The Rev. Dave Hope (Outreach ) Chris Zoephel (Discipleship) The Rev. Mike Hesse (Senior Pastor)

The Senior Pastor

The Senior Pastor is called by God to pattern his leadership after Jethro's four-fold admonition to Moses from Exodus 18:13-26. My charge is to represent our people before God in prayer; to teach the Word of God and hold myself and others accountable for following that Word (other leaders hold me accountable in return) ; to enable lay ministry; to declare the vision of the parish as we follow where the Lord leads.

Meet the Rev. Mike Hesse (with his wife, Claudia). The son of a career Air Force officer, Mike spent his young life on the move. During his senior year of high school in Jacksonville, Florida, he began attending the Episcopal Church and was befriended by a young clergyman who greatly influenced his walk with the Lord and gave him a glimpse of what serving Jesus as Lord and Savior looked like. As Mike was visiting Jacksonville for Easter services during his first year at the University of Florida , he heard the Lord call him to the ministry - and he has never looked back. Graduating from Virginia Theological Seminary he served for three years as an assistant at the Church of the Holy Comforter in Tallahassee , Florida . In 1976 he answered a call to plant a congregation in Pensacola , Florida . God blessed him with fifteen great years there before he received a call to Destin. Mike married his high school sweetheart, Claudia. They are the proud parents of four grown children: Nathan (Amy and daughter Jonnie), Becca (Chris and sons Carson and Harrison), Courtney (Oliver and sons Jacob and Joshua and one on the way), and Stephen (Shelley). Their grandchildren are their pride and joy. Mike is a charismatic evangelical who enjoys preaching and teaching. His hobbies include reading, scuba diving, fishing and boating. Claudia teaches English at Choctawhatchee High School and enjoys exercise and reading.

and meet "Luke", Father Mike's daily companion....

The Outreach Pastor

The Outreach Pastor leads the way in reaching out to those who are disconnected from Christ that they may come into spiritual wholeness. We do this first of all by raising up congregational awareness of the importance of sharing of the Good News of Jesus Christ one on one. We also reach out into the larger community with events such as the Blessing of the Fleet, the Annual Yard Sale and various outreach opportunities including mission trips both locally and to distant locations. It is my responsibility to organize programs that welcome those who visit us and integrate them into our church family. It is also my privilege to work with the Immanuel Praise Band, as well as to coordinate the media presentations for our Sunday worship services. The rest of my week is filled with sermon and teaching preparations, hospital visitations, and counseling opportunities.

Meet the Rev. Dave Hope Dave was born and raised in the great state of Kansas . His early childhood influences included wheat fields, tornados, Leavenworth Prison, and the Wizard of Oz, which may explain why Dave has a unique approach to everything he does. In his late teens, Dave became one of the founding members of the rock group " Kansas " and provided the bass lines on the group's first ten CDs.

In 1980 while touring with " Kansas ", Dave received Jesus Christ as his Lord. This union caused him to reassess his life and leave the music world behind. In 1987 Dave, and his wife Diana, moved to Destin, Fl. with the purpose of raising their 3 year old daughter Zoie in a small town atmosphere. It was during this time that God called Dave into youth ministry where he served as a youth pastor in two different local churches for many years. Dave has been on staff at Immanuel Anglican for fourteen years, serving as Outreach pastor for the past three years. God has gifted Dave as a pastor/teacher, as a worship leader, and with a longing to see people come to know Jesus as he has known Jesus.

The Discipleship and Youth Pastor

Think of it as Pastor for Christian Maturity. Great Chris...but...ummm...what does that mean? Basically, the nuts and bolts of it are that I am the pastoral staff person who is mainly concerned with the Christian maturity of all those who call Immanuel their church home. Ok...yeah...great Chris...but what does that mean? Specifically, I oversee all things in our church that deal with discipleship (a Christian word for spiritual growth toward maturity). This includes: Small Group Ministry (the lifeblood of our church), Young Adult Ministry, Youth Ministry and Children's Ministry. Whew...that was a lot! True. But...I do not deal with all of these things on my own. For example, the Children's Ministry is run by our wonderful Children's Minister (Tami). I just cheer her on. There are also others helping me in every area. Yea! So that is basically it...oh yeah...I preach from time to time as well. So come check us out! Sara (my better half) and I would love to meet you and answer any questions you might have. And if you don't have any questions, then tell us a funny joke...because I am all out of good ones and I have recycled my old ones for way too long.

Meet The Rev. Chris Zoephel Involved in youth ministry for over ten years, Chris has worked with junior and, senior highers and those who act like these folks both as a paid staff member and as a volunteer in churches and para-church organizations. Married to a wonderful woman named Sara, Chris finds himself spending lots of time chasing his young son around, keeping his office somewhat organized, finishing his Master's Degree as Asbury Theological Seminary and trying to point others toward Christ. Chris is Pastor of Discipleship here at Immanuel, which entails overseeing lots of ministries in the church (including small groups and the student ministry). Chris also serves as the National Director for Youth Ministry for the Anglican Mission in America.

Meet Darrin 'Scooby' Phipps, Associate Youth Pastor, who believes that - Student Ministry is all about nurturing teens as they come to the freedom in Jesus as their Lord. This means:

• Helping them understand and model authentic faith by putting their trust in God.
• Teaching them about spiritual disciplines.
• Helping them pave the way for intimacy by establishing moral boundaries.
• Modeling healthy friendships so they can choose friends for life.
• Teaching them how to walk wisely in a fool's world.
• Showing them how to consider others before themselves.

Darrin "Scooby" Phipps is the sixth in birth order of seven born in Kansas and moved to Florida in the first year of life with a short stint in Southern California during his early teen years. After moving back he spent the last twenty-three years in Central Florida. Scooby loves to spend time with his wife, Maggi, surfing and fishing. They have three daughters (all teenagers). He calls his life "good" and shares it with seven dogs, a duck, a pot-belly pig and oh yes, a cat. "Scooby" has been involved in ministry for nine years and is pursuing his Masters in Divinity at Asbury Theological Seminary. Prior to ministry he worked as a licensed optician in Florida and still fills in at Wal-Mart Vision Centers. Scooby's life passion is to help others see both physically and spiritually. His hope is that all can and will come to call Jesus Christ Lord of their life. God has called "Scooby" and his family to the Okaloosa/Walton area to help others be restored to the person God created them to be.

Other clergy who serve the Body of Christ at Immanuel

The Rev. Forrest Mobley

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