FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF LAKELAND - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Children 's Ministries
Job Titles:
- Audio Visual Production Specialist
Job Titles:
- Director of Little Shepherds Preschool
Job Titles:
- Senior Pastor
- Senior Pastor / Head of Staff
Dr. Fullerton has served as our senior pastor since September 2019. Prior to Lakeland, he served churches in Scotland, Ohio, Tennessee, and, most recently, in Dunedin, Florida. While serving local churches, he has also taken leave to teach in theological seminaries in Madagascar and Russia. After earning his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Florida, he worked in business for nine years. God then had other plans for his life that led him to Princeton Theological Seminary for a Master of Divinity and then ordination as a pastor. In 2010, he received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. He grew up in a military home that took him all over the United States but considers Palatka, Florida, his hometown. He and his wife, Cile, have been married since 1983 and are proud parents of three daughters who have given them five grandchildren. His hobbies include reading, running, golf, and spending time with family.
Job Titles:
- Modern Worship Arts Director
Job Titles:
- Head of the St. Andrew Ministry Here at FPC Lakeland
- Parish Counselor
Dr. Suich has served as the head of the St. Andrew Ministry here at FPC Lakeland since June 2001. He came here from Augusta, Georgia, where he led the counseling ministry for ten years at FPC Augusta and had worked in community mental health prior to that. He attended the Psychological Studies Institute and Georgia State, earning a Master's in Christian Counseling, the University of Georgia where he earned a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology, and Asbury Seminary where he earned his Master of Divinity. He grew up in Aiken, South Carolina, and attended Davidson College, a Presbyterian affiliated school in North Carolina. He and his wife Cynthia (also a professional counselor) have two sons, two daughters-in-law, and one grandchild. His hobbies include photography, genealogy, gardening, and woodworking.
Job Titles:
- Children 's Choir Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Interim Director of Finance & Administration
Job Titles:
- Audio Visual Production Specialist
Job Titles:
- Audio Visual Production Specialist
Job Titles:
- Director of Student Life Ministries
Job Titles:
- Mini Miracles Team Leader
Job Titles:
- Special Needs Ministry Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Children 's Ministry Assistant
Job Titles:
- Communications Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Mini Miracles Team Leader
Job Titles:
- Missions Ministries Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Student Life Ministries Intern
Rev. Dr. Zachary McGowen was born in Birmingham, Alabama, but moved all over the world during his formative years. For nearly 25 years, Zac has been preaching and teaching God's Word, and he loves inspiring congregations to reach their friends and neighbors for Jesus Christ while utilizing technology to communicate the gospel message more effectively. During his years at Florida Southern College (FPC's neighbor to the north) he led the largest entirely student-run ministry on campus called BEYOND. Since 2001, Zac has served the Lord in the PC(USA), beginning with the First Presbyterian Church, Haines City, Florida, before taking his current call in Lakeland. Zac came to FPC Lakeland in 2013, and he has served on the board of The Fellowship Community, the Presbytery of Tampa Bay's Commission on Church Vitality, as well as being active with PEACE (the ecumenical county-wide justice ministry). He holds an M.Div from Reformed Theological Seminary and Doctorate of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary. Zac is married to his beautiful wife, Julie, and together they have two wonderful children, Caleb and Hannah. Zac likes to spend time with his family at one of the area theme parks (he is a major "Disnerd"), go for a run, stay current on tech-related news, and watch college football - especially his beloved Alabama Crimson Tide (ROLL TIDE!).
Job Titles:
- Care Ministry Coordinator
Rev. Richard Phillips is a native of North Carolina, and a graduate of Wake Forest University. Following college, he married his high school sweetheart, Jennifer Spears, and the couple moved to Louisville, KY. There he got his master's degrees from Southern Seminary and the University of Louisville. During those years, their three daughters were born, and he pastored churches in Indiana and Kentucky. The Phillips family moved to Lakeland in 1974. Richard had several leadership positions in Children's Home ministry, had his own consulting business for nonprofit organizations, and owned a retail business. More recently he has served as Interim Pastor for several churches in Florida. He enjoys his grandchildren, cooking for his large family on Friday nights, working in his yard, and walking their little dog, Jack.
Job Titles:
- Classic Worship Arts Director
Job Titles:
- Older Adult Ministry Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Part Time Maintenance Technician
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Little Shepherds Preschool
Job Titles:
- Director of College & Young Adult Ministries