Our pastor, Derrick E. Young is also a Board Certified Chaplain who serves at Community Hospice. Pastor and his wife First Lady Gale is from Gary, Indiana. They have two children Daris (Leena) Young and Amari (Keon) Berry who has blessed them with 3 grandchildren; Zari and Ava Berry and Aurora Young. Pastor served in the military for 15 years before he became medically separated in 1999 with an Honorable Discharge.  He received his calling to the ministry on February 19, 2001, and was ordained on August 17, 2003, as Associate Pastor of First Baptist Church of Oceanway. First Lady Gale works in Duval County School System and is known for her compassion and love for educating the youth.

   Derrick’s educational background includes earning a B.A. in Biblical Studies from The Baptist College of Florida in 2007, a Master of Arts and Religion in 2008, and a Master of Divinity in 2010 from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. Continuing his education, Derrick became a Board Certified Chaplain in 2014 after presenting to the Board of Chaplaincy, an affiliation of the Association of Professional Chaplains. Our First Lady earned a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction.