MEET OUR TEAM
MEET OUR TEAM
CHARLIE HIGGINS
LEAD PASTOR
Before moving to Florida, Charlie lived in Indiana, Ohio, California, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. He accepted Christ at the age of nine. Charlie graduated from the University of the Cumberlands with a Bachelor of Music. The Lord called Charlie into pastoral ministry and he graduated from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity in Missions, Evangelism, and Church Growth. Before pastoring in Florida, Charlie pastored throughout Kentucky and North Carolina. He has been at Westview since 2003. Charlie has a wonderful wife Kim, four sons, and seven grandchildren.
NATE GOSS
EXECUTIVE PASTOR (+STUDENTS)
Nate was born and raised in Western North Carolina where he accepted Christ at the age of fifteen. He attended Western Carolina University, located in Cullowhee, NC, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in marketing with a minor in hospitality and tourism. During this time, he spent four years reaching college students with the gospel through the Baptist Campus Ministry (BCM). He attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, located in Wake Forest, NC, where he earned a Master of Divinity in Christian Ministry. Nate married his beautiful wife Callie in 2014 and they have three young kids. Nate has been at Westview since 2015.
DAVE THOMAS
PASTOR OF MUSIC AND SENIOR ADULTS
Dave was born in Toccoa, GA, but also lived in Rome, GA, Pritchard, AL, and Thomasville, GA before moving to Sanford, FL as a teenager. He came to know the Lord at a high school chapel service when he was sixteen. Dave earned his Associate of Arts from Seminole Community College and his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Toccoa Falls College. Dave is married to Jackie and they have two children: Jared and Amy. Like his father, Dave has been a Music Pastor for over thirty years in Georgia and Florida. Dave served at Westview Baptist as Pastor of Music and Students from 1989 to 1992 and returned in 2016.
DR. CARLOS MENDEZ
PASTOR OF HISPANIC MINISTRY
Carlos grew up near Chicago, IL and served in the United States military. He has a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies from the Baptist College of Florida and a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He earned a Doctor of Ministry from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he wrote a thesis on bringing unity to first and second generation Hispanics. Carlos is an experienced church planter. He has served as the Spanish Leadership Facilitator for the Greater Orlando Baptist Association and has served as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention Hispanic Pastors fraternity of Orlando. Carlos is married to Nancy and has three children, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
JEN KALLIN
CHILDREN'S DIRECTOR
Jen grew up as a missionary kid along with her five siblings. Her family served in Papua New Guinea, where she gave her life to Christ, and then later in Colombia, South America. After high school she attended The Master's University in California where she met and married John, who also grew up as a missionary kid. After getting married, John and Jen served as missionaries in Brazil for four years. They have four children and two grandchildren. Jen is passionate about music and kids. She has worked with children in many facets for over 35 years. She loves photography, going to the beach, and playing sports or games with her family.
SARAH AUSTIN
PASTORAL ASSISTANT
Sarah was born and raised in Sanford, FL and became a Christian in 2002. She's been part of our church since 2003 and joined our staff in 2022. Her and her husband have six wonderful children. She loves traveling and going to concerts.
KAREN JEFFRIES
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Karen was born in Illinois, but grew up in Indiana. She got saved when she was ten years old. Since then, she has two daughters, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. She moved to Florida in 2016 and joined our church. Karen has been on staff since 2021.
JULIE ACKLEY
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Julie was born in Morganton, NC and was saved when she was 8 years old. She joined our church in 2000 and has been on staff at Westview since March 2019. She has one son and two grandchildren. She loves crafting, quilting, and baking.
TOM PAPIERSKI
FACILITIES
Tom was born and raised in Massachusetts and became a christian as an adult. He has been at Westview since 2014 and joined our staff in 2015. He has a wonderful wife, three daughters, and nine grandchildren.
KRISTINE SPARKS
FACILITIES
Kristine was born in Detroit, MI and raised in Sanford, FL. She became a christian when she was 11 years old. In addition to being on staff, she runs our hospitality team. She has been at Westview since 2006. She is married and has one son.