Our Staff
Pastor Gary and his wife Kathy founded CCS in 1990 in their living room as a small bible study that has grown into what Calvary Chapel Sawgrass has become today. Gary has served as a youth pastor, missionary, campus chaplain, and assistant pastor prior to pioneering CCS. He has served as a professional Marriage and Family Therapist and holds a B.S. degree in Political Science and a Master's of Divinity degree from Oral Roberts University. Pastor Gary and his wife Kathy have 3 daughters.
Pastor Peter and his wife Martha joined the CCS family in 1997. Pastor Peter has been serving the Lord since he was 17 years old. He has served as an Assistant Pastor in New Jersey and taught English at our local Western High School for seven years. He moved from New Jersey with his wife in 1993. He graduated Nyack Christian College with a B.A. degree in English and has a Master's degree from Nova University in English Education. Pastor Peter and his wife Martha have been married since 1992 and are blessed with 4 children, 2 boys, and 2 girls.
Mike Meridionale, better known as "Tank", started attending CCS in March 2004 and quickly got involved volunteering in our Children's Ministry VBS summer program. While Tank's servant heart is evident by the many ministries he lends a helping hand to; his true passions are children, youth and sports ministries. Tank has faithfully continued serving as a Youth and Children's Ministry Leader since 2005 and officially joined CCS as a staff member in our KidZone Children's Ministry Dec 2008 and later in September 2009 was ordained as our Children's Pastor. He has been married to the love of his life Angela since 1995 and is blessed with three amazing children Deziree, Nicholas and Alexandra.
Jonathan joined the CCS team and family in 2007. He enjoys serving the CCS youth and pastoral staff in various responsibilities at CCS. He moved to Florida in 1994 from Fairfax, VA. Soon after, he began attending International Seminary. He has served as Junior Youth Minister at West Lauderdale Baptist Church. In 1998 he served as a Youth Pastor and Director to the Mathew Project, a school for youth sentenced to home detention. God then moved him in 2000 to lead and serve as Youth Pastor at Cooper City Church. In 2006 he became an Associate Pastor at Cooper City Church. He and his wife Princess have been married since 2004.
Kathy is Senior Pastor Gary Mauro's wife and the mother of their three beautiful daughters, Noel, Jordan and Emily. Kathy and her husband Gary began CCS in 1991 and she has served in every area of ministry, specifically as Worship Leader and Women's Ministry Director for over 18 years. After studying for a B.A. in Sacred Music she is now pursuing a Master's degree in Psychology. Currently, Kathy remains Director of Women's Ministry as she pursues the Lord's leading to complete her education. She counts it an honor and privilege to serve God's people, her family and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Brenden and his wife and have been attending Calvary Sawgrass since 2010. At a very young age Brenden realized his passion for music and calling to worship. After spending much of his high school and young adult years serving in church and traveling on short mission trips, Brenden gained a deeper passion to spread the Love of God to people around the world. He received an Associates of Science Degree in Recording Arts at Full Sail University and has worked with churches around the country, installing and engineering their audio, video and lighting systems. Brenden and his wife Janell have been married since 2005 and are extremely blessed to have 2 amazing little boys (Ezra & Kingston). “My family has made me the richest man on earth!”
James and his wife Michele joined the family of Calvary Sawgrass in 2008. From the age of 16, James has pursued music professionally and has toured internationally with the United States Youth Ensemble & Choir and with the Christian Latin/Rock band Ninetynine. Since then, he has been a leader in various worship ministries and in 2009 began serving in the Calvary Sawgrass worship department and youth ministry. In 2010, James and Michele were blessed with a beautiful daughter, Angelie.
Martha has been attending CCS with her husband, Pastor Peter, and children since 1997. Presently, she supports her husband by assisting in various office administrative responsibilities. She graduated Nyack Christian College with a B.A. in Psychology and holds a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova University. She and her husband are blessed with raising four beautiful children together.
Alex grew up in the church and has been teaching in Children's Ministry since the age of fifteen and has also led Drama and Dance Ministry. Alex has been attending CCS since 2004 and has been a staff member since 2006. She serves in the Children's Ministry and VAMM (Visual Arts & Multimedia Ministry). She has an A.A. and is currently working on her B.A. in Communications with a minor in Spanish. Alex has two beautiful little girls, Lily Grace & Sofia Joy, and is married to David, the IT master (see below).
David began attending CCS in August 2001. He started out as one of the kids in the youth group and has grown to the point of serving in various ministries. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology from Kaplan University, and has been on staff since March 2006. David uses his skills to support the church's computer, networking, website, and video production needs. In 2009 he said, "I do," to the gorgeous Administrative Assistant, Alex (see above) and proudly fathers two beautiful princesses, Lily and Sofia.
Ashley began attending CCS in September of 2007 after she went with the youth group to Rock The Universe, an annual Christian rock festival that takes place at Universal Studios, Florida. Since then, she has volunteered in Children's Ministry and presently serves in Youth Ministry, specifically with the Jr. High kids. As Ashley served in both Children and Youth Ministry, she recognized her passion for working with kids and was inspired to change her college major to education. Ashley has been a part of the office staff since August of 2011 and loves every moment of it. She considers it a true blessing to be able to come and work with people she already considered family.
Caleb began attending Calvary Sawgrass in 2009 after spending 2 years doing mission work with his parents in Haiti. He joined the staff in 2011 to assist with the building's custodial needs. He also serves with the Youth Ministry and Worship Ministry playing the drums. He is currently studying to become a firefighter, and hopes to return to Haiti to work and serve.
Marc began attending Calvary Sawgrass in September of 2011. He came down from Connecticut to visit his VERY dear friends that are active members of CCS. After staying for several weeks, attending services regularly and then returning home, Marc felt a tug in his Spirit. He had been longing for a place to call home; a place where the Spirit of God is overflowing. He found that at Calvary Sawgrass. Marc relocated to Florida, and recommitted his life to Jesus Christ. He joined the staff in late 2012 to assist with building custodial needs. Marc has also been blessed to serve in Children's Ministry. "It's great when you don't have to be concerned with who you are; because your overwhelming joy is in Whose you are."
