Pastoral Staff of Tampa First Church

Pastor Jose Alvarez - Ministerio Hispano

       Pastor Jose Alvarez is a native of Cuba who proudly obtained his American Citizenship in 2008.   Pastor Jose has been a resident in the USA from 1996.  

       In the year 1999 pastor Jose says he made the most important decision of his life, and that is, that he accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.   In 2001 he joined Pastor Diaz’s Congregation at Tampa First Hispanic Church as an active member.  Later on that year Pastor Jose recalls a powerful experience where he clearly felt the call to serve in the pastorate.  He recounts with much emotion how he felt the unmistakable presence of God in a Sunday worship service, directing him to yield his life fully to God’s service from henceforth.

       Pastor Jose explains that since then he has joyfully served as an Usher, Board Member, Overseer of the Stewards Committee,  Youth Minister, Director of Visitation Ministry and personal assistant to the Senior Pastor – all at, Tampa First Hispanic Church of the Nazarene under the pastorate of Pastor Edgar Diaz. 

       Pastor Jose is presently looking forward in formalizing his ministerial status and he is four (4) credits away from obtaining his ordination as Elder in the Church of the Nazarene.    Currently pastor Jose as having the time his life serving as Associate Pastor, Hispanic Ministries at the Tampa First Church of the Nazarene and has been doing so since 2006.  The Hispanic ministry was started under the leadership of former Pastor E. Frame and the ministry has blossom into a dynamic group of individuals who love serving the Lord. 

       Pastor Jose has been married to Yenia (who is also from Cuba) since 1995, and they are the proud parents of, Ashley – 8 years old, David – 3 years old and Emanuel – 2 years old.  (Remember, Jesus is mankind’s only hope!)

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Picture of Pastor Jimmy Cruz (here)

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Children's Ministries Director

To Be Announced.......

Music Ministries Director

Jeanette Cloutier

Office Administrator

Carolyn Downer....

Senior Pastor Lynn Nichols

        Pastor Lynn began his ministry at Tampa First on January 4, 2009.  From 1976 to 1982, he traveled with a contemporary Christian band, Deliverance, performing concerts, preaching and ministering around the United States at churches, high schools, camps and other settings.  From 1982 to 1987, he ministered as a Youth/Worship Pastor in Nebraska, Ohio and Missouri.  From 1987 thru to 2008, he ministered as the Lead Pastor at Warren First Church of the Nazarene in Ohio. 

        Pastor Lynn is a graduate of Mount Vernon Nazarene University receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and later attended Ashland Theological Seminary where he received his Masters of Divinity.  Pastor Lynn met his wife Penny, on the campus of Mount Vernon Nazarene University.  They later married in 1982 and now have four children:  Peggy (19), Johnathan (17) and twins, Travis and Trevor (13). He enjoys time with his family and being engaged in ministry.  Pastor Lynn loves Jesus and being with people.  The joy of his life is seeing people transformed by God’s grace and love.

• Favorite Food – Not much he doesn’t like or won’t try!  But chocolate chip cookies are his weakness!
• Hobbies – He enjoys riding his bicycle and getting his hands on a Harle
• Favorite Pastime – Reading, watching his kids in sporting events, talking with people about God’s grace & love and building relationships.

Jimmy Cruz - Famlies w/ Youth Pastor 

       At the age of thirteen, Jimmy was challenged by the words of a preacher that said to him, “young man! ...young man… Did you know that God has a plan for your life?”  Moments later he was giving his heart to the Lord for the first time. It was then, when he left the altar, that he knew that God was calling him into Pastoral Ministry.

       Soon after, he worked as Youth Leader for his local church, Iglesia De Dios M.I. and later as a regional speaker to the youth. His involvement in Festival and Concert planning led him to become technical director for Media & Sound at his local church. Shortly after his first marriage in 1994, he became a Youth Pastor for several years and served as a local and regional youth camp director. He has helped to develop and plan short term mission trips, allowing him to travel throughout the continents. He later developed Youth Explosion Ministries, a city wide networking ministry serving youth workers and ministries.

       In 2003, he became Associate Pastor at Living Waters Int’l Church in Longwood, Fl. Shortly before the passing of his wife, he was asked to join the internationally known ministry of Evangelist Luis Palau, as part of their evangelistic festival team. Being affluence in both English and Spanish, his role was to encourage, lead and train churches and their leadership to get involved in strategic “out of the box” evangelism. Jimmy’s message has been heard world wide and spoken to hundreds of youth and leaders on anointed empowerment, leadership and the “out of the box church," while also speaking to thousands a message of hope, healing and salvation thru Christ.

       Since April 2007, Jimmy has served as the Associate Pastor in Tampa First Church of the Nazarene, leading our Middle School, High School and College & Career Ministries, focusing every opportunity to share the message of the gospel of Jesus, while encouraging leaders and youth to connect for the Kingdom, across barriers of denomination and culture. His passion is to see young people empowered and passionate to serve . While in Tampa, God led him to meet who is today his lovely wife Rose and together, with his two children Victoria and Jonathan, have now made Tampa Bay their home.

       Pastor Jimmy's ministry at Tampa First Church has helped further develop the existing HighTide Youth Ministry, branching out to what are known as Lattetude Café, Quest, H2O and REEF.