2026 Elder Candidates
See below the candidates to be affirmed on February 1.
Elder Candidates
Jay Utley has been part of IBC for about 20 years. Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jay moved to the Dallas area in 1997. He earned a B.A. in Pre-Law from Oklahoma Christian University and a law degree from the University of Tulsa, and he works as an attorney. Jay has been married for 45 years and enjoys sitting near the front at a great concert and taking any of his nine grandkids birthday shopping. What excites Jay most about IBC is the possibility of seeing lives changed within a diverse community, meeting people where they are, and responding to the unique needs around them.
Peter (Pete) Hyndman has been part of IBC for 27 years. He grew up in the Chicago area and moved to Dallas in 1981. Pete earned an engineering degree from Vanderbilt University and is now retired after a career in manufacturing automation sales and operations. He’s been married to Mary for 40 years, and they are proud parents of three adult children and blessed with two grandchildren. Pete enjoys family gatherings, travel, golf, and reading. What excites Pete most about IBC is the church’s commitment to service—both within the church and through local and global outreach—its continued movement toward becoming fully multi-ethnic, disciple-making, focused teaching, and the strength of IBC’s staff and volunteers.
Winston Lam was born in Singapore and made in the USA. Raised in Houston, he has straddled cultures with one foot in the East and one foot in the West. This blend of influences has shaped his worldview, his faith journey, and his deep appreciation for communities where people of all backgrounds can belong.
Winston began attending Irving Bible Church in 2003, and over the years, IBC has become the church family he’s been part of the longest. Many of his major life milestones - getting married to Shirley and welcoming three children - have taken place here, making IBC a foundational part of both his spiritual formation and family life.
A proud graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, Winston has built a career at global companies including American Airlines, Ericsson, and McKesson, where he currently serves as a Senior Manager of Inclusion & Belonging. What he learns on Sunday, he gets to practice Monday through Friday in the workplace - living out values of compassion, inclusion, and authentic leadership in real‑world settings.
Winston is grateful for the relationships, growth, and sense of calling God has provided at IBC, and he looks forward to continuing to worship, serve, and journey with the IBC family as together they pursue the way of Jesus for the sake of the world.
Deacon Candidates
Lana Grogan has been attending IBC for over 20 years. As the daughter of an Air Force pilot, her childhood was filled with repeated uprooting and moving from one state to another. She then married her college sweetheart, a Navy pilot, and continued to move from one coast to another. In 2004, they left the Navy and settled in the Dallas area, finally finding an opportunity to plant roots and a place to truly call home. She and her husband Dave have now been married for almost 32 years, and feel so grateful for any time they get to spend with their daughter and her husband, and their son and his fiancée. Lana’s parents have been a part of IBC since 1996 and were the ones who first brought Lana and Dave to visit IBC. That Sunday visit was a big part of the reason they decided to settle in the area. It was clear even then that IBC was a place where truth was spoken, and needs were seen and met. Over the years, the people and ministries at IBC have been a source of deep encouragement, spiritual growth, and cherished community. Lana has been a part of many facets of the church, including children’s ministry and MOPS, and is currently a mentor mom in MomComm and a member of the Synergy Bible Community and Women’s Bible Study. Lana is passionate about coming alongside the people of IBC to help them feel welcome and find their place among this beautiful body of believers. Believers and seekers who wrestle through life’s challenges together and grow to trust God more each day. She hopes that by seeing His compassion and faithfulness in the lives of the people we worship with, forming meaningful relationships within the classrooms and halls, we can all then reach outside these walls to invite and welcome friends and family to this special place called IBC.
Ethan Horne moved to Irving and began attending IBC almost three years ago, praying God would provide community. God answered abundantly through IBC and the many people Ethan and his wife, Sandra, now call friends. They love extending that same hospitality by hosting gatherings in their home and getting to know their neighbors. He feels called to support the ministry of the church as they welcome others into this fellowship. He has organized men's Bible studies, taught junior high Sunday School at his previous church, and recently begun building relationships with people experiencing homelessness in Irving. He works as a software developer, and when they're not hosting, he and Sandra enjoy traveling and spending time with their Westie, Henry.
Sandra Horne has been part of the IBC community for almost three years. She works as an attorney, where she enjoys advocacy and helping people navigate complex situations with clarity and compassion. Sandra has extensive experience serving in discipleship roles as a small group leader, teacher, and mission team leader, and she is especially passionate about Bible study, stewardship, travel, and hospitality. A fun fact about Sandra: she and her husband, Ethan, love to travel—especially to Europe—and are always planning the next adventure.
Martha Hoey moved to Texas and began attending IBC in 2013. Since then, Martha has been involved in Women’s Bible Study, Foundation, and Discipleship Cohort groups, Children’s Ministry, and the Hope and Healing Ministry at IBC. After studying Scripture for 35 years, Martha is still amazed at how much more there is to learn! Racial unity and conciliation have been a particular focus of Martha’s. She (gratefully) lives across the street from her four granddaughters (and their parents) and enjoys spending time with them. She also has adult children (and grandchildren) living in North Carolina, so that is a favorite travel destination. Cooking for friends, swimming, walking her dog, and traveling are some of her favorite pastimes. Born in Michigan, returning to the Lake Michigan beach is always special!
Shannon Sullivan and her husband, Ned, have been attending IBC for 2 years. Originally from Virginia, she has lived in California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Austin, and has been in the DFW area since 2021. Over the years, Shannon has had various jobs and served in churches wherever she has lived. You would find her helping in church offices, Kids ministry, Youth ministry, Women’s ministry, and on staff at a couple of churches. Currently, Shannon serves as an Advisor in IBC’s Young Adults ministry. Having realized she was in dire need of a Savior as an adult in 2006, Shannon believes it is critical that people know the Word and live the life Christ so graciously and sacrificially died for them to have. She also desires for people to feel welcome, known, and loved. Shannon and Ned started a business together in 2023, where Shannon thrives in her position as the not-so-silent partner. They have three adult children whom they call friends, enjoy spending time outdoors, befriending strangers, and catching up on the latest British murder mystery shows.