David Schorejs
Senior Pastor
Pastor David Schorejs (shore-eyes) is a Michigander transplanted in Florida through the Marine Corps. He grew up understanding the value of working hard and caring about others. He was reared in a strong Catholic home and received a wonderful education in Catholic school through 8th grade. He attended public High School graduating in 1973. In early 1975 He entered the United States Marine Corps.
He served our great country for 24 years (10 years in the Military Police field and 14 in the Recruiting field). During His Military Career he recognized the need to put Jesus first in His life and made some significant spiritual changes. From 1984 through 1999 he served the Marines and his communities simultaneously through active Church participation. He retired from the Marines in 1999 at the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant.
In 1993 he first moved to the Orlando area as the Central Florida Operations Chief for Marine Corps Recruiting. He fell in love with the Central Florida community and settled here. After the Marines he was called immediately to serve in the Ministry. He completed his undergraduate work at UCF in May of 2000 and received his Master of Arts in Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in 2004.
From 1999-2014 He served in various Pastoral Roles. On Easter of 2014 First Baptist Church Apopka called him to serve as Senior Pastor. Pastor David has led First Baptist to become a community church that believes every individual has value. First Baptist has become a culturally diverse congregation that believes God can change any life to the good - with the right people cheerleading them toward change.
He is the father of three daughters, two grandchildren and one great-grandson. He was married for 41 years to Diana until her unexpected passing on April 15, 2019. In Feb 2020, God blessed Pastor David with the marriage to Bunnie Acree (formerly Rice). They have a deep abiding love for Jesus, each other, their families, the church, and their community. Together they believe God will use them to His glory!
He served our great country for 24 years (10 years in the Military Police field and 14 in the Recruiting field). During His Military Career he recognized the need to put Jesus first in His life and made some significant spiritual changes. From 1984 through 1999 he served the Marines and his communities simultaneously through active Church participation. He retired from the Marines in 1999 at the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant.
In 1993 he first moved to the Orlando area as the Central Florida Operations Chief for Marine Corps Recruiting. He fell in love with the Central Florida community and settled here. After the Marines he was called immediately to serve in the Ministry. He completed his undergraduate work at UCF in May of 2000 and received his Master of Arts in Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in 2004.
From 1999-2014 He served in various Pastoral Roles. On Easter of 2014 First Baptist Church Apopka called him to serve as Senior Pastor. Pastor David has led First Baptist to become a community church that believes every individual has value. First Baptist has become a culturally diverse congregation that believes God can change any life to the good - with the right people cheerleading them toward change.
He is the father of three daughters, two grandchildren and one great-grandson. He was married for 41 years to Diana until her unexpected passing on April 15, 2019. In Feb 2020, God blessed Pastor David with the marriage to Bunnie Acree (formerly Rice). They have a deep abiding love for Jesus, each other, their families, the church, and their community. Together they believe God will use them to His glory!
Darrell Loper
Pastor of Administration & Music
Pastor Darrell is an Orlando native who prayed to receive Christ at 7 years old and has served the Lord faithfully all of his life. In his college years Darrell answered the call to the Gospel ministry and took a position of music ministry intern under his mentor Craig Stamper at Parkway Baptist Church in East Orlando. Darrell later became the Minister of Music at Parkway Baptist Church where he led a thriving ministry of over 150 people in the music program. Darrell's next position was Worship Pastor at C3 Church in Orlando where he also served as Small Groups Pastor and Connections Pastor. Darrell in 2011 was called to serve a growing congregation at Eastpoint Fellowship in East Orlando once again. Darrell filled the Worship, College and Executive Pastor roles at Eastpoint Fellowship until 2017. Darrell then transitioned to a secular work-force position in the luxury retail industry at Tiffany & Co. as the Senior Branch Security Officer for 5 years until he accepted the call again to full-time Gospel ministry at First Baptist Church of Apopka in August of 2021.
Pastor Darrell has been married to his wife Andrea for 20 years and they have a handsome 14 year old son named Dallas. Pastor Darrell's life verse is Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take."
Pastor Darrell has been married to his wife Andrea for 20 years and they have a handsome 14 year old son named Dallas. Pastor Darrell's life verse is Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take."
Kevin Kozial
Youth Pastor
Hi! I’m Kevin Kozial, student pastor here at First Baptist of Apopka. My favorite roles are being the husband to Stacey, the dad to our children (Zack, Kevina, and Calvin), and pointing young people towards Jesus as a servant of God.
The eldest of 5 siblings, I grew up in various locations of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri, having attended 11 different schools in my 12 years of school. Desperate for identity, I turned to sports, particularly football and track, and earned a scholarship to play at Mizzou. Although having received Jesus Christ as my Savior as a high school senior, I wrestled for an identity outside of Him for a few painful—but spiritually beneficial years. I surrendered in 1991, giving Jesus, my Savior, Lordship of my life. God has used my transient and dysfunctional childhood and high school years to form in me a memory of loneliness that serves me to this day in ministering to students who need Jesus.
In 1992, I attended Luther Rice Seminary for personal growth. Stacey and I also married in 1992, and we began teaching 6th grade Sunday School. We located to Apopka and made this church our home in 2000 and continued serving by teaching and evangelizing.
In 2017, I graduated Liberty University with a Bachelor of History degree, and in 2020, I attained a Master’s in Worship Studies and Pastoral Care degree. God has invariably used what I have learned by walking with Him.
FUEL youth ministry is founded on two fundamental principles: the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Christ-followers are called to be disciples who make disciples. This is what Stacey and I hope to see happen not only within youth ministry but also within our Church, our community, and in the world. We look forward to the days ahead here at First Baptist of Apopka!
The eldest of 5 siblings, I grew up in various locations of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri, having attended 11 different schools in my 12 years of school. Desperate for identity, I turned to sports, particularly football and track, and earned a scholarship to play at Mizzou. Although having received Jesus Christ as my Savior as a high school senior, I wrestled for an identity outside of Him for a few painful—but spiritually beneficial years. I surrendered in 1991, giving Jesus, my Savior, Lordship of my life. God has used my transient and dysfunctional childhood and high school years to form in me a memory of loneliness that serves me to this day in ministering to students who need Jesus.
In 1992, I attended Luther Rice Seminary for personal growth. Stacey and I also married in 1992, and we began teaching 6th grade Sunday School. We located to Apopka and made this church our home in 2000 and continued serving by teaching and evangelizing.
In 2017, I graduated Liberty University with a Bachelor of History degree, and in 2020, I attained a Master’s in Worship Studies and Pastoral Care degree. God has invariably used what I have learned by walking with Him.
FUEL youth ministry is founded on two fundamental principles: the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Christ-followers are called to be disciples who make disciples. This is what Stacey and I hope to see happen not only within youth ministry but also within our Church, our community, and in the world. We look forward to the days ahead here at First Baptist of Apopka!
AC McCann
Deaf Ministry Pastor
Pastor A.C. received Jesus Christ as his Savior on Halloween night in October 1971. God put him into His service and he never dreamed that his service for Him would include the deaf world. Pastor A.C. learned sign language as a result of his wife, Wanda's deafness. Pastor A.C. and Wanda attended Tennessee Temple Bible School in Chattanooga, TN in 1973. Pastor A.C. graduated Tennessee Temple Bible School and University, Luther Rice Seminary and Covington Theological Seminary. Pastor A.C.'s degrees include: Thg. in Bible, B.A. in Bible, Master of Divinity, Doctor of Ministry, and Ph.D. in Religious Education.
God has given Pastor A.C. the opportunity to establish deaf ministries in the states of Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Florida. Pastor A.C. has over 50+ years of involvement with the deaf community as a teacher, interpreter, deaf director, and pastor.
Pastor A.C. has been married over 56 years to his wife, Wanda McCann. They have 4 children, 10 grandchildren and one great-grandson. Pastor A.C.'s hobbies include: Motorcycling (Harley Davidson), surfing on the web, and of course number one...proclaiming Christ and seeking souls for Him!
God has given Pastor A.C. the opportunity to establish deaf ministries in the states of Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Florida. Pastor A.C. has over 50+ years of involvement with the deaf community as a teacher, interpreter, deaf director, and pastor.
Pastor A.C. has been married over 56 years to his wife, Wanda McCann. They have 4 children, 10 grandchildren and one great-grandson. Pastor A.C.'s hobbies include: Motorcycling (Harley Davidson), surfing on the web, and of course number one...proclaiming Christ and seeking souls for Him!
Nicole Gutierrez
Children's Director
Nicole has been the children's ministry director since 2022 and oversees the care and guidance of those in the nursery through 5th grade. Nicole directs the children's programming here at FBCA. These programs include Sunday School, Children's Church, Vacation Bible School, and Wednesday Night Children's Discipleship. Nicole's goal is to help the children at FBCA grow in their understanding of who God is and to develop a strong lifelong relationship with Him.
Nicole is widowed and has three adult children, one teenage daughter and one grandson. She loves to travel and spend time with her family creating memories together.
Nicole looks forward to meeting your family and is here to partner with you as you disciple your children to develop a lifelong love for Jesus!
Nicole is widowed and has three adult children, one teenage daughter and one grandson. She loves to travel and spend time with her family creating memories together.
Nicole looks forward to meeting your family and is here to partner with you as you disciple your children to develop a lifelong love for Jesus!