ministries, an organization committed to the recovery of the Gospel and the reformation of local churches. He edits the Founders Journal, a quarterly theological publication of Founders Ministries, and has written numerous articles and edited and contributed to several books. He regularly preaches and lectures at various conferences throughout the United States and other countries. He also authors the Founders Ministries Blog, which has been described as "the Web's chief clearinghouse of information on Baptists and the doctrines of grace."[2]

Tom and his wife, Donna, have six children.

In June 2008, Ascol was successful in spearheading Resolution (No. 6) "On Regenerate Church Membership and Church Member Restoration" and an accompanying amendment that encouraged Southern Baptist Convention churches to repent for failing to maintain biblical standards in the membership of their churches and obey Jesus Christ in the practice of lovingly correcting wayward church members.

• Founders Ministries
• Grace Baptist Church Official Website
• Founders Blog