Ministry Leadership
Meet the Team
Mark Nelson
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Mark is a graduate of Florida State University and Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary and has been a leader in ministry for 15+ years. Mark’s life was transformed through a radical encounter with the Holy Spirit on the night of March 22, 2008, while in a Tallahassee ICU dying of AIDS. That same year, just months after being released from the hospital, Mark married his long-time friend Beth and since 2010 they both continue to serve in ministry. Mark’s heart is to see the lives of people changed when they say YES to Jesus, then walking alongside these overcomers as they grow in relationship with the Lord. His life verse is Romans 8:28.
Jeff Arp
Board Chairman
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Jeff is a pastor, chaplain and Kingdom visionary. He graduated from North Central University in Minneapolis with a degree in Pastoral Theology in 1987 and a Master of Art degree in Ministry Leadership in 2003 from Crown College. Jeff’s passion is helping churches equip people to connect with their communities. He currently serves as Vice President of Training & U.S. Operations for Living Free. Jeff has been married to Lynn Arp since 1984 and they have two grown children who have their own families. Lynn has worked as a healthcare professional since she was a teenager.
Beth Nelson
Board Member, Treasurer
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Beth Nelson has extensive experience in ensuring financial integrity, and accounting practices. Beth is trained as a Dave Ramsey Financial Coach and has been a leader with FPU. She and her husband, Mark, coordinated four 9-week courses that resulted in more than 60 successful graduates. Currently, Beth and Mark lead an outreach, called One Identity, at their church. Their group provides a place for people who are sexually broken, and support to families navigating these struggles. Beth and Mark have resided in Central Florida since 2010. They have three sons, five grandsons and a 140-pound Great Dane, named Zeus.
Gary Howell
Board Member
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Gary is the Lead Pastor at Glad Tidings Assembly of God in Ocoee, Florida. Gary married the love of his life, Christina, in 1988 and they have three wonderful children: Tyler, Judah, and Charis. All three of their children, along with their spouses, are in full-time ministry today, serving the local church.
Gary and Christina moved their small children to Ocoee, FL in 1999 to pastor Glad Tidings. The church attendance had dwindled down to 6 people. Through the help of the Holy Spirit, God’s grace, and His simple goodness, Glad Tidings has grown to over 950 people and given over $6.5 million dollars to missions. Glad Tidings Academy ministers to over 365 students every week and Glad Tidings College is an extension site of Southeastern University of the Assemblies of God.
Today, Glad Tidings ministry has an international impact through our Children’s Home in Jamaica; GT Academy in Haiti; and through the 80+ Assemblies of God Missionaries GT supports across the world.
Gary B. Howell received his bachelor’s degree in Church Ministries through Southeastern University, Lakeland, Florida and his master’s in counseling, Mental Health and Marriage/Family, through Webster University, St. Louis Missouri.
Roger Agness
Board Member
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Andie Catignola
Board Member, Secretary
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Andie comes from a large ministry family and has served as a staff pastor herself. She is passionate about seeing people find freedom as they discover Jesus’ revolutionary love. Andie has a heart to see others grow in relationship with God and others. Her life verse is Psalm 36:5-6 (especially in the message version ; )
Kristy Rogan
Ministry Administrator
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Kristy Rogan spent much of her professional career in Corporate America serving as an Executive Assistant and working in Marketing and Business Development. Her life is a testimony to the power of a praying grandmother. Though she did not grow up in a Christian home, her grandmother faithfully planted seeds of truth and covered her in prayer. After years of pursuing the things of the world, Kristy surrendered her life to Jesus Christ and experienced His forgiveness and transforming power. Today she is passionate about sharing the hope and new life found in Christ. Kristy is happily married to Randy Rogers and is the proud mother of her son, Jarred.
Two of her favorite scriptures:
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Lisa Rodriguez
Support Group Leader
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Donna Trent
Support Group Leader
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“First seek the kingdom of God and get to know Him, and He will give you everything you need.” The response? “Oh yeah! How does one look for an invisible person?
Much less a kingdom?” No answer comes, but the words “seek God” intrigue and motivate Donna to prove Unseen cannot be seen nor found. The Invisible God accepts Donna’s challenge and proves her wrong. When she begins to hear His voice, she wants more. Remember the “ask, seek, knock” verse? It works! She finds God! Not that He is lost, but she is. Maybe He likes to be pursued, so we will know if we are serious about finding Him.
Donna becomes a caregiver for her husband during the COVID-19 outage and does what any typical beyond-college-age caregiver does to keep busy—enrolls in part-time online classes with Christian Leadership University, founded by Dr. Mark Virkler. Long wait times are spent productively in medical facilities of all types!
“I don’t need a degree. I already have one,” she said to Virkler a year earlier. “But if you’re going to study, might as well make it count. Never know when it will come in handy” is his insight. With his challenge and significant benefit from the first course, Donna accidentally completes more credit hours than are required for a master’s degree. The founder’s advice, “You only need seven more courses for a PhD. What’s stopping you?” The seven are completed, and Donna is presented a doctorate in ministry with a major in counseling. Now she pursues her passion for helping others hear God through retreats, counseling, and coaching.
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