Meet The Pastors

 

Pastor Mark Balmer
Senior Pastor

 

Mark Balmer is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel of Melbourne in West Melbourne, Florida.  He was a hospital pharmacy director for twenty-five years before God called him to plant a new church in the Melbourne-Palm Bay area in 1992.  Since that time, God has blessed the congregation with tremendous growth.  Today more than six thousand people come to worship each weekend on the thirty-seven acre campus.  Many others watch the services live on the World Wide Web.

 

God has gifted Mark as a pastor-teacher with a practical, compelling, and easily-grasped style of communicating the truths of God’s Word.  His messages regularly challenge both the Christian and the unbeliever.  On a typical weekend, dozens of people rededicate their lives to Christ or make a first-time decision to accept Christ as their Savior. Mark’s teachings are available on CD, MP3, and DVD and are heard daily on the radio program, “Lessons for Living.”  He has written two books, Who’s Rocking The Boat and Prison Break.

 

Mark is supported in his ministry by his wife of forty years, Lynda, who adds her own special God-given gifts to the Melbourne fellowship, and has two children.

 

 

Pastor Dave Folkerts
Associate Pastor

 

Dave Folkerts is an associate pastor at Calvary Chapel of Melbourne where he has served since early 2002.  He oversees the men’s, women’s and children’s ministries as well as Fusion, a young adults group.  He led the School of Ministry, training future pastors, and is currently leading the Calvary Leadership Training.  Dave has authored a Christian book for men entitled Balance at the Speed of Life.

 

Dave has 18 years of experience in corporate business management.  He has Bible college training from Calvary Chapel Bible College and Global University.  Dave received a bachelors of science degree from Iowa State University and a masters degree from Purdue University.

 

Dave was radically saved in 1981 while attending a secular college and living a life full of drugs, alcohol and dead religion.  Dave and his wife Barb have been married since 1983 and have three children who are all following the Lord.

 

Pastor Dean Corns
Associate Pastor

 

Dean Corns is an associate pastor at Calvary Chapel of Melbourne where he has served since early 2004. He oversees the production departments (music/worship teams, sound, lighting, and video) in addition to several adult small group ministries. He also is the campus pastor for Calvary Chapel Melbourne at Viera, a satellite church featuring live on-site praise and worship music and then joining the West Melbourne campus via live video for the teaching time.

 

Dean was born in Melbourne, Florida. Although most of his life has been spent in Florida he did live in North Carolina, Kansas and New Hampshire for short periods of time. He was raised in a troubled home during his early years of life which led to the separation of his parents. His father moved to Florida and through the constant invitation of his aunt, his father came to church one Sunday evening and trusted in Christ. God delivered him from his alcohol addiction. God used this event to bring Dean to salvation at the age of 12. It was only a few years later when he felt that God had a calling on his life to be in the ministry. God led him to marry his high school sweetheart, Melinda, in November of 1983. Since that time they have been blessed with two wonderful children.

 

Pastor Dean has been in full time ministry for over 20 years, serving as Youth Pastor, College and Career Pastor, Couples Pastor, Worship Pastor and Senior Pastor. He feels that every time he has the chance to be used of God in the life of another that he has experienced the greatest feeling on this earth.

 

 

Pastor Beau Difrenna

Fusion Pastor

 

Beau DiFrenna has served as the teaching pastor of Fusion, the young adult ministry here at Calvary Chapel Melbourne, since early 2006.  He also oversees both Alive Singles Ministry and the 50+ Ministry here at CCM.  Beau is a passionate teacher of the Word of God and challenges his listeners to live the Christian life with zeal, to earnestly contend for their faith in Jesus Christ and to be honest and real about their relationship with God.

 

Born in Fall River, Massachusetts, Beau moved to southwest Florida at a young age.  At the age of 16 he began to teach and preach the Word of God in front of his high school every weekday morning, encouraging believers and unbelievers to know more about God.  

 

After high school, Beau has served six years of active duty in the United States military and was deployed three times in support of desert operations.  He has received Bible College training from Calvary Chapel Bible College and is also currently attending Southeastern University.  In 2002 Beau married his high school sweetheart, Sharalyn, and they have been happily married ever since. God has also blessed them with a beautiful baby girl named Addalyn. Together they share a heart for ministry and are excited about the plans God has for their future.