The Reverend Bob Martin is St. Pete First’s new Senior Pastor. He is a native Floridian whose background has entailed many paths that have led him into the ordained ministry. Prior to answering his call to become a pastor in 1993, Pastor Bob spent years working in the secular industries of high tech electro-optical laser manufacturing as well as being a professional recruiter with a national company. His understanding the challenges of what hardworking people go through brings a unique perspective to his teaching ministry as a pastor.

 

Creating a culture where people can get in touch with the God who created them and know fully His love and desire for them to live their life’s dreams, is central to Pastor Bob’s purpose. Deeply believing, “We all have two innate needs in life: to love and be loved”, Bob focuses on helping others remove the barriers that hold them back from living that purpose and with God’s leading, strives to give others the tools to find a deeper sense of Christian love and calling in life.

The Reverend Margaret Rountree is St. Pete First’s Associate Pastor. She recently graduated with her Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia in May 2021, and was commissioned as a Provisional Elder in June in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church.

 

She was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, and attended the University of Florida for her undergraduate years, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Go Gators!). She is recently married to Chris who is the Associate Manager of Technical Operations at Global Payments, a technology and software company.