Celebrating Our Pastors This Month
As we continue our Pastor Appreciation Month series, we are highlighting the pastors who lead and serve with faithfulness and compassion here at Bay Life. Today, we are excited to feature Pastor Brenton Shephard, our Care and Counseling Pastor. Brenton’s heart for people, his honesty about life’s struggles, and his deep faith in God’s goodness are evident in everything he does. Whether he is walking with someone through a crisis or sharing small moments of worship under the stars, Brenton reminds us that God meets us in every part of life.
If you could only eat one food item for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Pizza.
Tell us one thing most people do not know about you.
I love watching movies and I miss Blockbuster. TV shows require too much time commitment, and if they are a letdown, I feel like I wasted a lot of time. A two-hour movie is just long enough to relax and enjoy a good story.
What Bible verse does God seem to continually bring you back to, sort of as a life verse?
Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
These verses mean a lot to me as someone who has struggled with worry throughout life. They were among the first passages I truly learned to apply. In fact, they are so meaningful that my wife had them engraved inside my wedding ring.
What are you currently reading, aside from the Bible?
I just started Becoming Us by Beth and Jeff McCord. I have had it for a while and wanted to read it, but I am not an avid reader, so it keeps hitting the back burner.
What does your ideal day look like? If you could do anything and go anywhere?
It may sound like a canned response, but honestly, I enjoy spending time with my family. Whether we are visiting a park and grabbing lunch, or heading to Busch Gardens or Adventure Island, those are always great days. If I were crafting the perfect day, it would probably end with a date night out with Amanda—and if all goes as planned, I get home in time to catch the end of the Rays game. Ha!
How did you meet your spouse, and when did you know you wanted to marry her?
I met Amanda at the church I worked at in Ocala. She and her mom came to our membership class, and I remember seeing her across the room. She “reached out” to ask about getting involved in student ministries—but we all know she just wanted to get to know me! We went on our first date in May, and by September, I knew she was the one. I proposed after our summer camps and we got married in June 2012.
How did you come to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
I actually wrote a blog about that! You can read it here: How I Came to Christ
How has God used your role as pastor to transform you?
Pastoring has always been a calling, not just a job. I knew God was calling me into ministry at 19, and since then I have tried to make decisions based on His leading. One of the biggest ways He has transformed me is by constantly reminding me to be a humble servant. Every day, I remember how Christ humbled Himself to serve us, and I want to serve others from that same place of humility.
Describe your most recent personal encounter with Jesus.
There are personal encounters with the grace of God every day. For me, many of those moments come through parenting. Our daughter Emma was diagnosed with autism at age 2 and was non-verbal until she was 6. Even now, conversations are limited—but she gives us answers, expresses needs, and lately she has started singing. In those moments, I see God's goodness so clearly.
Other sacred moments for me come when I am mowing the lawn—yes, really—and singing worship songs (poorly, but the mower drowns it out!). Or when I take the garbage out at night, pause to look up at the stars, and sit in awe of creation. These may seem like small moments, but they are where I sense God's presence if I slow down and pay attention.
What specific ways would you like to see the members of Bay Life get more involved in ministry?
Two-fold. First, I love seeing the younger generation begin to lead. As a former youth pastor, it excites me to see them step up. Second, I love seeing the older generation pour into the younger one. Whether it is in children’s, student, or college ministry—or even through discipling relationships—this kind of generational connection is where the church really becomes the church.
How can the people of Bay Life specifically pray for you and your family?
This is always a hard question. God is faithful and always provides. But with a daughter with special needs, we often pray for guidance, patience, and trust. My prayer is that God would continue to work in Emma’s life and in our family—and that I would never lose sight of His hand and His leading as I seek to lead them.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you for letting me be part of your lives. As the Care and Counseling Pastor, people often come to me during some of the hardest times in life. It is humbling to walk with people through those moments. I do not have all the answers—but I believe we love and serve the God who does. We may not always understand everything right now, but one day it will all make sense.
Thank you, Pastor Brenton, for the steady presence you bring to Bay Life, and for your compassionate, Christ-centered leadership. You remind us that the quiet moments are often where God speaks most clearly.
Stay tuned as we continue this series and celebrate more of the incredible pastors God has placed at Bay Life!
