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Meet Our Pastors
Senior Pastor Dana Allen Brones
Pastor Dana Allen Brones was born in Denver, CO on June 6th, 1953, the son of Laura and Donald W. Brones. He was baptized on January 22nd, 1956, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Denver and was confirmed in the Christian faith on March 19th, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Denver.
In 1975, Pastor Brones received his Associate Degree in Natural Resource Management from Colorado Mountain College in 1978 and he graduated from Concordia Teachers’ College (now Concordia University), Seward, Nebraska. His internship for his social work degree was done at Hastings Mental Health Hospital in Hastings, NE. In 1978, Dana entered Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He served as Vicar in Guatemala from 1980-1982 under supervision of Reverend Garry D. McClure. He received his first call to serve as an Evangelistic Missionary to the Venezuelan people on April 21st, 10983 and he received the theological diploma and Master of Divinity degree on May 27th, 1983. Dana was ordained into the Office of Holy Ministry on June 26th, 1983, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Denver. By God’s grace, Dana planted Fuente De Vida(Fountain of Life) Lutheran Church in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela. The first young man he confirmed in 1986, later became the pastor of that congregation and ultimately, the president of the Lutheran Church of Venezuela. From 1987-1992 Rev. Brones was field director for the Venezuelan mission located in Caracas. Dana returned from Venezuela in 1992 and began serving three LCMS congregations in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania. In June 1994, Pastor Brones became the Director of Pastoral Care at Muhlenberg Hospital, Bethlehem, PA. In January of 2000, Pastor Brones accepted the call to serve as co-pastor with Rev. John Buchheimer at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville Beach, FL. Pastor Brones began his pastoral duties in July 2000. In 2004, Pastor Brones was appointed Senior Pastor at Bethlehem and currently serves joyfully with Pastor Nathan McCarty in the office of Word and Sacrament. Today, it is Pastor Brones’ continued privilege to serve the members of Bethlehem in Jacksonville Beach and to have his closest friend. Rev. Dr. Larry M Vogel, who preached at Dana’s ordination, preach at his anniversary service.
Pastor Brones is happily married to Diane. She is his greatest support and help mate in family and ministry. Together, they have six children: Rick, Justin, Joel, Jonathan, Paul and Lena.
Pastor Nathan McCarty
Pastor Nathan McCarty was born on September 29, 1988, to Chris and Leeann McCarty in McCook, NE. Homeschooled through the twelfth grade, Nathan enjoyed a flexibility that allowed him to pursue his many and varied interests: baseball, piano, theatre, constant church activities, and disk-golf. He still likes these things.
While he was a regular employee at his family’s diner, it was employment as a young high school student at a local Lutheran radio station that would help to propel him toward his current vocation. Once introduced to Lutheran doctrine, he found it hard to shake and eventually moved from the non-denominational church into the LCMS. Helpful in this transition was a very pretty young lady turned friend turned wife who provided great encouragement and incentive. In 2010 Nathan married Erica Leigh Boleen and became the luckiest man in the world.
In 2011, the young couple welcomed the birth of their daughter Joy, now age 11. Then, in 2012, Nathan graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with his Bachelors of Arts in Theatre. Upon graduation, the couple settled in Chattanooga, TN, where they lived for three years. While there, Nathan worked in Hospital Security and began studying Greek under the tutelage of his pastor. Finally, in 2015, prompted both by his pastor and Erica, his persistent and lovely wife, Nathan gave in to their wise counsel and began preparation for the pastoral ministry at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.
After two years of study and preparation, Nathan was placed as a Vicar at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville Beach, FL. It was a year of growth. Certainly he grew (at least, one hopes!) in his pastoral abilities. More visibly, though, his family grew as they welcomed the twins, Amelia Rose and Hilton Christopher, into the world on April 14, 2018. Since that date, Erica has slept a total of six hours. They have welcomed another baby girl, Maggie in 2020. Three of their children now attend Jacksonville Classical Academy while Maggie remains close by at BLC Preschool.
After returning to the Seminary for a final year of formation, (receiving his Masters of Divinity on May 17, 2019,) Nathan received a Call to serve as Associate Pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville Beach. He was ordained at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Chattanooga, TN on June 16th, and installed at Bethlehem Lutheran in Jax Beach on June 30th. He (and his family) are thrilled to be called into service in Christ’s church at a location, and among a people, so special to them.
Vicarage 2023-24
Vicar Sean Sheppard
Bio Coming Soon!