Staff - Lakes Church

Our Staff

Dr. Aaron D. Burgner

Senior Pastor

Lead Staff

Pastor Dwayne McDow

Executive Pastor

Pastor Marc Roath

Executive Pastor of Ministries

Pastor Alex Davis

Teaching / Multiplication Pastor

Pastor Caleb Lain

Pastor of Worship & Missions

Pastor Michael Robinson

Auburndale Campus Pastor

Pastor Mark Creech

Cypress Lakes Campus Pastor

Pastor Phil Young

Mature Adult Pastor and Stewardship Pastor

Pastor Juan Puente

Lakes Church en Español Downtown Campus Pastor

Gordon Sun

South Campus Minister

Pastor German Rivas

Auburndale en Español Campus Pastor

Pastor Jedidiah Faulkner

Associate Pastor of Worship

Pastor Allen Flood

NexT Gen Pastor

Seth Miller

Kids Minister

Lead Staff Assistants

Beth Miller

Ministry Assistant to the Senior Pastor

Kelly Glogower

Executive Pastor Assistant

Tammy Frisbie

Ministry Assistant to the Executive Pastor of Ministries

Kathy Ames

Mature Adult Ministry Assistant

Diana Puente

Lakes Church en Español Pastor Ministry Assistant

Pam Cook

Assistant to the Next Gen Pastor

Ministry Staff

Pastor Andrew McDow

Discipleship Pastor

Pastor Matt Nipper

Connections Pastor

Christine Batchelder

Communications Director

Brittany Faulkner

KIDS JR Director

Britney Kirby

Kids Ministry Director, South Campus

Amy Dillman

KIDS JR Director, Auburndale Campus

Raleigh Hill

Kids Ministry Associate

Kent Lambert

College Minister

Sundar Vaffis

South Student/Worship Minister

Dawn Hancock

Wonderfully Made Director

Cole Sanchez

Downtown Student Associate

Andrew Long

Downtown Student Associate

Chris Gammon

Auburndale Student Minister

Steve Antley

Ministries Associate

Lee Lethers

A/V Specialist

Larry Butts

Worship Associate

Jay Ballard

Technology Director

Greg Hieronymus

Maintenance and Housekeeping Director

Mary Lou Helm

Pastoral Care Ministry Assistant

Sandi Young

Accounting Assistant/Receptionist

Sandra Saunders

Receptionist

Sabrina Fambrough

Accounting Director

Sharon Wiesbrock

Print Shop Manager

Mission Statement

To glorify God by making Jesus Christ known throughout our community and beyond!

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Dr. Aaron D. Burgner

Senior Pastor

Ministry Leadership & Service

Dr. Aaron D. Burgner currently serves as Senior Pastor of Lakes Church in Lakeland, Florida, where he has faithfully ministered since 2017. Under his leadership, Lakes Church has grown to a thriving congregation of over 3,000 members committed to spreading the gospel locally and globally.

With more than 25 years of pastoral experience, Dr. Burgner has demonstrated exceptional leadership across various ministry contexts.

Dr. Burgner has distinguished himself through significant service to Southern Baptists at the state level:

Three-term President, Florida Baptist State Board of Missions (2022-2025)
President, Florida Baptist Pastors’ Conference (2024)

His consistent leadership within the Florida Baptist Convention demonstrates both his administrative capabilities and the high regard in which he is held by his peers throughout the state.

Educational Background

Doctor of Ministry in Christ-Centered Exposition, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (2019)
Honorary Doctorate, Louisiana Baptist University
Master of Divinity, Liberty University (2009)
Bachelor of Science in Church Leadership, Southeastern University

Personal Life & Family

Dr. Burgner came to know Christ personally at age 7 and received his call to ministry at 17. Since December 30, 2000, he has been married to Tiffany Evers Burgner, who partners with him in ministry through her active involvement in women’s ministry and missions at Lakes Church.

Together, they have been blessed with:

Son: Titus Burgner and daughter-in-law Sydney Burgner
Daughter: Haven Burgner
Grandson: Reed Burgner

Ministry Vision & Heart

At the core of Dr. Burgner’s ministry is his unwavering commitment to Christ-centered biblical exposition and the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Under his leadership at Lakes Church, there has been a renewed emphasis on equipping and mobilizing members for global missions work, maintaining the church’s rich legacy of Gospel impact in Lakeland and beyond.

Dr. Burgner has demonstrated consistent dedication to keeping God’s Word central in all aspects of ministry while developing and empowering others for Kingdom service. His leadership style combines theological depth with practical application, and his heart for pastors is evident through his mentorship of younger ministers and support of colleagues.