Lead Pastor

Pastor Lewis had the privilege of joining Sarasota Baptist Church as the lead pastor in September of 2022. He and Liliana are excited about serving here with the overwhelming support of the church’s call on August 14, following the retirement of its previous lead pastor after 24 years. Michael is married to Liliana, who is a native of Mexico City, and they have three adult daughters - Charity, Faith and Hope. He is a spiritual shepherd who desires to make disciples who love God, love people, and lead others to do the same.

Michael grew up in Savannah, GA; He is a graduate of Columbia International University with a Bible degree and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with Master of Divinity degree. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Liberty University in 2005. He began serving churches as pastor at the age of 21, having served churches in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Texas. For 3 years, he was instrumental in providing a continuum of care for 46,000 pastors and their families through the North American Mission Board as he served as the Executive Director of Pastoral Care and Development.

Michael and Liliana are lead-trainers for Galatians 6:6 retreats for ministry couples through the Great Commandment Network, and he mentors churches/associations through the CALLED2LOVE through the Acts 2 Journey  cohort process. Even as a local church pastor, he continues to serve into a continuum of care for ministry leaders both locally and nationally.

Michael grew up in the small South Georgia town of Vidalia, but he and Suzette have called Sarasota home for over 20 years. He graduated from Brewton Parker College and The School of Church Music at Shorter University where he and Suzette met on the first day! Ask either of them if they believe in love at first sight, and the answer will be yes! They have two sons and one grandson and enjoy spending time with family, going out to eat with friends, watching classic movies, and when they can get away, spending time in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. They enjoy working together and love helping others develop musically, grow spiritually, and use their gifts and abilities in leading the church in worship.

Jared & his family were called to Sarasota Baptist Church in February of 2013. Jared is a graduate of Palm Beach Atlantic University and of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He comes to Sarasota Baptist Church after serving as Assoc. Pastor of Worship and Students at Saddle Creek Church in Little Rock, AR, and as Assoc. Pastor of Students at First Baptist Church of Glen Saint Mary, FL. Jared and his wife, Cindy, share a passion for this generation of students by helping them to discover a new way of life through an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus Christ – learning how to love Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. With a call to full-time ministry during an international mission trip and a wife who previously served as a missionary in Brazil for three years, Jared also has a heart to mobilize students to personally respond to the Great Commission (Matt. 28). Married in 2006, Jared and Cindy have been blessed with one son and one daughter.

Edwin and his family came to Sarasota Baptist in August of 2014. He joined the staff as Church Administrator January 1, 2017. He has served as Minister of Education at Innerarity Point Baptist Church Pensacola, Florida and First Baptist Church of Crystal River, Florida (where he was ordained). He most recently served as Children’s Pastor at Fellowship Church Madison Florida. Edwin received his Bachelors in Criminology from FSU and his Masters of Christian Education from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Edwin and his wife Stephanie have two sons Tyler and Connor.

Glen came to Sarasota Baptist with his family in July 2018. He and his wife Chrissy were married in 2000 and served as missionaries in Honduras in 2001 and 2002. After that, Glen served on the pastoral staff at Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, GA for 15 years. In his time at Hebron, Glen had many roles in the church and in the community such as missions pastor, local outreach pastor, adult ministries team leader, chaplain for Gwinnett County Police and Sheriffs Department, member of Hebron Christian Academy school board, and speaker for several youth camps and church growth conferences.
Glen loves to be around people and has a heart to make disciples that make disciples. As a veteran of the US Army’s 82nd Airborne he loves all things outdoors (especially fishing).
Glen and Chrissy have 4 boys (Ethan, Collin, Evan, and Caden) that keep them busy and entertained. The Rowdens love eating out, going on trips together, and joking around at the dinner table.