PASTORAL STAFF
PASTORAL STAFF
CHARLIE HIGGINS
SENIOR PASTOR
Favorite Team: Kentucky Wildcats
Favorite Dessert: German Chocolate
Favorite Hobby: Gardening
Email: chiggins@westviewbaptist.org
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 and four sons: Donovan, Spencer, Hunter, and Riley. Charlie has three wonderful grandchildren.
NATE GOSS
ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATION
Favorite Team: Carolina Tarheels
Favorite Dessert: Peanut Butter Pie
Favorite Hobby: Kayaking
Email: ngoss@westviewbaptist.org
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 two young kids. Nate has been at Westview since 2015.
DAVE THOMAS
ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF MUSIC AND SENIOR ADULTS
Favorite Team: Georgia Bulldogs
Favorite Dessert: Ice Cream
Favorite Hobby: Family time
Email: dthomas@westviewbaptist.org
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. BILL COFFMAN
PASTOR EMIRITUS
Favorite Team: Texas Longhorns
Favorite Dessert: All of the above
Favorite Hobby: Tennis
Bill grew up in Texas. As the son of a pastor, he trusted Christ as his Savior at eight years old and was later called to ministry when he was 16 years old. Bill earned his Bachelor of Arts from Howard Payne University. He attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he received a Bachelor of Divinity in 1962 and a Master of Divinity in 1987. Howard Payne University awarded Bill an honorary Doctor of Divinity in 1987. The Coffman’s served as missionaries in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Upon return, Bill pastored throughout Florida and later became the director of the Florida Baptist Convention’s Language Mission Department. He served as president of the Florida Baptist Convention from 1986 to 1987. Bill is married to Ann and they have a daughter and grandson. He has been at Westview since 2002.
DR. CARLOS MENDEZ
PASTOR OF HISPANIC MINISTRY
Favorite Team: Chicago Bulls
Favorite Dessert: Tiramisu
Favorite Hobby: Reading
Email: cmendez@westviewbaptist.org
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 three great grandchildren.
SUPPORT STAFF
KAREN JEFFRIES
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Favorite Team: Chicago Cubs
Favorite Dessert: Vanilla Ice Cream
Favorite Hobby: Going to Disney
Email: office@westviewbaptist.org
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 one great-grandchild. She moved to Florida in 2016 and joined our church. Karen has been on staff since 2021.
SARAH AUSTIN
PASTORAL ASSISTANT
Favorite Team: Florida Gators
Favorite Dessert: Macadamia Nut Cookies
Favorite Hobby: Camping
Email: saustin@westviewbaptist.org
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 David have six wonderful children.
JULIE ACKLEY
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Favorite Team: Florida Gators
Favorite Dessert: Cheesecake
Favorite Hobby: Baking & Quilting
Email: secretary@westviewbaptist.org
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.
TOM PAPIERSKI
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
Favorite Team: New England Patriots
Favorite Dessert: Jimmies
Favorite Hobby: Woodworking
Email: tpapierski@westviewbaptist.org
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 named Amy, three daughters, and three grandchildren.
KRISTINE SPARKS
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
Favorite Team: Kentucky Wildcats
Favorite Dessert: Cannolis
Favorite Hobby: Scrapbooking
Email: ksparks@westviewbaptist.org
Kristine was born in Detroit, MI and raised in Sanford, FL. She became a christian when she was 11 years old. In addition to working in facilities management, she runs our hospitality team. She has been at Westview since 2006. She is married to her husband Steve and has a son named Cody.