Pastor

Born April 5, 1953 in Greenville, South Carolina to Arthur and Lillian Ware, Dr. Ware graduated from Parker High School in 1971. He married his high school sweetheart, Brenda Kay Keller on May 23, 1972. The Lord has blessed them with four children and seven grandchildren.

Called into the Lord’s service shortly after he accepted Christ as his personal Savior in 1973, he began attending Tabernacle Baptist Bible College in Greenville, South Carolina. In 1981, his older brother, Dr. Bob Ware, called him to come to Orlando, Florida to work with the Tabernacle “Super Seniors”. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Bible in 1984, and a Doctor of Divinity in 1989 from Heritage College.

In service for the Lord at Tabernacle Baptist Church for the past thirty years, Dr. Steve Ware has served as Tabernacle’s senior adult director, superintendent of buildings and grounds, professor and Executive Vice-President of Heritage College, teacher for Heritage Preparatory School, and has worked closely with Mrs. Rebecca Ritchie in the administration of the ministry finances.

In February of 1998, the church unanimously voted him as pastor of the ministry. Under Dr. Ware’s leadership, the church has gone forward with the philosophy it was founded with in 1966.

Dr. Barbara Stewart

Pre-School and Elementary

Dr. Stewart has served at Heritage Preparatory School for more than three decades. She has earned degrees from Liberty University (B.S.), Liberty Seminary (M.A.) and Freedom University (Ph.D.). She has served as the elected representative of all faith-based schools on the board of the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County. She continues to work as a team member of Step Up for Students Alliance and is active as a child advocate, regularly speaking with elected officials in Tallahassee. She has met with various political leaders such as Governor Scott, Governor Bush and Lieutenant Governor Toni Jennings. Dr. Stewart loves the Lord, the students and the staff of Heritage. She has dedicated her life to helping students succeed.

Bro. Lloyd Elliott

Middle and High School

Bro. Elliott was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Great State of the Tar Heels. His father was an iron worker, and they traveled extensively in the early years of his life. This was a great experience as he met people from all the states except for a very few. He accepted Christ as his personal Saviour in 1958 at Donaldson Baptist Church in Pontiac, Michigan. This was a great event in his life, and he has attempted to live for Christ since that wonderful day. After high school, he joined the United States Marines and had a great experience serving his country. Following the U.S. Marine Corp, he attended Arlington Baptist College in Arlington, Texas as he had surrendered his life to full time service to do whatever the Lord led him to.

Bro. Elliott has been the Principal of Heritage Preparatory School for approximately ten years with a short separation as his family moved to Alabama. His wife, Rebecca, teaches at Heritage. His five children all love the Lord and are faithful to Him. Bro. Elliott is very thankful that he can serve the Lord and work with the students at Heritage Preparatory School.

Bro. Allan de Souza

Music

The son of a principal, Allan de Souza started teaching music at the age of seventeen. He realized his love for music and teaching around that time. After high school, Bro. de Souza left his hometown, Manaus, AM, Brazil, to study at Pensacola Christian College. He majored in Sacred Music. In 2005, he came to Tabernacle Baptist Church to serve as the music director and teach at Heritage Preparatory School. Bro. de Souza enjoys introducing music to the youngest students by teaching them songs and preparing them for musicals. He also teaches the elementary students the recorder, who are able to perform for Christmas plays and graduation ceremonies. He directs the high school choir and holds summer music camps.

Bro. de Souza is thankful to work with the bright students at Heritage, and prays that the Lord will continue to bless the school for years to come.
Honra, Louvor e Gloria seja dado ao nosso Deus.

Rev. Markus Secrist

Youth and Teens

Bro. Secrist was born and raised in Mount Lookout, West Virginia. He was raised in Pastor’s home and at the age of five trusted Christ as his personal Saviour. On March 5, 2006 at Temple Baptist Church in Powell, Tennessee, he surrendered to preach the Gospel. He is a graduate of Crown College of the Bible where he has received a Bachelor’s of Biblical Studies Degree with emphasis in Youth Ministry. He met his wife at Crown College and have recently been blessed with a baby boy. Bro. Secrist has burning desire to serve the Lord. One of his favorite verses of scripture is II Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

Mrs. Rebecca Ritchie

Bookkeeping

Born in Manila, Philippines, Mrs. Ritchie came to the United States in 1978. She married her mail correspondent and was blessed with two beautiful children. Both are Heritage Preparatory School Alumni. Though very different individuals with unique interest, they both reaped love, joy and freedom from their experiences at Tabernacle Baptist Church and Heritage. Mrs. Ritchie holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Commerce, Accounting, from Adamson University. She came to work for Tabernacle Baptist Church and Heritage in 1982 and in 1987 became the Financial Director. In January 2012, she will be celebrating thirty years of serving the Lord at Tabernacle Baptist Church. Her love for the Lord only grows deeper as she finds every day is a new day, full of opportunities to serve others through the ministries of Tabernacle Baptist Church.