About Us / Staff

Glorify God Make Disciples Meet Human Need

- About Us -

Welcome to the virtual home of the First Presbyterian Church of Apopka! I am so glad you found our website. Please make yourself at home-feel free to browse through our photos, announcements of our coming events, and some words about our staff and our community. You can also listen to audio of our worship services.

At First Church of Apopka we strive to love each other gracefully, to serve our community joyfully, and to worship and wait upon our wonderful Lord. As I inform our guests in worship each week, we are by no means a perfect church full of perfect people, but we do strive to faithfully serve our risen Lord, Jesus Christ, and to share God's perfect love.

God has blessed us in a great many ways and we are so thankful for that. Won't you come and be a part of what God is doing in us and through us?

Pastor Mike Ulasewich

- Church Staff -

Pastor: Mike Ulasewich

Pastor Mike has been married nearly 10 years to his wife, Selena. They have one daughter, Rebekah, and a new addition to the family in March, Glendon Luke.
Pastor Mike received his MDiv from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and a BA and MA in English Literature from the University of Florida. Prior to his arrival at First Presbyterian in November 2006, he was a resident chaplain at Tampa General Hospital.
Pastor Mike enjoys reading, listening to music, playing disc golf, and spending time in nature. His lifelong goal is to visit each of our country's national parks (and he has been to a quarter of them already).

Email Mike at: pastor@fpcapopka.org

Music Director: Stephen Nelson

Stephen is a native Apopkan and is a life-long member of First Presbyterian Church of Apopka. He has shared his love of music and of the Church since high school as organist/pianist and has been the director of music for our church for 26 years. He also has taught at Park Maitland School for 26 years teaching 1st through 6th grades.
In his free time he has worked for Orlando Opera Company as a vocal coach, accompanist, and projected title coordinator, for the Civic Theatre of Central Florida (13 years) as music director and teacher of creative dramatics, and has performed with his early music ensemble Ars Antiqua throughout the southeast.
He enjoys good movies, reading, travel, fine conversation and searching for music that will inspire our congregations. With his at-the-ready smile and creative energy, Stephen is a vital part in the life of First Presbyterian continuing the work of his family to make this church what it is today...and what it can be tomorrow.

Email Stephen at: music@fpcapopka.org

Secretary: Tiffany Welch

Email Tiffany at: office@fpcapopka.org

Children's Ministries: Kerri Sox:
Kindermusik

Audio Visual team: Arnold Baburam, Bobby Heard and Gerry Etty

Custodian: Dennis & Cheryl Cernohorsky

Elders / Session
The word "Presbyterian" actually describes the church's form of governance more than its theology. The word derives from the Greek presbuteros, which literally translates as "elders". Presbyterian churches are governed by elected lay people who have been ordained and installed to the office of Elder.

At First Presbyterian Church of Apopka, 12 elders make up the governing body, called the Session. Each serves a three-year term, with one third of the elders "rotating" off the Session at the end of each year. The congregation usually elects a new class of elders each October or November.

In this section of the website, you can find more information about the Session, minutes of its past meetings, and a calendar detailing many of the issues upon which it must act each year.

Session meetings usually take place the third Sunday of each month at 12:30pm in the Pastor's office. Members of the congregation are invited to attend. For more information, contact Mrs. Myrt Alexander, Clerk of Session.

As there were in Old Testament times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament Church provided persons with particular gifts to share in governing and ministry.

Elders are chosen by the people. Together with ministers of the Word and Sacrament, they exercise leadership, government, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of our church and the church at large, including ecumenical relationships. Elders should be persons of faith, dedication, and good judgment. Their manner of life should be a demonstration of the Christian gospel, both within the church and in the world.

Elders

Class of 2010	Class of 2011	Class of 2012
Melinda Anderson	Clement Baburam	Steve Grupp
Arlen Mizell	Sharon Bray	Bobby Heard
Janet Connelly	Carl Coleman	Sandra Ingram
Open Position	Ross Little	Virginia Mapel

Deacons
As set forth in Scripture, the Deacon is one of sympathy, witness, and service after the example of Jesus Christ. Persons of spiritual character, honest repute, of exemplary lives, brotherly and sisterly love, warm sympathies, and sound judgment are chosen for this office.
From the Book of Order, The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Part II, 2007/200

Class of 2010	Class of 2011	Class of 2012
Verna Brelsford	Valerie Bush	Marianne Cartee
Brenda Mizell	Sharon Heard	Dot Neill
Glenn Pone	Beth Sindler	Flo Nelson

Links

Links requested for the site:

Apopka Chamber