Mert Janovec and his wife, Sherry, joined Faith in 2015. He was appointed as an Elder in 2016, and has served as Head Elder since 2019. He was baptized at 3 weeks old in an LCMS church in Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska and confirmed in 1951. Mert is a Navy veteran who also worked for many years in the railroad industry. Mert and Sherry have been married almost 40 years with 3 children, 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. They have lived in Sun City Center since 2001. Mert can be reached at mert.ignite@yahoo.com.
Mike Freeman and his wife, Kelly, have been members at Faith since 2016. Before retirement to Sun City Center, he worked in the oil/gas, pharmaceutical, wine, and beer industries. As a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Indianapolis for over 20 years, Mike served as the Congregational President, an Elder, and on several boards. He led a small group Bible Study and assisted in the start-up of a satellite mission Church. Mike and Kelly have 2 children and 2 grandchildren. Mike usually attends the Wednesday evening Divine Service. Mike can be reached at mfvino@gmail.com.
Roy Heflin and his wife, Susan, joined Faith in 2019. They have been married for 40 years with 3 children, 3 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Roy grew up in the Philadelphia/ New Jersey area. He was a sheet metal worker before being called into ministry. He graduated from Concordia – St Paul as a Director of Christian Education and served 3 churches in Wisconsin and Florida before serving as Campus Minister for the Texas District at Texas Tech University. Roy and Susan moved to Sun City Center 2 years ago from West Palm Beach. Roy can be contacted at dcemrh@mac.com.
Don Lannon, Jr. and his wife, Lois, have been members at Faith since 2015. They were married in 1972 and have 3 children, 6 grandchildren and recently became great-grandparents. Don is a native of Rhode Island, served in the Army, and spent his career with the Fire Department and hospital Emergency Services Department in Warwick. As a former Catholic, his conversion to the Lutheran church came after taking a master’s level college course on Luther and the Reformation and then a confirmation class. Don leads the Monday evening Bible Study class at Faith and can be reached at lannonjr@aol.com.
Dennis Steinke has been an Elder since 2019. He was born in Belvidere, Illinois and worked in manufacturing, shipping and receiving until retiring in 2008 from General Mills. Early in his life he went to his parents’ church, St. John United Church of Christ. In 1987, he became a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Belvidere. He moved to Lakeland, FL upon retirement to take care of his dad who was ill and transferred to St. Paul Lutheran Church. He moved to Bradenton in 2014 and attended Hope Lutheran Church before joining Faith. He can be contacted at dstei10399@hotmail.com.
Tom Weiss and his wife, Margie, have been members at Faith Lutheran since 2010. Before retirement he was a Lutheran school teacher and principal. Margie and he both graduated from Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, IL. He has been an Elder for over seven years. He and Margie also participate in Laborers for Christ which takes them to various congregations across the country during the summer to work on building projects. So Tom is usually the elder assigned to other seasonal members of Faith so that he can serve you when in Florida. His email address is weisstom@att.net.
Tom Barlow is currently serving as an Elder of the congregation. He previously served as Financial Secretary for Faith Lutheran Church. In his former congregation, he served as Congregational President, an Elder, and as Chairman of The Mission Plant Committee. Tom and his wife, Pat, have lived in Bradenton since 2014.
Ray Gilbert and his wife Vickie were snowbirds from 2017 to 2020 when they became permanent residents of Florida and members of Faith. They were both raised in small towns in southern Indiana. Ray graduated from Columbia College in Columbia Missouri in 1973 and he retired from Lanett Pharma after spending 20 years in automotive service management.