Education Team

Our goals are to see people of all ages:

  • Serve Christ
  • Serve Christians
  • Serve the Community

These three goals are accomplished through corporate worship and active participation in our Connection Groups on Sunday mornings.

Join us this week for opportunities to:

  • Serve Christ though Bible study and Worship
  • Serve Christians through Ministry and Fellowship
  • Serve the Community through Evangelism and Missions

Education Staff List


Education Staff

Robert Gilliland

Minister of Education

Phone: 850.475.1128
Email: rgilliland@olivebaptist.org

My name is Robert Gilliland. I have been happily married to my bride, Faith, since November 1993. God has blessed Faith and me with two children, Zac and Katie. We have been members of Olive Baptist Church since 1993 and have been serving as a minister on staff since 2003. I now serve on the Olive staff as the Minister of Education. Our mission is to see that every Olive member be a missionary, every home to be an outpost of evangelism and fellowship, and every church to be a missions-sending center.

As the Minister of Education I have three major objectives:

  • To supervise the education staff. The education staff team consists of seven members who lead specific age groups within the church (Preschool to 65+ Ministry).
  • To implement an overall educational plan for small group Bible studies.
  • To minister to the needs of the young married adult couples and their families.
Education Staff List
Name Position Phone Email
Robert Gilliland Minister of Education 850.475.1128 rgilliland@olivebaptist.org
Cindy Weatherall Executive Assistant to the Minister of Education 850.475.1128 cweatherall@olivebaptist.org

Preschool Ministry Staff

Shea Riles

Director of Preschool

Phone: 850.473.4461
Email: sriles@olivebaptist.org

A native of Pensacola, Shea has attended Olive since she was a member of the newborn nursery. Now, along with her husband Ron and their two children (Tyler and Kate), Shea continues to worship and fellowship with God’s family at OBC.

Serving for years as a volunteer with preschoolers and children, Shea joined the Olive staff in 2004 as Coordinator of the Preschool Ministry. Having been saved during her childhood, she is convinced that these early years are fertile ground for planting truths from God’s Word and preparing hearts for salvation. With a team of dedicated leaders, the Preschool Staff is committed to offering a safe, clean, and fun environment where God’s truth abounds and parents can feel comfortable bringing their little ones.

Preschool Ministry Staff List
Name Position Phone Email
Shea Riles Director of Preschool 850.473.4461 sriles@olivebaptist.org
Pat Vinson Preschool Administrative Assistant pvinson@olivebaptist.org
Shannon Qualls Curriculum Assistant squalls@olivebaptist.org
Marci Kennison Worship Care Assistant mkennison@olivebaptist.org
Linda Carter Weekday Assistant lcarter@olivebaptist.org

Children's Ministry Staff

Dennis Dean

Minister of Children

Phone: 850.475.1108
Email: ddean@olivebaptist.org

My name is Dennis Dean and I am the Minister to Children, grades K5-5th grade. It has been my pleasure to serve on staff here at Olive Baptist for over seven years. I am a graduate of Pensacola Junior College, University of South Alabama, and have a Masters of Divinity degree from New Orleans Seminary.

I am married to Becki who is heavily involved in ministry here at Olive. Becki is the director of Youth choir and volunteers in the Children's ministry choir program. She also sings with and leads the AWANA praise team on Wednesday nights. I have one little girl named Bethany who is a part of the Preschool department here at Olive.

Children's Ministry Staff List
Name Position Phone Email
Dennis Dean Minister of Children 850.475.1108 ddean@olivebaptist.org
Judy Lloyd Administrative Assistant 850.475.1108 jlloyd@olivebaptist.org
Carol Ann Rogers Children's Assistant 850.475.1130 crogers@olivebaptist.org

Middle School Ministry Staff

Chris Reeser

Director of Middle School

Phone: 850.475.1127
Email: creeser@olivebaptist.org

Hello, my name is Chris Reeser. I am the Director of Middle School Ministries here at Olive. I have been blessed to call Pensacola my home town. I graduated from Tate High School and then continued my education at Pensacola Junior College and the University of West Florida, majoring in Business Administration. I am now attending New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary as a Christian Education Major. God called me into full-time Christian vocation when I was in high school. Soon after high school, I became a youth pastor at a local church where I began developing my call as a youth minister. Four years later, I began working at Olive as the Student Ministry Assistant and Team Sports Assistant. Then, after serving here for 1 year as the Team Sports Director, my wife and I decided to move to Argentina as she finished her education. We lived together in Argentina for six months before I moved back and began working at Olive again. She stayed another 3 months to finish her degree…

My wife, Kelly Butler Reeser, is also from Pensacola, FL. She is a graduate from Tate High school as well and would go on to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX to study Spanish. She is now working on her Master’s Degree through a joint program with Georgetown (DC) and UNSAM (Buenos Aires) as a Development Management and Public Policy Major.

We now live in Pensacola, which we love to call home!

Middle School Ministry Staff List
Name Position Phone Email
Chris Reeser Director of Middle School 850.475.1127 creeser@olivebaptist.org
Sandy Fones Student Ministry Administrative Assistant 850.475.1143 sfones@olivebaptist.org
Joel McDonald Student Ministry Assistant

High School Ministry Staff

Jeremy Lloyd

Minister of Youth

Phone: 850.475.1143
Email: jeremyl@olivebaptist.org

Jeremy was born and raised in Panama City, Florida. He graduated from the University of West Florida in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Jeremy continues to pursue his Masters of Christian Education from New Orleans Theological Seminary.

In the summer of 2003, he led worship at the Lifeway student camp, Centrifuge, where he met his wife as they served together on staff. They were married the following summer in Atlanta and moved to Pensacola, Florida. Jeremy joined the staff at Olive in 2005 serving as the “Middle School Minister.” In the fall of 2008, he took on the position, “Minister to Students 6-12.” His wife, Whitney, teaches first grade in Pace and enjoys assisting Jeremy with all the various student ministry activities. Jeremy and Whitney desire to use their lives to invest in the new generation and lead them into becoming thriving Christian Disciples of Christ.

High School Ministry Staff List
Name Position Phone Email
Jeremy Lloyd Minister of Youth 850.475.1143 jeremyl@olivebaptist.org
Sandy Fones Student Ministry Administrative Assistant 850.475.1143 sfones@olivebaptist.org

College / Young Adult Ministry Staff

Eric Miracle

Minister to College
and Young Single Adults

Phone: 850.475.1157
Email: emiracle@olivebaptist.org

Eric Miracle, was born in Lexington, Kentucky. As an only child, he was raised in a Christian home. Eric received the call to ministry while in Middle School, but did not accept it until later on.

He graduated from Lexington Baptist College in May 1999, where he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies and Student Ministry. In May of that same year he married Andrea. They have one daughter named Jaylee. Eric was ordained in Murray, Kentucky on February 23, 2003. He graduated with a Master of Arts in Christian Education from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2008.

Eric and Andrea joined the Olive staff in October 2006. Prior to work at Olive, he has served as Student Minister with Churches in Georgetown, Lexington, and Murray, Kentucky.

Eric enjoys being involved in missions as well, having led and participated in multiple international endeavors to places like Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Trinidad, and several domestic destinations.

College / Young Adult Staff List
Name Position Phone Email
Eric Miracle Minister to College and Young Single Adults 850.475.1157 emiracle@olivebaptist.org
Cynthia Simandira College, Young Single Adults, and Military Administrative Assistant 850.475.1157 csimandira@olivebaptist.org

Single Adult Ministry Staff

Robert Lloyd

Director of Single Adults

Phone: 850.475.1157

My name is Robert Lloyd and I came to Olive in 1983 because they had a Singles ministry. I have had the privilige of being involved with the Singles ministry of Olive in some form ever since. For 1 year, I was a department director, and then I taught a single adult class for 16 consecutive years.

In August of 2006, I became Director of Single Adult Ministries as a part time staff person. I met my wife Judy (who is administrative assistant to Dennis Dean in childrens ministry) in the singles ministry of Olive and together we have 5 children and 7 grandchildren. Judy and I were a part of the team that helped begin the Divorce Recovery program here at Olive and Judy now heads a program called Divorce Care for Kids. The Single Adult Ministry of Olive has been a major part of our lives for the entire 24 years of our marriage.

Single Adult Ministry Staff List
Name Position Phone Email
Robert Lloyd Director of Single Adults 850.475.1157
Cynthia Simandira College, Young Single Adults, and Military Administrative Assistant 850.475.1157 csimandira@olivebaptist.org

Adults 65+ Ministry Staff

Kim Waters

Director of 65+ Activities

Phone: 850.475.1123
Email: kwaters@olivebaptist.org

Kim was born in Baltimore, Maryland. She comes from a military family and has called Pensacola home since January 1974. She married David, a Pensacola native, in August 1985.

Kim started her Olive career on December 14, 1988. She worked in the recreation ministry for 16 ½ years as the recreation assistant. During that time God told her to go back to school. She graduated magna cum laude from UWF in May 1998. Her Bachelor of Science degree is in Leisure Studies.

God moved Kim into the Senior Adult Ministry in August 2005 where she served as the administrative assistant. In January 2008 God, through Pastor Traylor, enlisted Kim to be the Interim Director of 65+ Ministry Activities. Her college degree and long-term experience at Olive give her a unique qualification to lead in this area. The “interim” was removed in July. Kim loves working with and alongside her folks as they touch the 65 Plus generation with the Good News.

Adults 65+ Ministry Staff List
Name Position Phone Email
Kim Waters Director of 65+ Activities 850.475.1123 kwaters@olivebaptist.org

Media Library Center Staff

Media Library Center Staff List
Name Position Phone Email
Joan Hoyt Library Director 850.475.1132 jhoyt@olivebaptist.org
Randa Olesky Library Assistant 850.475.1153 rolesky@olivebaptist.org
Circulation Desk 850.475.1137