Faith Community Church has a unique husband and wife team. Both bring a different set of skills to their leadership roles.
Wayne and Virginia, our founding pastors, were married in 1984 in their hometown of Kankakee, Illinois. They enjoy living in North St Johns County with their three children. and their miniature schnauzer, Daisy (whom they affectionately call “grouchy old lady”). Their kids help them stay involved with the local schools and sports programs. Virginia’s part-time accounting position at the C.R. 210 branch of a St.John’s County CPA firm (Kresge, Platt & Abare) helps her stay connected with the local business community.
After graduation from Olivet Nazarene University, the Bauer’s started off life together in the business and accounting fields. However, in 1994, it became clear that their passion for Christ was leading them both to begin preparing for pastoral ministry. Little did they know that—at the exact sametime—the North Florida District Church of the Nazarene was purchasing 10 acres on C.R. 210 with the vision to someday start a church in this growing community.
The journey of preparation led them through education, ordination and ministry in places like Kansas City, Missouri, Guymon, Oklahoma and Pensacola, Florida before finally landing in North St. John’s County in 2001 with the full-fledged mission of starting “Faith Community Church” on C.R. 210. They both agree--North St. John's County, Florida is their FAVORITE place to live and serve!
Sara, our children’s pastor, joined Faith Community Church in January 2006. Sara’s love for children’s ministry began as a high school student while serving in her church in Dallas, Texas. After graduating from Southern Nazarene University in 2001, she put her love-into-action through volunteer missions as she served in Nosy Be, Madagascar for over a year.
Sara married Brandon in 2003, and when his job brought them to St. John’s County, they arrived as a family of three—Brandon, Sara, and Levi—their 170 lb Great Dane. The Taber family was completed after the arrival of their daughter in the Spring of 2007 and their son in the Spring of 2009. Sara enjoys children’s ministry at FCC and family life!
Jessica, our youth pastor, has been a part of Faith Community Church from the beginning. She and her husband, Ryan, volunteered within the youth ministry for several years before being brought on in a more official capacity in October of 2008. Ryan and Jessica both attended Switzerland Point Middle School and Bartram Trail High School while growing up in this area. Ryan graduated from the University of North Florida, and Jessica is a senior finishing her degree with Nazarene Bible College’s Online Program. Ryan and Jessica both have a heart for ministry and love working with the youth of this church. They hope to eventually serve as foreign missionaries in connection with the Church of the Nazarene.