Little Shepherds Preschool
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Staff

Ministerial & Support Staff

The ministerial and support staff at First Presbyterian Church are dedicated to fulfilling the mission of the church.

Rev. Dr. John Fullerton

Rev. Dr. John Fullerton

Senior Pastor/Head of Staff

Rev. Dr. John H. Fullerton, Jr.

Senior Pastor

Dr. Fullerton has served as our senior pastor since September 2019. Prior to Lakeland, he served churches in Scotland, Ohio, Tennessee, and, most recently, in Dunedin, Florida. While serving local churches, he has also taken leave to teach in theological seminaries in Madagascar and Russia. After earning his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Florida, he worked in business for nine years. God then had other plans for his life that led him to Princeton Theological Seminary and ordination as a pastor. He grew up in a military home that took him all over the United States but considers Palatka, Florida, his hometown. He and his wife, Cile, have been married since 1983 and are proud parents of three daughters who have given them five grandchildren. His hobbies include reading, running, golf, and spending time with family.

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Rev. Rebecca Mihm

Discipleship Pastor

Rev. Rebecca Mihm

Discipleship Pastor

Rebecca has served as our Associate Pastor of Discipleship since October 4, 2021. Prior to serving at FPC Lakeland, she served in various ministry roles in West Virginia, Massachusetts, Southeast Asia, and New York. Rebecca went to Geneva College where she earned a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree. Upon graduation she worked in urban ministry in New York City. Then she worked for US Airways for several years before sensing a call to go to seminary. She graduated from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and spent several years doing ministry in Southeast Asia. Once in Massachusetts, she worked in Christian education, in crisis services, and with high utilizers of the emergency room. Before coming to FPC Lakeland, Rebecca served a congregation as a solo pastor in West Virginia. Rebecca enjoys hanging out with family and friends, walking/hiking, traveling, eating chocolate, and spoiling her fat cat, Oreo.

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Rev. Zac McGowen

Rev. Zac McGowen

Outreach Pastor

Rev. Zac McGowen

Outreach Pastor

Rev. Zachary McGowen was born in Birmingham, Alabama, but moved all over the world during his formative years. For nearly 25 years, Zac has been preaching and teaching God’s Word, and he loves inspiring congregations to reach their friends and neighbors for Jesus Christ while utilizing technology to communicate the gospel message more effectively. During his years at Florida Southern College (FPC’s neighbor to the north) he led the largest entirely student-run ministry on campus called BEYOND. Since 2001, Zac has served the Lord in the PC(USA), beginning with the First Presbyterian Church, Haines City, Florida, before taking his current call in Lakeland. Zac came to FPC Lakeland in 2013, and he has served on the board of The Fellowship Community, the Presbytery of Tampa Bay’s Commission on Church Vitality, as well as being active with PEACE (the ecumenical county-wide justice ministry). He holds an M.Div from Reformed Theological Seminary and is nearing the end of his Doctorate of Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary. Zac is married to his beautiful wife, Julie, and together they have two wonderful children, Caleb and Hannah. Zac likes to spend time with his family at one of the area theme parks (he is a major “Disnerd”), go for a run, stay current on tech-related news, and watch college football - especially his beloved Alabama Crimson Tide (ROLL TIDE!). 

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Dr. Connie Befus

Dr. Connie Befus

Congregational Care Coordinator

Dr. Connie Befus

Congregational Care Coordinator

Dr. Befus began serving as Congregational Care Coordinator at FPC in May of 2017. Before moving to Lakeland, Connie, who is a psychologist, served as Director of Member Care for missions organizations. Connie and her husband, David, also served in various ministries in Latin America for more than 17 years. Connie earned her Master’s in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Michigan and her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Miami, Florida. She grew up in Africa as the child of missionary parents and has lived in seven countries. David and Connie have a son and daughter, both married, and one grandchild on the way. Connie enjoys occasionally consulting or providing workshops for mission agencies and loves to read, walk, or garden.

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Rev. Dr. Paul Suich

Rev. Dr. Paul Suich

Parish Counselor

Rev. Dr. Paul Suich

Parish Counselor

Dr. Suich has served as the head of the St. Andrew Ministry here at FPC Lakeland since June 2001. He came here from Augusta, Georgia, where he led the counseling ministry for ten years at FPC Augusta and had worked in community mental health prior to that. He attended the Psychological Studies Institute and Georgia State, earning a Master’s in Christian Counseling, the University of Georgia where he earned a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology, and Asbury Seminary where he earned his Master of Divinity. He grew up in Aiken, South Carolina, and attended Davidson College, a Presbyterian affiliated school in North Carolina. He and his wife Cynthia (also a professional counselor) have two sons, two daughters-in-law, and one grandchild. His hobbies include photography, genealogy, gardening, and woodworking.

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Anna Mayes

Anna Mayes

Executive Assistant
Dr. Daniel Gordon

Dr. Daniel Gordon

Director of Fine Arts Ministries
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Jennifer Voigt

Transitional Worship Leader
Tom Ingui

Tom Ingui

Organist
Emily Hammell

Emily Hammell

Children’s Choir Coordinator

Little Shepherds Preschool

Carrie Joyne

Carrie Joyner

Director of Little Shepherds Preschool
Tami Trent

Tami Trent

Assistant Director of Little Shepherds Preschool

Children’s Ministry

Jo Ahearn

Jo Ahearn

Director of Children’s Ministries
Marion McDowell

Marion McDowell

Children’s Ministry Assistant
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Vacant

Nursery Coordinator
Brianna Bushong

Brianna Bushong

Nursery Worker
Jessica Ellerbe

Jessica Ellerbe

Nursery Worker
Isabell Hathaway

Isabelle Hathaway

Nursery Worker
Kimberly Hillman

Kimberly Hillman

Nursery Worker

Student Life Ministry

Josh_Schweitzer_Web

Josh Schweitzer

Director of Student Life Ministries
Anna Burns

Anna Burns

Assistant Director of Student Life Ministries

College & Young Adult Ministry

Tim Timmes

Tim Timmes

Director of College & Young Adult Ministries

Special Needs Ministry

Libby_Chappell

Libby Chappell

Special Needs Ministries Coordinator

Missions Ministry

Nancy Bertram

Nancy Bertram

Missions Ministries Coordinator

Communications

Jennifer Winters

Jennifer Winters

Director of Communications
Julie Ward

Julie Ward

Graphic Designer

Finance & Administration

Elena Nicholas

Elena Nicholas

Director of Finance & Administration
Susan Deloach

Susan DeLoach

Financial Assistant
Jackie Hansen

Jackie Hansen

Administrative Coordinator

Facility Support

Bill Dague

Bill Dague

Head Custodian
Dan Nixon

Dan Nixon

Maintenance & Repair Technician
Richie Smith

Richie Smith

Custodian
Sherrylyn Gatison

Sherrylyn Gatison

Custodian
Mark Blanchard

Mark Blanchard

Custodian

Technical Support

David Bailey

David Bailey

Technical Director
John Lowery

John Lowery

Audio Visual Production Specialist
Mike Parrish

Mike Parrish

Audio Visual Production Specialist
Brian Primm

Brian Primm

Audio Visual Production Specialist

Who We Are

The mission of First Presbyterian Church is to make and mature disciples for Jesus Christ.

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