Meet Our Pastors

Pastor Brones has been ordained for 35 years and has joyfully served the congregation of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and Preschool for over 18 years. He has a broad and varied history of service. His first vicarage was in Guatemala from 1980 to 1982. His first call for service was to Venezuala from 1983 to 1992 where by God's grace he founded Fuente De Vida Lutheran Church in Puerto Ordaz. By appointment of the LCMS World Mission, he also served as Mission Co-ordinator Counselor from 1987 to 1992. Upon return to the United States, he became Director of Pastoral Care at Muhlenberg Hospital in Bethlehem, PA from 1994 to 2000. He also served as called Assistant Pastor at Concordia Lutheran Church, Bethlehem, PA from 1994 to 2000. He has served Bethlehem Lutheran Church & Preschool at Jacksonville Beach, Florida, since 2000.

Pastor Brones currently holds the office of Circuit Visitor (First Coast Region 2), the Circuit Counselor of the Jacksonville Outreach Circuit, JOC as well as Honorary Chaplain for the Jacksonville Beach Police Department.

        LCMS Mission Coordinator/Counselor, Venezuala 1987-1992

        FL/GA Board For Parish Education, Florida 2005-2007

        Circuit Visitor (First Coast Region 2), Florida 2011-Present

Pastor Brones is married to Diane who is his greatest helpmate and support. They have six children, Richard, Justin, Joel, Jonathan, Paul and Magdalena, who have brought inordinate happiness and blessings to them.

Year of Ordination: 1983 in the Missouri Synod

B.A., Social Work: M. Div, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, 1983

Undergraduate Degrees in Natural Resource Mgmt. (CO Mtn. College) and Social Work (Concordia, Seward, NE

Four Units (2 years) of Clinical Pastoral Education

President Muhlenberg Hospital Credit Union, 1987-2000

President American Heart Association (Local Chapter), 1996-2000

Honorary Chaplain Jacksonville Beach Police Dep't., 2004- Present

Certified Interim Pastor through NALIP (National Association of Interim Lutheran Pastors)

I was born and raised far from the beach, in the small town of McCook, NE. As a youth I had many interests, but chief among them were acting in local theatre productions and delving ever further into what God has done on the stage of human history in His Son, Jesus Christ. These dual foci, the stage and the Word, are two elements of my history that eventually lead me here - to "Bethlehem on the Beach." It was on the stage that I met my beautiful wife, Erica - and it was largely her encouragement that gave me the confidence to pursue the other great interest in my life, God's Word and His people. Shortly before graduating with my degree in Theatre, Erica and I were blessed with the addition of our daughter Joy, who is now 5 years old. Before enrolling at the Seminary in St. Louis, we spent three years in Chattanooga, TN., where a faithful pastor and caring congregation further encouraged my ministerial interests. It was a wonderful example of what God does here at Bethlehem, as well  - work in the lives of real, ordinary people through His Word, and through His Saints. Please, join us here on Sunday mornings as He continues that work!