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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 in McCook, NE in 1988, the son of Christopher and Leeann McCarty. He was raised by these wonderful Christian parents in a non-denomination Christian congregation and began to “grow into” a fuller bodied theology as a youth, eventually moving into the Lutheran church during his college years. He always tells people he would have made this transition eventually anyway but meeting a certain lovely Lutheran who would go on to be his wife certainly sped up the process.
In 2009, Pastor McCarty received his Associate of Arts degree from Mid-Plains Community College in McCook, NE, and in 2012 graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, with his Bachelor’s degree in Theatre.
Upon graduation he - along with his dear bride, Erica, and their first child – relocated to Chattanooga, TN, for two and a half years. During this time, they were blessed to have the mentorship of a wonderful church family and pastor who recommended, guided them to, (and prepared them for!) pastoral formation at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. Entering in 2015 and graduating with his Master of Divinity in 2019, Nathan was ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry in June of that year.
Over the course of pastoral education and formation, Nathan was pleased to be assigned his vicarage internship at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Jax Beach, FL. He must have either performed his duties well or tricked the saints of Bethlehem into thinking he could do them well, because upon ordination, the congregation extended a call to him to return. He is now daily thankful for the opportunity to serve as their Associate Pastor alongside his former Vicarage Supervisor, Pastor Brones.
Pastor Nathan is abundantly blessed to be married a woman of God, Erica, who is way out of his league. Together, they thank God for the gift of their three children: Joy, Hilton, and Amelia, who keep them pretty busy. They also thank God for two other beloved children whom they entrust to their Maker as they await the Resurrection.
In his spare time, Pastor Nathan enjoys eating, re-reading The Lord of the Rings, and pulling weeds.
Vicarage 2024-25
Vicar Jacob Manning
Hello! I am Jacob Manning and I am so excited and thrilled to accept the assignment at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville Beach, Florida! A little about me: I'm a 23-year-old guy and have wanted to be a pastor since I was seven years old. I can thank my parents for that because my dad is a pastor, and my mom is DCE. I am a fellow coaster but from the West Coast instead. I love the beach and especially love to swim. I am a surfer, but I am a beginner. When I am not swimming, I tend to be spending time with old friends and new friends whether it be going out or playing video games online. I have had some experience in ministry, like leading kid's church, leading a group to the National Youth Gathering, leading bible study, and have preached a handful of times. However, I want to come in with a completely open mind. I am here to learn and be stretched, and that’s what I want to do! I am super excited to get this honor and privilege to be at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and will be awaiting the day I get there! I pray that your ministry is blessed for all the resources, prayer, and money you have put into raising vicars for God's harvest, and I pray that I may be a blessing to you as you all have already been a blessing to me!