Leadership

Jesus Christ alone is the Head of the church (Colossians 1:18). He governs His church through officers whom He calls (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11) and whom His Spirit endows with the gifts and graces needed to accomplish their work (I Corinthians 15:9-10). There are two offices appointed by Christ which are to be chosen and set apart by the church (Philippians 1:1). Those offices consist of the office of pastor/elder/bishop and the office of deacon.

Providence Baptist leadership consists of:

OUR PASTORS

Martin Hoffman
Martin (Marty) is a native of Florida. He came to Christ as an older teen and entered Bible college right after High School in 1979. After finishing his formal training and mentorship, he entered the ministry in 1987. He is the founding pastor of PBC having been here for close to 30 years. He married his teen-age sweetheart Joan in 1981. They have four children and six grandchildren. Marty and Joan fostered children for 10 years which led to the adoption of two of their children.

Steve Watson
Steve was born a sinner into a Christian family in Cincinnati, Ohio. God graciously regenerated Steve in his childhood. Since that time God has blessed Steve with his wonderful wife, Kay, in June of 1970, and has given Steve the privilege of serving Christ Jesus in a pastoral capacity for over 40 years. He was the founding pastor of a church in Palm Harbor where he served for many decades before relocating and becoming a pastor here at Providence in 2012.

Bryan Wheeler
Bryan grew up in Southeastern Connecticut as the oldest of eight children—his mother had her eighth child when she was only 27 years old. As a young boy he attended an evangelical Baptist Church but wasn’t converted to Christ until he was 24 years old. Bryan was ordained into the gospel ministry in 1987 and was called into full time ministry in 1989. For most of the 20 years that he served in the U.S. Air Force he was actively involved in church-based preaching and teaching ministries—including, Rescue Missions, street preaching, and served as a volunteer prison chaplain, in the U.S. and overseas. Pastor Wheeler has served 35+ years in pastoral ministries in churches in Homestead, FL, Miami, FL, and Verona, VA. In September of 2022, the Lord moved the Wheelers to Providence Baptist Church in Lecanto. Bryan and his wife Maureen were married in 1968 and the Lord has given them 6 children, 8 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren.

OUR DEACONS

Steve Archie
Steve was born and raised in California. After serving in the United States Navy, he met his wife, Christine. After the Lord graciously saved them in 1996, they relocated to Hampton, New Hampshire where they were part of a Calvary Chapel church plant. Both served there for 11 years in various capacities. It was at that time that the Lord so graciously and wonderfully revealed the doctrines of grace to them through faithful reformed ministries. Steve served as a deacon under the ministry of Pastor D. Scott Meadows at Calvary Baptist Church (Reformed) in Exeter, NH until relocating his family to the Gulf Coast of Florida in 2012. Steve has served as a deacon of PBC since 2014. They have one adult son.

Jimmy Kofmehl
Jimmy was born in Ohio, but moved with his family to Crystal River at the age of one. He started fishing the Gulf waters as a teenager and never stopped. Though supposedly retired from being a commercial fisherman, stone crabber, and local businessman, he still can be found at the docks or out on the water regularly. Jimmy has been married over 50 years to Betty and they have two children, many grandchildren, and several great grandchildren. He has been at PBC since its founding and has served Christ as a deacon since 2012.

Jack Moorhouse
Jack is a native of Elgin, Illinois, where he was saved at the age of 17. After serving in the Navy, he became a firefighter, retiring in 2000. He and his wife, Debbie, retired to Florida in 2000. Jack was set apart as a deacon of PBC in 2021.

Tim Williams
Tim Williams is our only Citrus County native. Tim came to Christ in the 80s and is a founding member of PBC. Tim retired from a supervisor position with the County Road Department. He is the father of two children and a grandfather. Tim is a widower and has served Christ as a deacon of PBC since 2009.

Rick Zaffarano
Rick was born in upstate NY as well as his Wife Patty where they spent most of their adult life. Rick and Patty were saved by God's Grace, Mercy and Love while dating and were members of several Reformed Baptist churches in the Northeast. Rick served as a deacon in several churches prior to relocating to FL. Rick and Patty recently relocated to Florida in 2021. Rick and Patty have three married daughters and several grandchildren. Rick spent most of his professional career in the Logistic and Supply Chain Industry and held leadership roles in a handful of businesses. Rick loves to teach and preach whenever given the opportunity to pro-claim the Gospel.