Robert Fountain, Senior Pastor
In November of 1983 I made the best decision of my life to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow the Lord Jesus. Within two years He led me to sell everything I owned and move from Bonaire, Georgia to Miami, Florida and enroll in a Discipleship Training School with the worldwide organization, Youth With A Mission. What an amazing adventure that began, one that has not stopped! Stepping outside my comfort-zone, I thought I would be back in Georgia six months down the road, but I ended up serving Jesus on short-term missions trips all over Central America and elsewhere for the next several years.
I had only been in Miami about a year when Jesus spoke clearly to me that the area now known as South Beach (downtown Miami Beach) was to be a focus for me in ministry. I began to visit South Beach at every opportunity, bringing others from the YWAM base along just to walk and pray, and to look for opportunities to share with the folks who lived here.
Miami Beach was beginning to change, and what had been a retirement-home environment for many years (75% of residents in 1980 were over 75 years of age) was becoming a place to party for thousands of young tourists who were returning, and a place where hundreds of young models were being photographed constantly for international catalogs and magazines.
In 1990, in response to the Lord’s clear direction once again, I started leading an outreach to the many fashion industry professionals who were now coming to South Beach for work, and in 1993 the Lord made it clear that it was time to start a church here.
I promptly approached my Pastor, Bob Coy, informed him of God’s desire, and that somebody needed to plant a church in South Beach! His reply was frighteningly direct: “You’re there, Robert, start a church!” So in October of 1993 I was sent out from Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale, and on Sunday November 7th, Calvary Chapel Miami Beach was born.
Since that time God has graciously allowed our church to grow in fellowship and discipleship, bless our community, and be a participant in the planting of churches in Lima & San Vicente de Canete (Peru), Aventura (Florida), Boston, MA, and soon in the area of Fortaleza, Brazil.
My wife Elisabet and I are still exited to be here as missionaries more than two decades later, she from Denmark and me from small-town Georgia, but we minister to the Lord Jesus in South Beach these days, and we look forward to what He intends to do here in the early part of the 21st century!
Assistant Pastor: JP Funk
Born during the ’50′s baby boom and raised in Seattle, Washington in the 1960′s, Pastor JP Funk grew up outside the faith. In 1992 he turned 180 degrees to follow the Way, the Truth, and the Life at Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale. In January 1993 JP Funk visited the brand new Calvary Chapel Miami Beach and found a challenge: begin a walk of faith by serving Jesus in South Beach! Now almost two decades later, Pastor Funk continues to love the people of God, serve tirelessly, and walk in joyful faith. Pastor JP graduated from the School of Ministry at CC Albuquerque, NM in 2000 and became an assistant pastor at CCMB in 2003.
Serving Pastor Robert and the body of Christ is a full time job, and Pastor JP oversees the day to day aspects of managing the Church, projects, events, counseling, information, graphics, and myriad of other details. His previous occupations include hair designer, visual artist, gallery manager, & product representative. Married to his awesome wife Heather in 2003, the Funk’s have adopted three daughters. Pastor JP believes the Bible will radically transform a life, and that a relationship with Jesus should be intimate, joyful, and satisfying. Pastor JP loves cooking, gardening, Church history, coffee, and running.
“I love serving Jesus! He is worth our time and focus and will bless us as we bless others. I started vacuuming carpets, and now I get to do awesome things for my Father! He has led me through every challenge and taught me how to trust Him and love the saints.”
Pastor/Worship Leader: Rick Tuttle
Rick has been married to Mary since 1987 and they have two daughters, Paloma and Anna. In 1995, they found Calvary Chapel Miami Beach in the white pages while looking for another church. They were captivated by the sincere love for Jesus that they found in this “hidden gem” on Miami Beach. Rick has been leading the praise and worship ministry at CCMB for the past 15 years.
Rick’s calling as a praise and worship leader began in college when he attended a Bible study and the host handed Rick his guitar and said, “You’re going to lead the singing from now on.” He never plans to stop. “My desire is to worship Jesus with all my heart, soul, mind and strength; and on some occasions that involves music. At Calvary Chapel Miami Beach, I want our music ministry to embody our core values as a church, especially the one that says, ‘We value humility over ability.’ I want people on my team who are humble before the Lord and who submit to one another. God is listening to our hearts. My vision for the praise and worship ministry at Calvary Chapel Miami Beach for many years has been Psalm 40. God has rescued us from the pit of destruction. He has given us a new song to sing, a song of praise. Many will see that and put their trust in the Lord.”
Rick is an experienced computer programmer and runs his own web development company. Some of his favorite things: baseball, jazz piano, classical piano nocturnes, gospel choirs, the Moon, “The Great Divorce” by C.S. Lewis, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, paintings by artists from the Hudson River School, and too many gastronomical delicacies to list.
