Get to know the Leadership of Four Oaks Community Church.
Four Oaks is led by a team of pastors and elders. While our five vocational pastors serve the ministry on a full-time basis, all our elders play a vital, biblical role in leading and shepherding our church family.
Staff Pastors
Bio: Please note that emails sent to Pastor Erik are screened by the church office staff. Pastors Erik appreciates your comments and information; please understand, however, that you may not receive a reply to these types of messages. If there is a pastor or staff member who may address your question or concern appropriately, your email will be forwarded to that person. If you have a significant need or crisis that needs immediate attention, please call the church office to set up an appointment with your community pastor.
Bio: Paul is originally from Chattanooga and met his wife Susan through Campus Crusade for Christ at the University of Tennessee. Paul received his Master of Divinity degree at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS and came to Tallahassee to complete his PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy at Florida State University. Paul and Susan have four children, Gracie, Maggie, Jack, and Virginia, ranging in ages from 4 to 11.
Paul has been on pastoral staff at Four Oaks for over 13 years and has been involved with student ministries, college folks, young marrieds, pastoral counseling, teaching, fellowship groups, and families during that time. He now serves as the Executive Pastor where he is charged with helping to implement the biblical vision of the church, strategically developing the vision and ministries of the church through his oversight of the pastoral team.
Paul’s desire for the Four Oaks family is that we effectively marshal resources and people in the most strategic ways possible in order to spread the gospel in Tallahassee and equip the people of Four Oaks to minister and serve.
Bio: As Pastor of Children’s Ministries, Scott provides pastoral care and oversight for children from birth through fifth grade. These responsibilities include teaching children; leading and training volunteer teams to serve in the nursery, Sunday School, Wednesday Night Church, and Good News Clubs; shepherding parents through seminars, counseling, child dedications, and youth baptism preparation classes; and promoting activities for the whole family.
Scott and his wife Julia have three children, Abigail, Hannah and Josiah, and are joyfully expecting their fourth in the spring. Over the last ten years, their family has grown at Four Oaks and has enjoyed partnering with other families in doing the same. His desire is for the men of Four Oaks to grow in their leadership by sacrificially giving themselves to the spiritual life of their families by obeying God’s word, praying, and committing to our church. He is also excited to see women continuing to nurture and care for their husbands and children in the home, where God’s word and the gospel are honored and obeyed. He longs to see children trust in Jesus with all their hearts through the faithful shepherding of their parents and the church.
Scott Stake
Pastor of Children's Ministries
e. email Scott
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Bio: Josh is a Tallahassee native who met and married his wife Katie at Four Oaks in 2005. They have been blessed with two beautiful daughters, Reagan and Charlotte.
Josh joined the pastoral team at Four Oaks in 2007 after several years of lay ministry. He serves as Pastor of Worship, leading God’s people in their response to His word, works and worthiness. He coordinates musicians, writes and arranges music, and works with Matt Robinson to execute technical production for congregational life in the church. He also directs communications for the church, overseeing the website and media content of the church.
His desire for Four Oaks is that we would be a worshipping community, a family of believers who passionately respond to the grace and mercy of God revealed in Jesus Christ both on Sunday mornings and throughout the week.
Bio: As Pastor of Student Ministries, Rob provides pastoral care and oversight for middle and high school students and their families. He leads weekly middle and high school large group gatherings through out the week, providing biblical teaching and overseeing worship, activities, and discipleship groups. Rob trains, equips, and oversees a team of adult volunteer leaders and student leaders in their various roles. Rob also leads middle and high school students in ministry and team building trips, retreats, and off-campus activities throughout the year.
Rob and his wife Shannon, as parents to five kids (Jake, Aiden, Luke, Lily and Maggie), understand the incredible privilege and responsibility that parents have been given by the Lord in raising their children. Understanding the unique challenges that middle and high school bring to both students and parents, he desires to come alongside parents as a pastor to equip them for their work of training and discipling their teens and helping them become passionate followers of Jesus Christ.
Rob Pifer
Pastor of Student Ministries
e. email Rob
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Lay Elders
Bio: Steve and his wife Janna were married in 1982 and have been blessed with three adult daughters and one son who is in high school. They came to Four Oaks in 1995 and has long been active in leading fellowship groups.
Steve’s testimony is one of God’s sovereign grace and love in the midst of adversity and suffering, and he takes great joy in the reality that God invites us to participate in the work that he is doing.
Bio: Kent and his wife Jan were married in 1971 and are blessed with four children and three grandchildren. Their family came to Four Oaks in 1994. His joy for Four Oaks is that we are the bride of Christ; who though currently is not without spot or blemish, but will one day be presented to Him in splendor. He believes there is no higher calling than to be a part of his kingdom on earth. Kent serves in the north community.
Bio: David was born again in 1975 and was blessed by God with faithful men who discipled and challenged him to pursue God with his whole heart. He serves in the south community, and desires that the Four Oaks family would be characterized by love and service to one another and the world.
He and his wife Kim have been married since 1974 and have two children and two grandchildren.
Bio: Aaron and his wife Beth were married in 1992 and have been at Four Oaks since 2003. They have four children. He serves as an elder in the north community.
Aaron is grateful to God for saving him from a life of sin by his grace, and now desires to serve him faithfully. He hopes that the people of Four Oaks will work out their salvation with fear and trembling by living lives in obedience to the Word of God, and by living transparent and accountable lives in the household of faith.
Bio: Jeff Main serves as an elder in the south community. He desires to see Four Oaks used in profound and meaningful ways by God to his glory and to the benefit of his kingdom on earth. He hopes that Four Oaks will be an agent of God’s love in a fallen world and that we would be known as a collection of dedicated, mature Christians who love the Word, sacrifice their resources in service to God’s purposes.
Jeff and his wife Nancy have been married since 1981 and have a high school aged daughter and two adult daughters. They have been at Four Oaks since 1995.
Bio: Skip and his wife Lori have been at Four Oaks since 1992. They were married in 1974 and have three adult daughters and one granddaughter.
Skip’s desire is that the people of Four Oaks would be so knit together in love for and ministry to one another that relationships would endure through the many season of life.
Bio: Kerry and his wife Ginny were married in 1974 and have two adult children and four grandchildren. Kerry was saved in 1972 as a college student at Florida State. They came to Four Oaks in 1995.
Kerry is grateful for God’s grace and his abundant provision to him and his family through the household of faith at Four Oaks the last 15 years, and in the believing community of Tallahassee the last 40. Kerry serves in the south community.
Bio: Mike and his wife Pru were married in 1982, and came to Four Oaks in 1995. They have two adult children. Mike’s prayer for Four Oaks is that we would be a people devoted to one another in brotherly love, honoring one another above ourselves, that we would never be lacking in zeal, but that we would keep our spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Mike serves as an elder in the west community.
Bio: John and his wife Margaret were founding members of Four Oaks back in 1990. They have been married since 1981 and have three adult children.
He loves serving as an elder at Four Oaks, the church God has called him to shepherd. His desire is to see God to move through our church with the power of the gospel in a way that brings glory to His Name. He longs for Four Oaks to be a part of a God-sized movement in Tallahassee. John ministers in the north community.
Bio: Tom has been married to Janet since 1972, and they have two grown children and 3 grandchildren (with one on the way).
His desire for Four Oaks is that we would worship and honor the Sovereign God in all that we do, on Sundays and throughout the week, and that we would individually and corporately portray Christ to the watching world. Tom ministers in the west community.
Deacons
Bio: Pete serves as chairman of our deacons, and has attended Four Oaks since 2001. He and his wife Karen were married in 1992 and have two children.
Bio: Kirk has been attending Four Oaks since 1995 and has served in a myriad of capacities as a layman and staff member. He currently serves as a Deacon and is our Facilities manager. He is married to Debbie, and they have three children, all in college. He oversees all our facility needs and IT. Kirk’s testimony is that while he continually struggles to put off the old self and seek God’s kingdom, His grace is sufficient and his blessings are innumerable. He is grateful for the gracious and redemptive discipline of the Lord in his life, and takes great joy in serving him at Four Oaks.
Bio: Matt has been married to Kathy since 1985 and is father to Ashley, Ginny and Jason. He and his family have been attending Four Oaks since 1993. He has the honor of serving Four Oaks Church as Deacon and part-time Technical Director. His primary responsibilities include assisting Josh Hughes, our worship pastor, and with leading the audio/visual/lighting volunteers that makeup the production team. He is also responsible for facilitating the production needs of the church as a whole.
Matt’s goals for the Production Department are to assist in creating an environment here at Four Oaks where folks can clearly hear the proclamation of the Word and where we will be able to worship the Lord without distraction.
Bio: David was born and raised in Pensacola, Fl, and has been in Tallahassee since 1987. He and his wife Nancy were married in 1987, and they have attended Four Oaks since 1998. They have two daughters in college, an adult son and one grandson.
David’s primary area of ministry as a deacon is coordinating and marshaling resources for service projects for people in our church family and in the community.
Bio: Doug and his wife Holly have been at Four Oaks since 2005. They were married in 1995 and have two daughters. As a deacon, Doug helps coordinate ministry to the physical needs of the body, and administers the hospitality team. His desire for Four Oaks that we would grow in community and ministry to one another by God’s grace.
Staff
Bio: Debbie serves as office administrator. She has been at Four Oaks since 1999 and is married to Kirk, the facilities manager at Four Oaks. She is originally from Pensacola and has an English degree from Florida State.
Debbie is thankful to be able to serve the Lord by helping the pastoral team and staff facilitate their ministry priorities.
Bio: Kathy was born and raised in Tallahassee and has been married to Matt since 1985. She is mother to Ashley, Ginny and Jason and their family has been attending Four Oaks since 1993. Kathy has been a bookkeeper for over 25 years and has been our church bookkeeper since 1997.
She was raised in the church and gave her life to the Lord at age 13. After high school she drifted away from the church but by the time she was 25 the Lord brought her back with His gift of the love for music. Because of this grace in her life, she began her ministry in music and has been part of the Four Oaks worship team for over 17 years.
Bio: Kirk has been attending Four Oaks since 1995 and has served in a myriad of capacities as a layman and staff member. He currently serves as a Deacon and is our Facilities manager. He is married to Debbie, and they have three children, all in college. He oversees all our facility needs and IT.
Kirk’s testimony is that while he continually struggles to put off the old self and seek God’s kingdom, His grace is sufficient and his blessings are innumerable. He is grateful for the gracious and redemptive discipline of the Lord in his life, and takes great joy in serving him at Four Oaks.
Bio: Matt has been married to Kathy since 1985 and is father to Ashley, Ginny and Jason. He and his family have been attending Four Oaks since 1993. He has the honor of serving Four Oaks Church as Deacon and part-time Technical Director. His primary responsibilities include assisting Josh Hughes, our worship pastor, and with leading the audio/visual/lighting volunteers that makeup the production team. He is also responsible for facilitating the production needs of the church as a whole.
Matt’s goals for the Production Department are to assist in creating an environment here at Four Oaks where folks can clearly hear the proclamation of the Word and where we will be able to worship the Lord without distraction.
Bio: Cassidy serves as Assistant Director of Children’s Ministries, a position she has held since 2006. She is originally from Jacksonville, Fl.
Her responsibilities include coordinating children’s ministry programming and volunteers, and assisting Pastor Scott Stake in coming alongside families as they shepherd their children.
Her desire for her role in Children’s Ministries is to impart a love for God’s word. his people, and his heart for the nations to the next generation.
Cassidy Summers
Asst. Director of Children's Ministries
e. email Cassidy
Bio: Julia and her husband, Pastor Scott, have been at Four Oaks for ten years and have three precious children, Abigail, Hannah and Josiah, and are looking forward to welcoming their forth in the spring. She serves as a nursery coordinator in children’s ministry, where she leads a team of volunteers in providing physical and spiritual care to infants and toddlers.
Julia loves to pray over each child with the volunteers each week, and her desire is that God would be glorified in our time each week caring for, loving on, and praying for the babies and toddlers that come through our doors.
Bio: Jessica has been a member at Four Oaks since 2008. She is the daughter of David and Kim Hughes, sister of Josh and Katie Hughes, and the delighted auntie of Reagan and Charlotte Hughes. She serves as a nursery coordinator in children’s ministry, where she leads a team of volunteers in providing physical and spiritual care to infants and toddlers.
Her desire is to partner with parents in the earliest stages of a child’s development to teach them to love Jesus, His Word, and His Church. Her greatest joy is to watch a child fall in love with God. When not serving at Four Oaks, Jessica is the Director of Development for Florida Hospices and Palliative Care.
