Great Hope Christian Fellowship - Board of Directors
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Mark Parsons, Senior Pastor
Heartburn is a good thing—especially when Jesus is doing the burning!  
“And they said to one another, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?’”  (Luke 24:32)
  • Education - Bachelor’s Degree in Education, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
  • Family - Married, 3 children
  • Military - Staff Sergeant, 6 years, US Air Force, Personnel Technician, Medical Technician
  • Community - 3 years teaching at Chamberlain High School, Tampa, FL; Local small business owner since 1980
  • Ministry - Elder, Northwest Christian Church, Tampa, FL; Ordained 1977; Appointed Pastor, Great Hope Christian Fellowship, Tampa, FL, 1994
​Linda Pugsley, Associate Pastor
My earnest hope is that people would understand it is not religion that changes your life.  What changes your life is an intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
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  • ​Education - Doctorate of Biblical Studies, Colorado Theological Seminary, CO; Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling, Rider College, NJ; Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, University of Delaware, DE
  • Family - Single
  • Military - Major, over 10 years, US Air Force, Flight Nurse, Vietnam Veteran
  • Community - Registered Nurse, 14 years; College Nursing Instructor, 2 years; Parsons Property Maintenance, Tampa, FL, 8 years
  • Ministry - Ordained 1989; Pastoral Assistant 1989-1994; Appointed Associate Pastor, Great Hope Christian Fellowship, Tampa, FL, 1994; 13 years teaching at New Hope School, Tampa, FL; Author of the book The Climb; Tampa Airport Chaplain, 2001-2011; Chaplain to Vietnam Veterans of America VVA Chapter 787 since 1999; Chaplain to Air Force Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol, since 2003; Chaplain to Florida Army National Guard, May 2006-May 2011; Church Secretary
  • Author of The Climb (available at Amazon) and DMR-5, The Next Generation (now available at Xulon Press, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble in paperback and Nook or Kindle format)
​Shirley Parsons, Worship Leader
Oh, to know Him more!
"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (John 17:3)
  • Education - Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, FL; Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling, Troy University, AL; Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, University of Delaware, DE
  • Family - Married, 3 children
  • Military - Major, 10 years, US Air Force, Flight Nurse, Vietnam Veteran
  • Community - Registered Nurse, 13 years; College Nursing Science Instructor, 2 years; Co-founder Conservatory for the Arts at Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL
  • Ministry - Director of Christian Education; Principal/Teacher, New Hope School, Tampa, FL, 1988-2002; Church Recording Secretary/Treasurer; Worship Leader
​Ted Marshall, Associate Pastor
Trust the path He is leading you on and listen with open heart for His directions. Remember, the journey leads to His love, grace and life eternal.
  • Education - Bachelor’s Degree, Police Science/Criminal Investigation, University of Illinois; Security Officer Instructor, State of Florida; Security Officer, State of Florida; NRA and State of Florida Firearms Instructor; Private Investigator, State of Florida; PADI Scuba Instructor; CDL Certification
  • Family - Married, 1 Daughter, 3 Grandchildren
  • Military - Sergeant, US Air Force, Security Police/Black Beret Anti-Commando Security Forces; Combat Security Police K-9 Team; Nuclear Weapons Protection Team; Vietnam Veteran
  • Community - Owner/Director in Chief, Marshall Protection & Investigation; Commander, 089 MACS, Civil Air Patrol, MacDill AFB, FL 2007-2011; Vietnam Veterans of America/Last Patrol
  • Ministry - Veterans Radio Ministry, a ministry of Great Hope Christian Fellowship & Trinity Church of Wesley Chapel
  • Ordained into the Reach and Teach Ministry on May 5, 2013
Carolyn Marshall, Board Member
My prayer is that we draw ever closer to God so He can: show us those in need of a kind and gentle hand; let us be His water on this dry and desert land; fill us with compassion for the hurt and lonely heart; fan the flame inside us, so His light can pierce the dark; bless us with His Spirit when we don’t know what to say; and guide us as we witness, so the lost can find the way to Him. ​
  • Education - Lakeland Sr. High School, Lakeland, FL; Various Photography Courses; PADI Scuba Instructor; CDL Certification; Security Officer, State of Florida
  • Family - Married, 1 Daughter, 3 Grandchildren, 2 Great-Grandchildren
  • Community - Owner/Photographer, Carolyn Marshall Photography; Vietnam Veterans/Last Patrol; Marshall Protection & Investigation, 15 years; Legal Secretary, 25 years
  • Ministry - Worship Team Trinity Church of Wesley Chapel, FL; Christian Inspirational Blog – His Healing Word; Great Hope Christian Fellowship Website Developer and Administrator