Meet the staff!

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Pastor Phil Lewis serves as our Lead Pastor after serving as our assistant pastor at PPWC for 11 years.  His heart for developing a creative approach to preaching and helping people discover their gifts for ministry is the foundation of his ministry.  Pastor Phil joined our staff in 1998 with his wife, Mindy and their daughters, Noelle and Bethany.

Email Pastor Phil

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Pastor Paul Priore has served as our Music and Productions Pastor since 1982.  After 28 years at PPWC, his creativity still offers a fresh way to share the gospel through music and drama.  Pastor Paul is joined in ministry by his wife, Rita, and their daughters, Anna Marie and Natalie.

Email Pastor Paul

John

Pastor John Wickstrom serves as our Assistant Pastor and oversees our youth ministry.  He is driven with a passion to help those he comes in contact with to know Christ in a deeper way and show Christ through words and actions.  He joined our staff in 2009 with his wife, Kristia. 

Email Pastor John

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Eleanor Ladd serves as our Pastor of Children's Ministries.  Her heart for children and their families is evident in the way the ministry is designated to meet the needs of each child.  Eleanor joined our staff in May 2005 with her husband, Rodney.

Email Pastor Eleanor

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Sandra serves as Assistant Pastor at PPWC and the leader of our JOY senior's ministry.  She has been at PPWC since 2001.  Sandra has a big heart and is always willing to serve in any capacity needed.  Sandra is joined in ministry by her husband, Tom.

Email Pastor Sandra

kristia

Kristia is one of our Ministry Assistants.  She is a gifted administrator with a personal passion for relationships and connections between God, people, and the church.  She is a dedicated worker as she strives to glorify Christ in all she does.  Kristia came on staff at PPWC in 2009 with her husband, John.

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Deanna is our part-time business administrator.  She has been at PPWC for over 20 years.  Deanna works behind the scenes to keep us financially organized and efficient.

Email Deanna

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Rodney is always on the move taking care of the facilities and grounds at PPWC and keeping it in tip top shape.  He is a valuable asset to our team.
Park Place Wesleyan Church has a long and rich history.  Begun in  1950 in a small building, constructed by hand by the founding pastor, Rev Foster Piatt, Park Place Wesleyan Church has grown into one of the largest Wesleyan churches in the state of Florida. The first building was located at 54th St and Park Blvd in Pinellas Park, FL and still stands with the first parsonage located just behind it.

Pinellas Park Wesleyan Church, the official name from it's inception, was renamed Park Place Wesleyan Church in 2007 and has had a succession of exemplary leaders.
In 1960, Wilbur Coates became the pastor of this growing congregation and remained in that position for 15 years.  Under his leadership, the property at 70th Ave, on which the current church sits, was acquired and a small church was built (now the fellowship hall) and enlarged in 1980.  The two-story children's wing now houses the children's Sunday School classrooms, preschool rooms, and The LOFT Student Ministries.
The current worship center and sanctuary was completed in 1984 and the first service was held in February 1985.
Rev David Terhune served as pastor from 2002 through May 2009.  Under Rev Terhune's leadership, the church debt was reduced from $1.2 million to below $180,000.  In May 2009, Pastor Dave followed a call of God on his life to plant a church in Rochester, IN and resigned as senior pastor of PPWC.

In July 2009, Pastor Phil Lewis became the new Lead Pastor of Park Place Wesleyan Church.  Pastor Phil is joined in ministry by his wife, Mindy and their daughters, Noelle and Bethany.