Meet Our Staff
A letter from William Colvin, Pastor:
My wife Shannon and I have been married since January 3, 1998. We have been blessed with 3 wonderful children. Chance, our oldest was born on March 12, 1999. He was followed by Nathaniel (Nathan) on May 16, 2003. We got “daddy’s little girl,” Mary Alice on our eighth wedding anniversary, January 3, 2006.
Shannon and I met at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana. I graduated from NOBTS in May of 1999 with a Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling while being a youth pastor at First Baptist Church in Madisonville, Louisiana. God then led us to pastor youth at First Baptist Church in Purvis, Mississippi. From there we returned to Shannon’s hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, where I worked with troubled youth at Alabama Youth Home. While working at AYH I also pastured Easley Baptist Church in Oneonta, Alabama. It is from here God called and moved us to FBC in Destin, Florida, in June of 2005.
I believe in the body of Christ, His church, and the mission of expanding God’s kingdom by growing worshippers. Therefore, my desire is to minister to and with people to create an environment that fosters the development of relationships for the purpose of showing and leading people to Jesus Christ. I believe the church family’s calling is to create that environment, bringing people into a knowing and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
Feel free to contact me at colvwi@firstbaptistchurchdestin.org with any comments and/or questions.
Biography of Dean DeMarra, Music Minister:
Dean DeMarra is a life-long Music and Worship Pastor joining the staff of First Baptist Church in June of 1999. Dean was asked in July of 2007 to assume the Chief Administrator position of Destin Christian Academy; a ministry of First Baptist Destin. He graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and Midwestern Theological Seminary with a Masters Degree in Religious Education and Music.
Dean began his ministry at First Baptist St. Cloud, Florida as Music & Youth Minister. He later served churches in Oklahoma for 15 years before coming back to Florida. “I believe God inhabits the praises of his people (Psalms22) and there is no place I would rather be than where the Lord dwells” says Dean. “Our church has so much potential to be a place where God is worshipped in such a powerful way that it attracts others to come and be a part of us.”
Dean married his college sweetheart, Dawn (25 years last December) and has one incredibly beautiful and talented daughter named Darcy (14), and two handsome and sport-minded sons, Dylan (13) and Daniel (10). His hobbies are spending time with his family, performing beach wedding ceremonies, and sports. Dean also has a heart for world missions. He has traveled to Russia, Hong Kong, Israel, Malaysia, Brazil, China, and Australia singing and spreading the Gospel.
Dean's e-mail is demade@firstbaptistchurchdestin.org.