Sidney Champagne
Sidney and Martine
Sidney Jr., Stephanie, Samantha, and Sophia
- Temple Adventiste de West Palm Beach Church, Temple Adventiste de Deerfield Beach Company, and Gethsémané Company
Born in Haiti, Sidney traveled in 1977 to Bronx in New York, N.Y., and eventually to Port Saint Lucie, Fla., where he helped plant a church. He saw a tremendous need in the Haitian community and tried to help by founding an association to educate young adults and beginning a weekly religious radio program called Bethel. He has a tender heart for the salvation of souls and always seeks for ways to share the love of God with others. He views each person as a prospective citizen of heaven and seeks to gain as many as possible for Jesus.
Matthew Christo
Matthew and Janice
- Silver Springs Shores and Marion Oaks Churches
Born on the Island of Trinidad, Matthew’s dying grandfather advised him to read the Bible. From his reading, he discovered the Sabbath before he heard of an Adventist. He knew at an early age he was called to preach the gospel. He has been a pastor in Trinidad and Wisconsin, and a teacher in Illinois and Michigan. For many years he was a counseling psychologist and family life educator.
Matthew is passionate about preaching the gospel and nurturing and encouraging the members to be ready for the Kingdom of God, because he believes Jesus will come very soon.
Ron Hoffecker
Patty and Ron
- Lakeland Church
Bible studies with a literature evangelist led Ron to the Savior. He entered the literature work, and one of his Bible study interests was a young woman, Patty, who later became his wife. He has served in mission service and classroom ministry, and as a youth leader, a church planter, and a lay pastor.
The mantra for his ministry is found in 1 Peter 4:11 (NIV): “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
Andrew-Craig Nugent
Melissa and Andrew-Craig
Joshua-Ray and Nathaniel-James
- Cooper City and Margate Churches
A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Andrew-Craig grew up in St. Petersburg, Fla. He preached his first sermon on Josiah for Children’s Day while he was a preteen. He began college studying in the field of science when he sensed a calling to the ministry. Through the influence of a teacher, his parents, and several tests, the Lord showed him that the ministry was God’s will.
“I want to thank God for using me in spite of myself,” he says. His favorite Bible text is Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV): “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”
Benjamin Shurtliff
Benjamin and Trianda
Gage
- Port Charlotte Church
God’s call to ministry became readily apparent shortly after Benjamin graduated from academy and began working as a student literature evangelist in the summer while attending college. He began to realize that God had a plan for him to share the Gospel in a dedicated manner as his life’s work, which he thought might be the full-time literature ministry. However, after another summer of canvassing, he began to realize that God was calling him to study pastoral ministry.
After seeing God’s hand leading the way through his education, he considered it a privilege to begin starting his ministry in Port Charlotte Church.