My Story: The Lord was gracious in allowing me to grow up in a Christian home in Merritt Island, Florida, with parents who made our faith and discipleship a priority. I received Christ as Savior at the age of twelve and was discipled in my home church’s vibrant youth ministry. While I was in high school, God called me into full-time Christian ministry. I met my wife Christie through Baptist Collegiate Ministries at the University of Central Florida, and we have been married since 2003. God has blessed us with five amazing kids! I completed a Masters of Divinity and a PhD at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. I served as a Student Pastor, Discipleship Pastor, Campus Pastor, and Senior Pastor at multiple churches in Florida. My primary passions and gifts are teaching and administration. I love to see God’s Word change lives, and I love to see ministry goals become a reality. My pastoral priorities are to lead God’s people to live biblical, Christ-honoring, and gospel-centered lives and for church members to see themselves as missionaries wherever God has placed them!
Favorite Music:My taste is very eclectic – I study with Classical music in the background all the time. But I also love Alan Jackson, U2, Coldplay, Christy Nockels, Whitney Houston, Switchfoot, PFR, Jack Johnson, Harry Connick Jr., ELO, dc Talk, Austin Stone Worship, Trip Lee, City Alight Worship, and Exodus Music.
Favorite Books: Anything by C. S. Lewis, Knowing God by J. I. Packer, The Cross of Christ by John Stott, Onward and Adopted for Life by Russell Moore, Tactics by Greg Koukl, and anything by David McCullough.
Favorite Movies: Lord of the Rings original trilogy, The Mandalorian, Truman Show, and Downton Abbey.
6-Word Memoir: "God is faithful; trust and obey".
Publications:  PhD dissertation at Southern Seminary on C. S. Lewis and God’s use of beauty to draw people to himself, editor of study notes for 10-year revision of the Apologetics Study Bible, contributor to ERLC.com and LifeWay’s Facts and Trends.

My Story: Hi there. I’m happy that you are checking us out. I  have been the Associate Pastor here at Trinity for 5 years now.  We  have been much embraced by this loving, caring and vision-filled community.  I moved to Tennessee from Porto Alegre, Brazil, where I was a pastor and Seminary professor for 25 years. I studied Journalism (PUC-RS) and Theology (STBRS) in Brazil and have a MDiv and DMin from Sioux Falls Seminary, South Dakota. I also spent 2 years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, studying and working as a Resident Chaplain at Aurora Saint Luke’s Medical Center. I’m married to Denise since 1992 and we have two young adult children, Guilherme, or “Gui," and Georgia.
Passions: Besides teaching, preaching and counseling, I love traveling, playing tennis, watching soccer and receiving friends. Even though I lived in urban setting, I’m always eager for the outdoor life of fishing, sightseeing and being surprised by the wildlife. Oh, and I love barbecues – yours and mine!
Books: My favorite authors are John Ortberg, Henry Cloud, Phillip Yancey and the Brazilians Ed Rene Kivitz and philosophers Leandro Karnal and Luis Carlos Pondé.
Music: I enjoy Contemporary Christian and Folk music. If you catch me alone, you may find me worshiping while watching Matt Maher, Casting Crowns, David Crowder, Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and some oldies like Harvest and The Imperials on Youtube. Some from Brazil: Titãs, Belchior and Gilberto Gil.
Six-word memoir: Love God, love people, trust Jesus.

My Story: Psalm 150 says “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” Ever since I was saved as a little boy, this verse has been my life’s goal and desire. I am originally from Amory, MS, and had the blessing of growing up in a loving, Christian home with my mom and sister. The Lord gave me a love of music at an early age. I have sung in choirs, choral groups and ensembles all my life. I also began playing the trombone in the 7th grade. My middle school/high school band director had a Godly influence in my life, and it is because of him that I decided to major in music. Immediately following my graduation from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, I became a middle school/high school band director in the Monroe County School System in northeast MS. I later served as a band director at Neshoba Central High School in Philadelphia, MS. I also spent several summers traveling as trombonist with the Continental Orchestra & Singers, as well as a few years traveling with the Christian music group, TRUTH. After years on the road, I felt led to continue my education. It was immediately after receiving my Master’s Degree in Music Education from Mississippi State University that the Lord called me into full-time music ministry. God has richly blessed me by allowing me to serve at some wonderful churches over the years in Booneville, MS, as well as Pensacola, FL and Memphis, TN. I joined the Trinity staff in May of 2021 and am very excited about all that God has in store for the days ahead. Next to Jesus, the best thing about me is my wife, Susan, and my 2 children, Katie and Hunter. Susan and I were married in September of 1996, and it has been an exciting adventure ever since!
Passions: Spending time with family & friends, traveling, mountain biking, sports, playing games, movies.
Favorite Music: I love a variety of musical styles. Christian music is a favorite. Being a trombonist, I also enjoy bands with horn sections, such as Chicago and Earth, Wind, & Fire. Also love country songs that tell stories.

Favorite Books: Favorite authors are Adrian Rogers, Steve Gaines, Max Lucado, Dennis Rainey, Gary Smalley, Oswald Chambers, C.S. Lewis, Lee Strobel, Josh McDowell.

Favorite Movies: The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, Swiss Family Robinson, The Peanuts Movie, Soul Surfer, all the Marvel & DC movies.

6-Word Memoir: “For God so loved the world.”

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My story: Hey y’all! I am very, VERY excited to be the student pastor here at Trinity Baptist and pour into the lives of the students as well as the rest of the congregation. I’m also excited to be staying in the Memphis area where I have lived with my parents Steve and Alice for my entire life. I graduated from Briarcrest High School in 2016 and in 2020 from Union University with a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry & Missions and Journalism. I now attend Mid-America Seminary pursuing a Masters of Divinity. I'm excited to see how the Lord is going to work in the future.
Passions: As a pastor, I obviously love preaching, teaching, and simply being in fellowship with other people. I’m a huge sports guy, especially basketball (you can likely find me at any open gym playing pickup basketball when there isn’t a cataclysmic pandemic going on). Tennis, football, soccer—you name it, and I’ll be there. I also love to write (probably good for a journalism major) and am a senior staff writer for Grizzly Bear Blues, a popular site that covers Memphis Grizzlies basketball. I’ve also written about various other issues for several other publications. Also, please invite me to your swimming pool!
Favorite Music:  Anything but country (with Johnny Cash, the best musician ever, being a lone exception, of course). I do enjoy contemporary Christian music and Lauren Daigle in particular ☺. I also like rap (am I allowed to say this?), Bruno Mars, and Kanye West.
Favorite Writer:I’ve read most of what C.S. Lewis has written, with Screwtape Letters being my personal favorite. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom is, in my opinion, the greatest memoir on suffering and a person’s eventual triumph over it through grace and forgiveness. The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer radicalized me in a sense as to realizing the personal cost that being a Christ-follower can bring in a culture that despises them. In the realm of commentary, I enjoy reading David French and Thomas Sowell, and my favorite sportswriter is Zach Lowe.
Favorite Movies: The Dark Knight, Interstellar, Glory Road, Infinity War, Silence, Saving Private Ryan, Hacksaw Ridge
Six-word memoir:  "Imperfect vessel for a perfect God"

Here to serve the Lord and to serve you. From left to right: Gerson, Matt, Jose, Joanne, Kimberly, Debbie, Carl, Blake, Ken, Danielle and Nathan.