Biography

Pastor T.J. and his wife, Jamie, are the proud parents of seven amazing children. Currently, their oldest son is married and serving as a Warrant Officer in the United States Army. Their second oldest son is a veteran of the United States Air Force and working toward a professional degree in business. The oldest daughter in the Francis family is married and is a graduate of Austin Peay University. The four youngest have varying interests from JROTC to athletics.

Dr. Francis has earned two bachelor’s degrees (B.A. Christian Ministries, Temple Baptist College; B.S., Organizational Leadership, Union University), three seminary degrees (D.Min., Th.M., M.Div., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary), and a law degree (J.D., Belmont University College of Law).  Additionally, Dr. Francis is a licensed attorney in the State of Florida.

Biography

Pastor Kevin is a native Miamian who has served in churches in Florida and North Carolina for over 24 years. He has pastored in the areas of youth & children, adult education, discipleship & outreach, and most recently as Executive Pastor. Kevin prepared for these ministries by earning a Bachelor of Arts in Religion with a minor in Biblical Languages from the University of the Cumberlands (KY) in 1995. In 1999, he graduated from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (NC) with a Master of Divinity degree. In 2020, he celebrated 25 years of marriage to his beautiful wife, Michelle. They have three boys whose skills and personalities are as unique as their hair colors. The oldest two sons help lead worship by playing acoustic & bass guitars and drums, respectively. At FBC Dover, Kevin currently oversees the discipleship, missions, evangelism, and administration ministries. Kevin and Michelle have led ten marriage retreats during their years at Wayside Baptist and Dover Baptist. He has a heart to see others find a ministry in the church and mission in the world that fits how God has shaped them to serve. His hobbies include spending time with his family, anything football (especially the Miami Dolphins), and fishing in the lake or ocean. Kevin’s life verse is from Proverbs 3:5-6 which contains 10 words to live by: “Trust in the LORD…and He will direct your paths.”

Biography

Andrew joined our church staff in Spring 2020. He surrendered his life into music ministry in 2005 at First Baptist Tillmans Corner, where he also met his wife Lauren as they played in orchestra together. They have both been serving as a family in ministry since they were married in 2012, and have two sons, Samuel and Thomas. First Baptist Dover is Andrew’s second ministry position, but he has grown up as a preacher’s kid his entire life. He attended the University of Mobile, where he received his bachelors degree in Music Education. He also earned his Masters in Religion with a Worship Cognate through Liberty University Online. Andrew fully deserves his nickname, 'Bouncey Pouncey', as he brings contagious excitement and energy in the way that he leads in worship. His heart for ministry is to provide every generation with an opportunity to be a worship leader.

Biography

Pastor George is happily married to his amazing wife of 11 years, Felicia. They have 4 beautiful children, Annabelle (9), Caroline (7), Samuel (5), and Eliza (2). He is a native Floridian and Felicia is originally from Texas. Pastor George has been in ministry and working with students since he was 18 years old. However, in 2006, he surrendered to the call to full-time ministry. His ministry experience includes both student ministry and international mission work. Overseas, Pastor George served with the International Mission Board (IMB) at the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) as campus missionary. Additionally, he ministered as an intern for a mission organization in Costa Rica. In the Fall of 2009, Felicia and George got married. The newlyweds then moved to Texas to attend The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. While attending seminary, Pastor George served as a Youth Pastor. In 2012, the Meyer family moved to Northeast India where they served as IMB missionaries. In 2016, God called George and his family back to serve as a Youth Pastor in Texas. On June 6, 2021, First Baptist Church of Dover called George to be our Youth Pastor.

Pastor George has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Florida and a Master of Divinity degree from The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Biography

Mark was raised as an “MK” in the country of France.  Mark grew up between France and Montreal, Canada.  In his teens, the Clark’s returned to France.  For much of his high school Mark attended Black Forest Academy in Germany. In 1981, while serving as General Manager of WLOB Radio in Portland, Maine, Mark married Bethany Holmes, a fellow MK from the country of Argentina.

In 1983 Mark was ordained by the Conservative Baptist Churches of America. He has pastored churches in Maine, Georgia, Iowa and France. Mark has served as a key-note speaker for over 300 mission conferences across North America as well as featured soloist and recording artist.

Mark and Bethany were involved in church planting from 1986 to 1997 in Paris and Lyon. In 1998 Mark joined the Billy Graham's Amsterdam 2000 team as Director of Media Relations/Logistics. After Billy Graham, Mark was invited to serve as Director of Marketing and Conference Services with the Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College. Mark oversaw training institutes for missionaries in Georgia and Bangkok, Thailand.  It was at the Chalmers Center that Mark was first exposed to creative new tools to help missionaries minister to the poor and disenfranchised.

He has earned a Bachelor's Degree in Religious Education as well as a B.Sc. in Pastoral Ministries from New England Bible College, and a Diplome Superieur B from the University of Paris-La Sorbonne.

Mark and Bethany have three grown children and three precious grandsons.

Biography

Biography

Amanda has been a member of First Baptist Dover since 1996. She came on staff in 2017 as Director of Children’s Ministries after directing Vacation Bible School and teaching music in our IMPACT Children’s Choir. Amanda and her husband Dustin have been married since 2011 and both grew up at First Baptist Dover. Amanda graduated from the University of Florida in 2013 with intentions of working in the landscape industry, but God had better plans. Amanda loves reading, singing, finding a good deal, all our children at church , and her many volunteers who help teach and minister to these children. She loves being creative with lessons, activities, and crafts for the kids, finding new activities and programs that benefit children and families together, and watching kids grow spiritually in their walk with the Lord. Her life verse is Isaiah 40:29-31 “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Biography

Rachael Bowen serves as Principal of Tyndale Christian Academy. She is an established educational leader with over thirty-five years of experience working with children and families. Rachael carries a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida and a Master of Education in Elementary Education from Southeastern University.

Rachael has received numerous awards and recognition including the Florida Certified Educational Leadership Certificate, Teacher of the Year at Shiloh Charter School, an Authored Publicist for the book (SHINE), Conference Speaker at LCS National Education, and an Accreditation League of Christian Schools Team Member (2022).

Biography

Felipe Ruiz serves as the Director of Communications at First Baptist Church of Dover, Florida. He is currently a Mid-America Seminary student pursuing a degree in Biblical Studies.

For over ten years, Felipe has served in leadership, from being featured in a National Commercial for Outback Steakhouse to developing the next generation of student leaders as Student Pastor and President of Burrow Agency LLC.

In addition, he was invited to speak at the largest festival in Florida, The Strawberry Festival. His passion for Gospel advancement and strategic vision is recognized by many. He has spoken on multiple DNOW weekends throughout churches in Plant City, Dover, and Brandon. Felipe endeavors to see God’s people rise to biblical maturity and to see Christ magnified in all spheres of influence.

Biography

Kelly has recently joined our church staff. She was born and raised in Maryland and grew up in a small brethren church. Has been married to her high school sweetheart, Shawn, for 40 years. Together they have one son who lives out of state along with his wife and their three grandchildren. Moved to Plant City in 2012 to escape the snow and ice. Has been a Sunday school and VBS teacher for 15+ years, youth advisor, financial secretary and served on the church board. Attended college for computer programming. Favorite bible verse, John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Biography

Christy has been in the Early Childhood Field for 20 years and has worked in a variety of preschool settings. Her experience includes being a preschool teacher, program coordinator and assistant director for a national corporate child care company; teaching Early Childhood Education at a local high school, where she managed the lab preschool in addition to teaching the high school students the basics of Early Childhood; working for Nova Southeastern University as an Early Childhood Training Specialist where she provided training, coaching and technical assistance to preschool directors and teachers seeking to become accredited or improve overall quality of their center; working as an Inclusion Specialist for the Early Childhood Council providing teachers with strategies and implementation plans to help all children in their care be successful. Christy has a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development from Florida State University, a Florida Director’s Credential, and is a NAC Validator. She has been married to her husband Chris for fifteen years and they have three beautiful children.

Biography

Julia has been on staff here at First Baptist Church Dover since August 2013. She is an active member at her home Church “The Crossing Church” (Plant City, FL Campus). She is currently a Servant Leader with the Greeting Team. She was also co-hosting and leading Life Group. She was also serving as a leader in the Children's Ministry at the main campus in Tampa, from 2009 – 2020. She enjoyed her time with the leaders and coordinators as they learned about God together, and teaching our next generation how amazing it is to be in a relationship with God, while living a life full of His love is one of her greatest passions in life. In December 2021 Julia was promoted into her know role as the Ministry Coordinator at First Baptist Church Dover.

Biography

Mike has been married to his lovely wife, Joann, for 35 years in 2020. They joined First Baptist Dover in 1996. He retired from Hillsborough County schools after 36 years of teaching and coaching. His hobbies include fishing and woodworking. His favorite verse is Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrated His love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”

Biography

Melissa has been a church member at First Baptist Dover since August 2021. She became the Sprouts coordinator in April 2022. Then in August of 2022 she was hired as a Ministry Assistant. She also serves in children’s ministry on Wednesday nights and serves at Kids Beach Club on Thursdays at Bailey Elementary. Melissa has been married to her husband John since August 1990 and they have three children. Megan who is married to Jesse, John Lukas who is married to Katie, and Chrissa who is homeschooled and involved in Dover Students and Impact Student Choir. John and Melissa have been in ministry since 2000. John has served as a pastor and associate pastor at three different churches. John currently has a counseling ministry in Plant City. John and Melissa have a heart for marriages and have led several marriage conferences over the years. Melissa has also served as VBS director for 11 years at various churches, she was a children’s director for eight years, and taught preschool Sunday school for nine years. Serving the Lord is Melissa’s heart and passion. Philippians 1:9-11 is her favorite bible verses “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Biography

Imani Cofield has been involved in serving the church since middle school and has returned to Dover Baptist as a staff member in their finance department Summer 2023. In addition to earning an anticipated finance degree from the University of South Florida, she is also a creative writer and enjoys acting and singing in the local theater. After graduation, Imani aspires to develop skills and schooling required to become a lawyer. Her favorite bible verse is Romans 13:1-2, “Let everyone submit to the governing authorities since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgement on themselves.”

Tracy joined the church and staff in 2022. She and her husband Rob transferred their church membership from Peninsular Christian Church in South Tampa in 2022 when they moved to Plant City. She was a member and servant of her former church for over 35 years.

Tracy and Rob have three sons that all live and work in the Bay area and all together, they have seven beautiful grandchildren. She has been enjoying bringing the grand kids to church to learn about Jesus.

Tracy brings with her a vast amount of experience in the church organization and business world. She came out of retirement to help facilitate the church’s resources in a way that is honoring to God and His church. She finds it an honor to work alongside what she calls, the best place to work of her lifetime.

Biography

Nate serves in our maintenance ministry. Originally from Michigan, Nate has lived in Florida for 4 years. He is married to Katie, the daughter of an associate pastor at Providence Baptist Church. They will be celebrating their 1st anniversary in December 2020. Nate began part-time at Dover in September 2020 and moved into the full-time position on October 2020. Nate & Katie gave birth to a daughter in 2021. There’s a lot to cover on this large campus, but Nate does it with a strong work ethic and good attitude. If you are at the church during the week, please give Nate a warm Dover welcome!