Cape Coral Church | Cape Christian Fellowship

Wesley Furlong

LEAD PASTOR

Wes was born in Ft. Myers, FL and graduated from Mariner High School in 1995. He attended Trevecca Nazarene University where he played baseball and served on the Student Government Association as the student chaplain. He graduated in 2000 with a B.A. in Religion and a minor in Biblical Hebrew. He and Bonnie were married April 15, 2000.

Wes co-authored his first book with Dr. Timothy Green (“So, What Now?”), which was published through Beacon Hill Press in 2000. They moved to Kansas City, MO where Wes attended Nazarene Theological Seminary and worked with Youth in Mission, setting up mission trips for college-aged students. On July 30, 2001 Alexandra Grace Furlong was born.

After graduating from NTS with a M.A. in Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies (magna cum laude) in 2002, Wes, Bonnie, and Alex moved to Atlanta, GA. Wes entered the M.T.S. program at Emory University and served a United Methodist Church as pastor of student ministries.  Wes graduated from Emory University in 2004 with a M. T.S. in Theology and Social Philosophy (magna cum laude).  On December 30, 2004 Ellyana Claire Furlong was born.  Maddox (Max) Bradley was born on August 25, 2006.  

Wes now serves as the Lead Pastor at Cape Christian Fellowship.

Dennis Gingerich

FOUNDING PASTOR

Dennis was raised near Salem, Oregon. Linda Augsburger was raised in Youngstown, Ohio. They met at college in 1972 and married December 27, 1974. Linda earned a Bachelor of Science Nursing degree in 1977 and Dennis earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible and Social Work in 1976, both from Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA. Dennis also graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Eastern Mennonite Seminary in 1979.

Dennis and Linda authored three children: two sons, Chad and Cheritt, and a daughter, Charissa. Chad married Lisa Reilly in May 1999. They have two daughters, Analise (born October 2005) and Rylee (born November 2009).  Cheritt married Kelly Teno in May 2010 and Charissa married Jonathan Higdon in February 2009.

After pastoring a church in Elmira, NY for nearly 7 years, Dennis and Linda moved to Cape Coral, FL in 1986 for the purpose of beginning a new church. Cape Christian Fellowship was born Easter Sunday, 1987. Dennis and Linda have a passion for reaching the unchurched and helping pre-Christians become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

Linda is a Registered Nurse and has worked in the Birth Place of Cape Coral Hospital since 1989.  Dennis coached soccer in Cape Coral for 13 years and has been Lead Chaplain of the Cape Coral Police Department since 1996.  He serves on the Council for Progress board - a private sector group that promotes business development in Cape Coral, the Cape Coral Community Foundation board - the piggy bank for Cape Coral, Grace Global Network - a ministry dedicated to locating, training, connecting, resourcing, and multiplying healthy movements of new church plantings around the world and on the Advisory Board of the Lee County Coalition for a Drug-Free Southwest Florida.  To relax, Dennis enjoys nature photography.

Brett Furlong

EXECUTIVE PASTOR

Brett was born in Ft. Myers, Florida in 1980 and graduated from Mariner High School in 1998. He pursued a BA degree in Religion with a minor in Youth Ministry from Trevecca Nazarene University and graduated May of 2002.

Brett married Mandy on September 22, 2007. The two of them are very passionate about projects that bring awareness to the pandemic of HIV/AIDS. Brett loves to travel across the globe to see how God is moving in many different cultures. He has led multiple missions trips to Africa, where he has a deep compassion for helping and sponsoring orphan children and families in need.

Brett and Mandy welcomed their first child, Brecken Claire Furlong into the world on May 23, 2009 and their second child Brighton Cate into the world on September 6, 2010.

Originally Brett began working at Cape Christian in 2002 as our Youth Pastor, but now serves as our Executive Pastor.

Randal Rice

WORSHIP DIRECTOR

Randal was born in Olney, Texas and raised in a small town of Rush Springs, Ok. He grew up playing Football and Basketball, and in his junior year he traded sports for a guitar. After high school Randal attended and graduated Cosmetology school and worked as a stylist in Dallas, Texas for two years before moving to Cape Coral. He met his wife, Kristen at a salon where they worked together in Ft. Myers. The two were married May 9^th, 2008. While Kristen has attended Cape Christian Fellowship for more than fifteen years, Randal started to attend regularly In April 2009 where he got the calling to lead worship.

Joshua Yates

DISCIPLESHIP AND COMMUNITY LIFE PASTOR

Josh was born in Newton, New Jersey in 1979. Growing up, he always rose to places of leadership in the church. He moved from NJ to Cape Coral in 1996 where he met his wife Marilu. They were married on the 4th of July in 1998. In 2001 they had their first son J.C., in 2002 their second son Silas came along, and in 2003 their daughter Jocelyn was born.

Over the past twelve years, Josh has been involved in leading small groups, coaching small group leaders, and working side-by-side with small group pastors. In 2005, Josh served as interim youth pastor in Spring Hill, FL. In 2006, he and his family served as leaders in helping to plant Crosspoint Church in Spring Hill. In 2008, the “Yates Clan” moved back to Cape Coral and joined Cape Christian.

Josh is passionate about helping Christ followers find their identity through their relationship with God and fellow believers. His ministry goals include creating safe and transparent environments for people to engage in authentic community, enabling them to encounter and walk closer to God because of friends that hold them accountable, and seeing transformed lives that naturally come about in smaller groups of people.

Chris Euler

DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MINISTRY

Although Chris is an avid Ohio State fan, he spent 18 years in cold, snowy northern Michigan. Chris moved to Fort Myers, Florida in 2003, where he met his beautiful bride, Autumn. He graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Religion and Youth Ministry in 2008.

Chris has served in youth ministry since he graduated from high school in 2001. Most recently, he served as the Student Ministries Pastor at Boca Raton Community Church from 2008-2011. God brought Chris to the Cape Christian family this past September. He and Autumn are excited to be used by God here in Cape Coral in ways they cannot even imagine!

Chris and Autumn stay very busy with four beautiful little kiddos: Lorelei, Landon, Allie, and Elijah. When they are not hands-deep in homeschooling, diapers, or ministry, the Euler Family enjoys spending time at parks, watching Cincinnati Reds baseball, or hanging out with family!

Chad Woolf

DIRECTOR OF NOT IN MY CITY

Chad was born and raised in Eastern Iowa.  He attended Emmaus Bible College and graduated with a B.S. in Biblical Studies. Through his time at Emmaus Chad served as a volunteer youth leader in a local church and as a camp counselor during the summers.  After finishing his education at Emmaus Chad served for two years as a youth director in Iowa and continued to work with East Iowa Bible Camp as a speaker and Program Director.

Chad moved to southwest Florida in the fall of 2004 and has been serving in churches as a Pastor working with youth and young adults ever since. Along with enjoying the awesome Florida weather, beaches, and attractions Chad loves to play basketball and follow his favorite Chicago sports teams (sorry, not the White Sox!)

Chad and his wife Kari met in 2006 and have been married since 2008. They currently have one child—a baby boy named Turner.

Brooke Edmonds

DIRECTOR of CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Brooke was born and raised on Long Island, New York. Brooke and her husband Chad have three daughters, Skylar, Payton and Jordyn. Brooke and Chad started attending Cape Christian in 2001. Brooke served in many areas of Family Ministry before joining the staff in 2005.

Brooke is the Director of Children's Ministry and FamJam at CCF.  She has a passion for leading kids into a growing relationship with Christ as well as teaching parents and guardians how to become spiritual leaders within their homes. Brooke enjoys reaching out to kids in the community, to help all families experience God's blessings. 

Brooke's interests include dancing, eating, shopping and reality TV.

Elisha Baird

NURSERY COORDINATOR

Elisha was born in Ft. Myers, Flordia in 1978.  She graduated in 1996 from Cape Coral High School.  She is happily married to her husdand Joe and they have three beautiful daugthers, Alysaa, Madelynn and Melanie.

She has been attending Cape Christian for 7 years, where she served in many areas in the church.

Her favorite past time is spending time with her family, scrap-booking, and doing things for other people.

Yvonne Arroyo

DISCIPLESHIP AND COMMUNITY LIFE

Yvonne was born and raised in Bronx, New York , where she met and married her husband Al. They have three children, Tara, Jessica and Matthew. 

The Arroyo family moved to Florida in November of 2005 where Yvonne joined the CCF staff, working in Adult Ministry since June of 2006. Currently, Yvonne is working in life groups, with a focus in coordination of team coaches.  She is passionate about coaching and helping others deepen their walk with Chirst.

Yvonne is also passionate about spending time with her family and girlfriends, food and cooking, as well as reading.

Kimberly Squicciarini

ADMINISTRATIVE CURRICULUM COORDINATOR

Kim has been a member of Cape Christian for over 10 years. She is a Buffalo, NY native, but grew up in Cape Coral. Following high school, Kim taught at a local preschool where she discovered her passion for engaging little minds. She then taught elementary school while earning her Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Kim is happily married to her high school sweetheart, Chris and they have three beautiful boys, Noah, Owen and Anden and a baby girl, named Kinsley.

With 4 beautiful children and working part time for our preschool Kim has her plate full of God's amazing gifts (and a good dose of patience too!). Kim is very enthusiastic about the ministry of Cape Christian Preschool and helping it become everything God intends it to be.

If you would like more information about our preschool please click on the preschool links above or call us at 239.772.5781.

Julie Smith

CONNECTIONS COORDINATOR

Julie was born in St Louis, MO in 19 66 and moved to Brookfield, WI five years later.  She attended and graduated from Brookfield East High School.

1991 brought Julie to Florida where she lived on Sanibel Island until meeting her husband Ken in 1997.  She moved to Cape Coral in 1999 and began attending Cape Christian shortly thereafter.  Julie has been involved with Children's Ministry since the birth of her first child Piper in January of 2000, including the ground breaking first year of FamJam in 2005 when Julie began on staff.  This was a very natural setting for her as she could watch Piper and son K.C. develop and learn the good news about our Savior.

Julie made the switch to adult ministry in 2008 and is now the Connections Coordinator.  This had proven to be a creative and demanding area in directing new guest and attendees into areas of church ministry and membership here at Cape Christian.

Julie enjoys outdoor concerts with friends, spending time with family and good food and has been know to swing both a tennis racquet and golf club (although not lately).  Working along with other to advance the Kingdom of Christ is a passion and joy to her spirit. 

Patty Powell

BOOKKEEPER/HUMAN RESOURCES

Shane Burdett

DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Shane was born in Coarsegold, CA and spent most of his adolescence in Spencer, MA.  From 1998-2001 Shane attended Bay Path Regional, where he completed a 4-year technical program in the field of Electrical Engineering.  Shane went on to attend Quinsigamond Community College, where he studied in the field of Engineering.  Shane is currently attending Western Governors University and plans to have a BS in Business Management by the summer of 2013.

Shane has been a member of Cape Christian since 2003 and became a follower of Christ under the compassionate support of this congregation.  Shane mentored under Pastor Wes while co-leading the college ministry in 2004-2005.  In 2005, Shane met his lovely wife Amy and they where married later that year.

Tony Hostetler

VISITATION PASTOR

Pastor Tony was born in 1923 on a farm in Plain City, OH, where he grew up with 10 siblings. In 1945, he married Ada Troyer of Arthur, IL. In 1946, Tony and Ada became the proud parents of a son, Ron. They now have 4 grandchildren living in the Atlanta area.  Sadly, after nearly 65 years of marriage, Ada changed her address to heaven in August 2009.

In 1950, Tony started his relationship with Jesus Christ at a Billy Graham meeting in Columbus, OH. In 1952 he was ordained as a pastor. Since then, Tony has pastored seven churches across the country. Tony and Ada were one of three couples who founded Cape Christian Fellowship. Having worn multiple hats over the years, Tony now serves the church as Visitation Pastor.

Interesting trivia about Pastor Tony includes him serving as a technical advisor for a MGM television series "Then Came Bronson".  Also, at almost 60 years of age, Tony rode a bicycle almost 4,000 miles across America from the Pacific to the Atlantic. In his mid 80's, Tony still stays in shape by doing aerobics three times a week at the gym.

Van Ibasan

VISUAL ARTS DIRECTOR

Van was born in the Philippines and raised in Miami, FL. In 2007 he graduated from Southeastern University with a BS in Church Ministries concentrating in Pastoral Ministries and married his high school sweetheart Jenny The following year they moved to Southwest Florida to do ministry, shortly thereafter Van joined the internship program at Cape Christian.

Van serves in the areas of preaching and teaching as well as media ministry and loves the convergence of the two. On April 8, 2010 he and Jenny welcomed their first child Lucas.