Senior Pastor: Bill Lytell B.A., M.A., D. DIV.
Pastor Bill attended Bob Jones University from 1970–1977 and received his Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1981, he received his Master of Arts degree in Bible Exposition from Pensacola Christian College.
In 1976, he was ordained into the Gospel Ministry through Community Baptist Church in Fort Myers, Florida. Pastor Bill served as a Dean of Men, with a small Bible Institute, as an Assistant Pastor for over 13 years under two godly men. He has been serving as the Senior Pastor of Gospel Baptist since 1992. Bill and his wife, Cathy, have been married for over 45 wonderful years and have one son and three grandchildren.
Pastor Bill is a friend of the down and out. He has a deep compassion for sinners who are looking for an answer to life’s most asked question, “Where will I spend eternity?” His preaching is unafraid and absolutely honest. He cuts through the chase, found in so many sermons, and attempts to peel away every layer of the fake and false. Some have said that his sermons will “knock your socks off.”
Disciples for Cuba Ministry Founders: Abdiel & Jessica Marin
Abdiel, an entrepreneur since childhood, is a 1st generation U.S. born Cuban-American. He has founded and operated several medically related Information Technology businesses. Currently, he serves as the Founder & CEO of EyeMD EMR Healthcare Systems, which gained national recognition for ranking on Inc. Magazine’s list at #620 of 5000 of America’s fasting growing private companies in 2014. The company then continued to earn a spot on the list for 3 consecutive years, an achievement only a handful of companies have earned.
Abdiel grew up in a Pentecostal Christian home in Florida and was saved at age 13 while attending Central Bible Church in Miami, FL. Jessica, his faithful wife, grew up in a Catholic home in Michigan and was saved at age 19 while attending McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers, FL with Abdiel. Abdiel & Jessica have been married since 2003 and have a son and a daughter. Jessica currently serves as the Business Office Manager for EyeMD EMR Healthcare Systems. Before that, she founded and grew a medical billing firm.
Today, Abdiel & Jessica are full-time members of Gospel Baptist Church in Bonita Springs, FL. Abdiel serves the LORD through the church as a mentor, a bus captain in the Bus Ministry, helps out with Junior Church, sings in the choir, and plays trumpet for the orchestra at church. Jessica serves the LORD through the church by helping in the nursery, junior church, the Awana program, and the woman’s ministry.
Director of Ministry Development: Jeff Larson
We are excited to announce Jeff Larson will serve as the Director of Ministry Development for the Disciples for Cuba! Jeff and his wife Donna will co-labor with the other members of the ministry team to help reach the lost souls with the Good News and to encourage and supply the saints in Cuba.
Jeff has been involved in many ministries since he was gloriously saved in 1982. Jeff is currently the bass singer and scheduling coordinator for The Calvary Quartet out of Taylors, SC. Prior to the quartet ministry, Jeff served as the Business Manager for Gospel Baptist Church & Christian School in Bonita Springs, FL. While living in South Carolina Jeff served as National Director for AdvanceUSA, a Gospel outreach to the men, women and staff members serving in political office in South Carolina and Washington, DC.
Jeff and Donna served as assistant’s to the Youth Pastor at Gospel Baptist Church for 10 years and, together, they initiated the ministry for Gospel Baptist Churches bus program, called Youth Worship Service. Donna is a Master’s Level, Special Education Teacher and was an educator for over 27 years. Jeff and Donna and DFC Founders Abdiel and Jessica Marin have been good friends for over a decade and are now locking arms in this important mission.
Jeff and Donna are excited for this new effort on behalf of the Lord Jesus, Gospel Baptist Church and all those in need in Cuba.
President of the Convención Bautista de Cuba Occidental: Dariel Llanes Quintana
Pastor Dariel Quintana is the current President of the Baptist Convention of Western Cuba. He also is the current senior pastor of the Iglesia Bautista DIOS es Amor in San José de las Lajas, Cuba.
Pastor Dariel and his wife have dedicated their lives to serving GOD and the community of San José. Recognizing the value of this ministry, he dedicates his time, energy, prayers, and resources to executing and advancing the Disciples for Cuba ministry. As president of the Baptist Convention, he has a heart for all churches in Cuba and will work with us to effectively carry out our mission in Cuba.
Disciples For Cuba Ministry Coordinator: Samuel Diaz-Rivera
Samuel is the official Ministry Coordinator for the Disciples for Cuba Ministry. He is also the Director of Transportation for the Hermanos en Cristo Organization in Cuba and was the former Director of Transportation for the Convención Bautista de Cuba Occidental. He is also the son of a well-known pastor in Cuba. As Director of Transportation, he is responsible for keeping vehicles maintained and for coordinating all church efforts requiring transportation including events, missions trips, disaster relief, and emergency transportation of pastoral staff.
Samuel is uniquely positioned to see first hand the needs of various churches in Cuba. He has dedicated his life to assisting all member churches in Cuba, but has a special place in his heart for churches that have critical needs. Recognizing the value of this ministry, he also dedicates his time, energy, prayers, and resources to executing and advancing the Disciples for Cuba ministry. As the official Ministry Coordinator for the Disciples for Cuba Ministry, he is our primary contact in Cuba and will directly coordinate and oversee the distribution of all goods donated by the Disciples for Cuba Ministry.