Kevin Nelson - Senior Pastor
Kevin was born and raised in New Jersey, then made his way up and down the east coast. A graduate of the University of Maryland with a B.A. in English, Kevin went on to receive degrees from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando (M.Div) and Duke University (Th.M., New Testament). It was in Durham, NC that he met and married his wife Christie. Prior to joining Faith, Kevin served as an RUF campus minister at Yale and an associate pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church in New Haven, CT. He is a long-suffering Phillies fan and a classic movie buff. These days he spends most of his free time playing with his children, Kyra, Zoe, and Seth. Kevin was called to pastor Faith Presbyterian Church in 2019. HeContact: kevin@faithgainesville.org
Teresa Isastia - Children's Ministry Director
Teresa is a Florida native and UF grad. A homeschooling mom of three boys she spends most days surrounded by legos, the sound of D-Day battle re-enactments, and sticky surfaces. Teresa loves to read and can often be found neglecting housework in lieu of finishing a good book. She and her husband Max love traveling, making homemade pasta, and being with their boys. Contact: teresa@faithgainesville.org
Joseph Shields - Music Director, Admin
Joe joined the staff of Faith Presbyterian Church as Music Director and Administrator in September 2021. Although raised in Sarasota, FL, he spent nearly two decades in New Haven, CT, working as a professional guitarist, composer, and educator, including a decade as Director of Music & Worship Arts at Christ Presbyterian Church. He holds a B.M. in Music Performance from Stetson University, an M.A. in Performance and Music Theory from Marshall University, and an M.M. in Performance from Yale University. Throughout his career, Joe has developed a deep commitment to exploring the rich interplay between the arts and faith, particularly as it is distinguished between worship and the vocation of the professional musician. In 2015, he and his wife, Nancy, returned to Florida—where they first met and married—along with their four beautiful adopted children. Joe enjoys racquetball and reading Victorian and Edwardian ghost stories, and he and Nancy share a love for discovering new places and restoring all kinds of old things.Full Bio here. Contact: joe@faithgainesville.org