Meet the Pastors

Mark Balmer

Pastor Mark Balmer
Senior Pastor

Mark Balmer is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Melbourne. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, he moved his family to Florida in 1966 to become the Director of Hospital Pharmacy at a local hospital; a position he held for 25 years. Saved at the age of 5, with both his father and grandfather in the ministry, he had helped establish Florida's first Calvary Chapel in Merritt Island and faithfully taught there as a lay leader. Then God stirred his heart to plant a Calvary Chapel in the Melbourne-Palm Bay area, and after much prayer, Calvary Chapel Melbourne was born in March of 1992.

Since that time, God has blessed this church with tremendous growth. Today well over 9,000 people worship with us each weekend between our main West Melbourne campus and on our video campuses in Viera, Sebastian and East Orlando. Pastor Mark's messages are heard daily on the radio program, Lessons for Living, and thousands around the world watch our services live each week on the Internet and on Roku. He also teaches annually in different parts of Asia. As a pastor-teacher and author of multiple books, God has gifted Pastor Mark to communicate the truths of God's Word in a practical, straightforward style that challenges Christ followers and unbelievers alike. He is supported in ministry by Lynda, his wife of 44 years, who adds her own God-given gifts to the Melbourne fellowship.

Dave Folkerts

Pastor Dave Folkerts
Associate Pastor

Dave Folkerts is an associate pastor at Calvary Chapel Melbourne. Originally from Reinbeck,Iowa, he graduated from Iowa State University in 1981 where he was radically saved from a life full of drugs, alcohol and dead religion. He married his wife, Barb, in 1983, and although he sensed God's call to ministry, he went on to get his Masters in Business. Dave spent the next 18 years in corporate business and management, overseeing business in many different parts of the world.Then in 2000, God called him to leave his position and move his family to Florida, where he answered God's call to pursue full-time ministry. After completing Calvary Chapel Bible College, he came on staff in 2002. Dave now oversees the Men's, Women's and Children's Ministries and Fusion, the young adult's ministry. He also leads the School of Ministry, (a two year program training future pastors), the Calvary Leadership Training program and leads multiple mission teams to Latin America each year. He is the author of a men's Bible study called, Balance at the Speed of Life and his passion is to raise up future leaders. He and Barb enjoy teaching on marriage and parenting together and they have three children and one son-in-law who are all serving the Lord.

Beau Difrenna

Pastor Beau Difrenna
Associate Pastor

Beau DiFrenna is an associate pastor at Calvary Chapel Melbourne. He has served as the teaching pastor and director of Fusion, the young adult ministry, since 2006 and also oversees 412 Youth Ministry on three of our campuses. Born in Fall River, Massachusetts, Beau moved to southwest Florida at a young age. He was saved in 1993 and by age 16, he was preaching the Word of God in front of his high school every morning, encouraging believers and unbelievers to know more about God. After high school, Beau served six years of active duty in the US Air Force and was deployed three times in support of desert operations. He then completed CCM's School of Ministry in 2007, including Calvary Chapel Bible College, and is currently attending Columbia College. Beau married his high school sweetheart, Sharalyn, in 2002 and God has blessed them with two daughters. Together they share a heart for ministry and are excited about the plans God has for their future. Beau is a passionate teacher of the Word and challenges people to live the Christian life with zeal and earnestly contend for their faith in Jesus Christ.

 

Shawn Barr

Pastor Shawn Barr
Associate Pastor

Shawn Barr is an associate pastor at Calvary Chapel Melbourne and oversees Home Groups, Altar Counseling, Prayer Partners, Volunteer Ministries, New Beginnings/Growing Deeper with God classes and the First Impressions Ministry on all four campuses. He also oversees the Latin, Deaf and Alive Singles Ministries and teaches Bible College at our Melbourne campus. Shawn was born and raised on a small farm in South Florida. When he was 7 years old, he was invited to Sunday school by a neighbor who took part in a church bus ministry. He eventually became a Christ follower there and a few years later God called him to the ministry. Then he began an extensive Bible education attending Baptist Bible College in Missouri, Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in Virginia, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois and Liberty University in Virginia where he is currently pursuing his doctoral degree. Over the years Shawn has also served as Director of Children's Ministry, Director of Youth Ministries and Director of Outreach. He married his wife, Debora, in 2003 and God has blessed them with a son. Together, they share their passion for ministry and are privileged to serve the Lord together at Calvary Chapel of Melbourne.

Jonathan Schroer

Jonathan Schroer
Worship Ministry Associate Pastor

Jonathan Schroer is the Worship Leader at the Calvary Chapel Melbourne Campus where he oversees the Worship Ministry and the Sound Team. Originally from Long Island, New York, he grew up in Calvary Chapels and his father pastored Calvary Chapel Islip for 20 years. He then attended Calvary Chapel Bible College in California where he earned an Associates Degree in Theology. From there Jonathan became a ministry intern at Calvary Chapel Old Bridge in New Jersey before moving to Florida. Here he volunteered alongside Beau DiFrenna in the early days of Fusion as a worship leader and worked at a local fitness center before coming on staff in 2006. Then in 2008 he married his wife, Amy, and now they serve together in the Worship Ministry. Jonathan's so grateful that Jesus delivered him from a life of drugs that was empty, lonely, selfish and prideful to a life full of joy and purpose, serving the God of the universe. He and Amy are passionate about serving this God whose forgiveness, grace and love are matchless to anything this world has to offer!

TJ Buckingham

TJ Buckingham
Children's Ministry Associate Pastor

TJ Buckingham is the Children's Pastor at the Calvary Chapel Melbourne campus. He has been coming to Calvary since he was in 7th grade! TJ married his high school sweetheart, Amanda, in 2004 and they have been blessed with two boys and a girl. He got his degree in Psychology at University of Central Florida and is presently finishing his Masters degree in Theology. Before coming on staff, TJ worked with his dad doing irrigation and volunteered in Children's Ministry and leading home groups. He completed CCM's School of Ministry in 2007 and now he's the Sr. Children's Ministry Director for all campuses. He also oversees Children's Ministry at the Melbourne campus, the Childcare Ministry, Soar with Him Ministry and serves as the pastor to Calvary Christian Academy. He and Amanda are excited about all God's doing in our student's lives and look forward to all that's ahead!

Matt Helmintoller

Matt Helmintoller
412 Sr. High Youth Pastor, Melbourne Campus

Matt Helmintoller serves as the Senior High Youth Pastor at our Melbourne campus. He was born in Columbia, South Carolina and moved to Florida at a young age. Matt was saved at age 7, but then really began to grow in his walk with God when he was 20. He and his wife, Kelly, have been married since1998 and have been blessed with three children. Before coming on staff, Matt worked in Furniture Management and Sales Décor. He also served in the Youth Ministry and with the two-year-olds on occasion. He came on staff in the janitorial department and then was given the first intern position the church ever offered, serving in the youth department. Before long he became the Children's Pastor where he served for three years. Then in 2008 Matt became the Sr. High Youth Pastor, overseeing the 412 Sr. High Ministry at Melbourne and teaching students from 9th-12th grade each week. Now he and Kelly are doing all they can to get their students solid in their faith and on-fire for Christ so they can change their world!

Julio Marin
412 Jr. High Youth Pastor, Melbourne Campus

Julio Marin is the Jr. High Youth Pastor at our Melbourne campus. Originally from Puerto Rico, Julio and his wife, Joanne, got married and moved to Florida in 1997. They have been blessed with one son and one daughter. Julio got his degree in physical therapy at the University of Puerto Rico and worked as a physical therapist for 14 years. He also volunteered in both the Children's and the Youth Ministries before coming on staff in 2004 as the Director of Jr. High Ministry. Now he ministers to students in 6th- 8th grade on a weekly basis. Julio's life changed drastically in 1985 when he realized drugs, alcohol, rebellion and promiscuity had made a mess of his life. He was in desperate need of God's grace, and when he found Jesus, everything changed! Now he and Joanne are passionate about winning students to the Lord and will do whatever it takes to win this generation for God!

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