St. Paul UMC

Rev. Elvis Soto | Senior Pastor

     Rev. Elvis Soto serves as Senior Pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church. He believes pastoral leadership is a calling that brings together faithful preaching of Scripture, compassionate pastoral care, intentional discipleship, and a commitment to serving the needs of the surrounding community. His passion is to help people grow in holiness of heart and life while equipping the church to participate faithfully in the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

     Rev. Soto sensed God’s call to ministry early in life, and that calling has been expressed through decades of service in the life of the church. His ministry experience includes preaching and teaching, evangelism and outreach, creative ministry with children, and mission engagement throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa. These experiences have shaped his understanding of the church as a community called to share Christ’s love both locally and around the world.

     With a heart for people, a passion for the Gospel, and a commitment to Wesleyan discipleship, Rev. Soto seeks to facilitate growing together in faith, serving others in love, and sharing the transforming grace of Jesus Christ.

Ryan Justice | Worship Leader

Photo | Ryan Justice

     “Since I was an early teen, I have felt God’s call on my life to lead people in worship of Him. It is one of my greatest joys and passions. I have been either directing or playing on worship teams for nearly the last twenty years. In each of these experiences God has used me to help develop musicianship in others and help congregants to deepen their relationships with Christ.

     As a classically trained musician with a degree in music education, I feel I bring a unique skill set to worship teams with a musical understanding of how to play with the highest level of musicianship, artistry, and excellence. I am also well-versed in technology and do not shy away from the use of click-tracks, loops, multitrack, presentation software, and Planning Center Online. Additionally, I have a track record of successfully building worship teams and music programs through recruitment and auditions.”

     Ryan is currently the Choir Director and Guitar Teacher at Terry Parker High School and is married with two amazing boys.

Rev. James F. Jennings | Retired Pastor

Photo | Reverend James Jennings

Reverend James F. Jennings, a native of Jacksonville, Florida has been in ministry since the age of sixteen when he received his License to Preach from the A.M.E. Church. He became a member of the Florida Annual Conference in 1983 and served local churches in the Jacksonville, Lakeland, Sarasota and Miami Districts. He was appointed Associate Council Director in 1987, District Superintendent of the Fort Myers District in 1992 and District Superintendent of the Miami District in June 1994. Reverend Jennings was a delegate to the General Conference, the Jurisdictional Conference and the 1992 World Methodist Conference in Singapore. He also served as Council Director from 1998 to 1999. Reverend Jennings was voted to represent the Florida Annual Conference the 1996 and the 2000 General Conference and Jurisdictional Conferences. In 2006 he served as a delegate to the World Methodist Conference in Seoul, Korea. St. Paul always looks forward to a visit from Reverend Jennings!