Pastor James & Ami Irving serve as the Senior Pastors for Eustis FCOG. James & Ami, along with Annie, their 16-year-old miracle, are from Deland, FL where they both were on staff at the Lighthouse Church.

James is a graduate of Warner University and Asbury Theological Seminary. He traveled with Life Action Ministries as a singer and music director for seven years. He has taught high school and middle school for over 20 years. He came to FCOG as the youth pastor. He transitioned into the senior pastor's role upon Bro. Ron Holder's retirement. Ami leads our women's ministries and leads in sign language in many of our services. Annie is a very active teen both in high school as well as martial arts and theater. u You can see her often performing at the Bay Street Players in Eustis. Both James and Ami have a great heart for young people. They are looking forward to serving the Lake County area for many years.



Pastor Ron Holder grew up in the Great Plains area and after college, seminary, and marriage, move to Florida in 1962, and pastored three congregations in the following 61 years.   He is now serving as Pastor Emeritus and Minister of Visitation here in the First Church of God. He leads to Bible Study groups, handles some administrative tasks as needed, and participates in the leadership during worship services.

 
 
Barbara Holder grew up in the Midwest (Indiana and Michigan) and after college taught a total of 33 years, with 17 years in Umatilla Elementary. The Holder's two sons both graduated from Umatilla High School.  She has served as pastor's wife alongside of her husband (Ron) for 61 years.  Currently, she serves as Church organist and church treasurer along with leading her Bible Study group.  She has sung countless solos for worship services, weddings, funerals and other special events.




Pastor Lee was born and raised in the island of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.  He served in the U.S. army [1968-1970] with 1 year service tour in Vietnam. Lee met his wife Ana, in the Bronx, N.Y. in 1970 and got married in 1972.  They have been together for 53 yrs.  They have three 3 children and three 3 grandchildren. Lee served in the police department of the U.S. Virgin Islands and retired as commander [captain] of the special operations unit in 1993. He came to God in salvation at age 43 and he surrendered to the call of God and has been preaching since then. “I am crucified with Christ; yet I live. it is not I that live, but it is Christ that lives in me. the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in Christ, who loves me and gave his life for me.  Pastor Lee Velazquez




Don serves as FCOG's men's minister and alongside Pastor James direct the community groups. His wife, Nicole serves on the church board.


Don and Nicole were married in 1999 and both are from Louisiana with Nicole being born in Vietnam. Both are from Hammond, LA and were brought to Florida in order for Don to go to flight school. While in school, Don and Nicole began attending the Lighthouse Church where they met and became close friend with Pastor James & Ami. They have three children, Ian (21), Ana (19), and Nathan (17).


Don came to Christ 1975 and came to a place of surrender in 1987. He has been in ministry since 2005 and his heart is to see the body of Christ set free to operate in the Kingdom of God and fulfill their purpose.


Johnnie Van Hassel is FCOG's discipleship minister. She directs all of the Christian Education areas for the church.

She was born and raised in Alabama (You should hear her accent!). Johnnie taught school for over 40 years and is highly qualified to direct teaching and education. She has taught in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Kentucky. She has also taught in various roles in churches as Sunday School teacher and as a Bible Study group leader. Joining this with being a pastor's wife, she a unique insight to teach others the Word of God. Her belief is "through studying God's word we learn of His love, mercy, forgiveness, and how to obey and follow Him in our day-to-day life."



Sarah Aleshire serves as Pastor James’s administrative assistant and office manager. Growing up in the church that you serve gives a unique perspective for ministry. Sarah grew up in our church and together, with her husband, Jeremie, they have raised 2 sons, Joey (22) and Tony (18), in the same church. They both work with our youth and in other ministries to see others on fire for Christ and trained to serve the Lord, at all ages. They have watched the growth in all areas of both their family and their church family and look forward to what God has next for them and the church.