Meet Our Team
Christchurch Miami is led by a team - two preaching pastors who share the pulpit equally, a staff that runs the rhythms of the church family, a Session of elders ordained to shepherd the congregation, and a board of deacons devoted to mercy and service. Every person on this page is here because they love Jesus, love this faith family, and have committed themselves to the work of the gospel in Kendall, Florida.
Pastors
Rev. James Drake
Lead Pastor
Ordained teaching pastor with 20+ years of ministry experience through Cru. U.S. Army Chaplain serving with the 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) - known to his Soldiers as "Chaplain America." Speaks nationwide for FamilyLife's Weekend to Remember marriage conferences with his wife Heidi.
Dr. Kent Keller
Teaching Pastor
Co-equal preaching voice with James. 30+ years in church planting and pastoral ministry. Doctor of Ministry from Covenant Theological Seminary, Master of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary. Author of Random Observations of an Orderly Universe and a regular long-form contributor to the Christchurch blog.
Staff Team
Heidi Drake
Family Ministry Director
South Florida director of the Christian Medical & Dental Association. Speaks with James at FamilyLife marriage conferences. Licensed PA with cardiothoracic surgery experience. Mom of five.
Alice Hernandez
Director of Operations
Four years overseeing the administrative and operational life of Christchurch. B.S. in Business Administration. Married to Josh Roque (elder).
Jenny Cabrera
Church Secretary
The friendly face that keeps Christchurch running. Coordinates events and supports our ministry teams. Former teacher at Kendall Christian School.
Cyndi De Leon
Financial Secretary
Bio coming soon.
Teresa Torralbas
Head of School - KCS
Leads Kendall Christian School in Christ-centered, academically rigorous education. Master's in Leadership (Nova Southeastern); B.A. in Education (Trinity International).
Bryan Munoz
Youth Coordinator · Deacon
Leads middle and high school ministry. Wednesdays at 7 PM and Sundays at 9:30 AM. Full bio coming soon.
Church Elders our Session - ordained to shepherd
Mark Graham
Elder
Josh Roque
Elder
Jerry Zeidler
Elder
Alfie Hernandez
Elder
Church Deacons ordained to lead in mercy and service
Hugo Pastora
Deacon
Bill Braaksma
Deacon
Gus Monte
Deacon
David Barcelo
Deacon
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the lead pastor at Christchurch Miami?
Rev. James Drake is the Lead Pastor of Christchurch Miami. He shares preaching responsibility equally with Teaching Pastor Dr. Kent Keller. James is also a U.S. Army Chaplain serving with the 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
Who teaches at Christchurch Miami?
Christchurch has two co-equal preaching pastors: Lead Pastor Rev. James Drake and Teaching Pastor Dr. Kent Keller. They share the pulpit roughly evenly. Other speakers occasionally rotate in, including Rick Closius, Jeff Sullivan, and Patrick Harrington.
How is Christchurch Miami governed?
Christchurch is governed by a Session of ordained elders, responsible for the spiritual oversight of the congregation, and served by a board of deacons devoted to mercy and practical care. All elders and deacons are examined and ordained according to the standards of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and our South Florida Presbytery.
How do I contact a pastor at Christchurch Miami?
Email hello@christchurchmiami.org or call the church office at 305-271-5262. We will route your message to the right pastor or staff member. For pastoral care or counseling, the staff team will connect you directly.