Danny Austin, Pastor

In 1968, as a college sophomore, God called Rev. Austin into the gospel ministry. He has served in Christian ministry for 43 years and as a full time vocational minister since 1977. Up until that time he served part time in church ministry while teaching in secondary schools in Arkansas. Pastor Austin has a BSE in Vocal Music, Music Education, and Mathematics from the University of Arkansas. He also has extensive postgraduate studies with the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri and the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He earned his doctorate in worship studies in June, 2011 at the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. Rev. Austin began his service as pastor of the Oak Park church in October of 1997.

Pastor Austin has been married for over 43 years to Eva Cathcart Austin. They have four children (3 sons and a daughter), two daughters-in-law, a granddaughter (Lydia Michelle Austin -- born on February 13, 2001 in Tallahassee) and a grandson (Asher Paul Austin – born June 9, 2003 in Gainesville). Eva is a career public school teacher. She currently teaches public school music in Levy County.  She also shares the pastor’s call to the ministry and is very actively involved in the ministries of the Oak Park Church.

 Elsie Wilson, Discipleship Director

At the age of thirteen, Elsie committed her life to the Lord and, during her High School years, she felt a call to missions. She became a Registered Nurse and graduated from Barrington College, Rhode Island with a major in Bible and a minor in Missions. Later she earned a MSN degree from Vanderbilt University. She has served the Lord through her profession as a Certified Nurse-Midwife and Family Nurse Practitioner for 43 years. As Director of the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing in Hyden, Kentucky, she taught many missionary nurses in midwifery who are now ministering around the world. Elsie spent 16 years in southeastern Kentucky working with the Appalachian people, and a year in Zaire, Africa. She has participated in a number of short-term missions trips to such places as Guatemala, Brazil, Paraguay and China. She was blessed to have the privilege of founding a Christian not-for-profit birthing center in St. Petersburg, FL. This center provided the opportunity for women to deliver their babies in a home-like atmosphere with their families present.

Elsie retired from the University of Florida Department of OB/GYN in December, 1999 and has been serving on staff at Oak Park Church as Discipleship Director since January, 2000. She organizes ladies retreats, teaches short-term discipleship Bible studies, and English as a second language. She is a board member of the Christian Coalition of Ladies Leadership which encourages women who are in ministry in various churches here in Gainesville. She is currently completing her doctoral dissertation at the International Seminary, Plymouth, FL.

Elsie was married to Jack Wilson for over 20 years. She has been a widow since 2001 and has 3 step-children, 6 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

 Matthew Simmons, Youth Minister

Matt Simmons was born in Gainesville and then moved to Port St. Lucie, Florida as a child.  There his family got involved with a great church… “First Baptist of Stuart”… where he was saved.  In 1995 his family moved back to Gainesville where he became involved with the Youth Group at Fellowship Baptist Church in High Springs.  The following is Matt’s testimony.

    “It was my first year of going to camp that I realized what it meant to be a Christian.  It wasn’t until my senior year, however, that I discovered that people sitting right next to me in the Youth Group hadn’t figured it out.  Many of my close friends quit going to church and one even denounced God.  Ever since that point, I have had a real desire to make sure that the youth around me understand what it means to be a Christian, and for them to experience Christ personally.”

In the Spring of 2005, Matt served as Youth Director at the Grace Baptist Church of Gainesville.  He has also served as a volunteer flag football coach with the Pray then Play Sports program.  Matt joined the Oak Park staff in April of 2006.  He has obtained a B.S. degree from the University of Florida, and went on to graduate from the Florida State Troopers Academy. He is now a State Trooper serving in Alachua County and serving the youth of Oak Park Church.

 Aimee Stewart, Children's Director

Aimee grew up in Gainesville and was an honor graduate from Gainesville High School. She has a natural love for children. As a result, she pursued an elementary teaching degree. She earned her BSE in Elementary Education from Palm Beach Atlantic University and has been teaching ever since. Aimee is a full time teacher in Marion County and she is serving as our part-time Children's Ministry Director. She is also active in our music ministry as a soloist, praise team member, and worship choir member.