Lead Pastor, Hal Hester
With over 25 years of ministry experience, our pastor, Dr. Hal Hester, shares the depths of God’s Word in practical and understandable ways. His desire is to help you become a growing disciple of Jesus Christ so you can live the God-life wherever you go and lead others to become growing disciples of Jesus Christ as well. His passion and aim is to develop a church that makes disciples who make disciples and transforms the nature coast with Christ’s love.
Hal is orginally from El Paso, Texas, but has lived all over North America from Canada to Mexico. Prior to moving to Hernando County, Hal was the Discipleship Pastor at The Vineyard Church in Dayton, Ohio, where he also earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary. Hal has worked as a missionary and mission director to Mexico, and as a church planter in Muskegon, Michigan and Manitoba, Canada.
Hal is happily married to Dawn. Dawn has a degree in mathematics, and is currently teaching advanced high school math at Hernando Christian Academy (HCA). They have five children and one grandchild: Tyler, Joel, Hannah, Matthew, and Emma. Tyler is an aerospace engineer in Oklahoma City and married to Jennay. Tyler and Jennay have one child, Richard Ray. Joel works for Cemex in Brooksville. Hannah is at PHSC studying Languages and international business, Matthew is at St. Leo University, and Emma is in high school at HCA. The Hester family lives in Brooksville, FL.
Hal loves hot spicy food and great coffee, either of which he loves to share with others. He also enjoys kayaking, cooking, and of course theology. Sharing any of these activities with him is a great way to get to know him.
Worship Pastor, Kerryann McFarlane
Kerryann McFarlane is the Worship Pastor at the Vineyard. She has served in worship and ministry for several years. Kerryann has a passion for worship. Her heart is to help draw others into the presence of God, a place where we as a body can encounter God’s eternal love.
Kerryann first began leading worship as a student ministry worship leader, and then began leading for Sunday morning services and other special events. In her pursuit to continue to grow as a leader and build on her knowledge and passion for worship, she is currently attending Bethel Music’s School of Worship. Outside of worship ministry, Kerryann has worked in the private sector performing management and supervisory functions. She also enjoys working with teen girls, and has volunteered in several youth organizations within her community. She is also pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Human Services, which will lead to a Master of Science in Counseling.
Kerryann grew up in Connecticut, but has been living in Florida for 14 years with her family. She lives in Spring Hill with her husband, Marlon, and her three children: Jalen (18), Jordyn (15), and Jhanae (13). Kerryann enjoys, singing, songwriting, watching movies, family road trips, and a great New England Patriots football game!
Youth Pastor, April Gordon
April Gordon joined the staff of the Vineyard with several years of experience in youth ministry and missions. As the daughter of a youth pastor, she was inspired at an early age to love the Lord and serve others. April is a graduate of YWAM Boston School of Worship, and has led several youth campaigns all over the world. Her passion is in equipping young adults into becoming true disciples of Jesus Christ, and boldly sharing His love from local neighborhoods to the nations. April has been a youth leader for the past 10 years, and thrives to see the lives of young adults transformed.
Her passions are in music, photography, art, and enjoying good food. April loves being a part of the worship team at the Vineyard, where she plays piano and sings alongside her husband, CJ, who plays drums. They have a little boy named Gage who loves people and being in the mix of any ministry!
Connections Pastor, Linda Dix
Linda Dix leads our Connections and Congregational Care ministries. She has a passion for pastoral caregiving and prior to joining us in 2013, she was a team leader at Community of Hope, a pastoral congregational care ministry at the Vineyard Church in Dayton, Ohio. During her Community of Hope time, Linda visited and prayed with those experiencing illness or life transitions in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private homes, and hospice. At the Beavercreek, Ohio Vineyard campus, she served as greeter, discipleship teacher, mentor and coach, Small Group Leader, and was on staff as Connections Coordinator and Equipper.
Linda has a B.S. in Business Management and studied Theology at Liberty Theological Seminary. She has been married for 30+ years to the love of her life, Larry, a retired Air Force Colonel and Vietnam Veteran. They both spend their free time kicking back with their fur-kids and exploring back-roads Florida. Linda enjoys reading, writing, crafts, garage sales, and is an adventurous junk hunter who loves to repurpose found treasure. The Dix family lives in Brooksville.
Volunteer Leaders (in alphabetical order)
Christina Bailey – Nursery & Toddler Coordinator
Meita Ebbecke & Roma Stone – Coffee Bar & Fellowship Lunch Coordinator
Deanne Glover – Library
Shannon Forcade – Children’s Administrator
Criss Holzaepfel – Church Events Coordinator
John Holzaepfel – Board Member
Kenny Laughlin – Grounds Maintenance
Rick and Sandee Lester – Resurrection Power Marriage Ministry
Jenn Lipidarov – Communications and Social Media Coordinator
Nick Lipidarov – Prayer Ministry Coordinator
Mac McClellan – Hospitality Team Leader
Gary McMillan – Celebrate Recovery
Joe & Joanne Miller – Communion Server Coordinators
Jeff Montross – Family Table Community Feeding Ministry
Brian & Virginia Norman – Citrus Springs Church Plant
Rico Palomino & Joe Miller – Building Maintenance
Sonja Palomino – Board Member, Treasurer
Debbie Saskowski – Administrator
Danielle Skinner – Audio Visual Production Team Leader
Mike Wilson – I.T.
Jay Yates – Ironman: Men’s Ministry