Olive Baptist Church

Dr. Robert A. Gilliland

Minister of Education

My name is Robert Gilliland. I have been happily married to my bride, Faith, since November 1993. God has blessed us with two children, Zac and Katie. We have been members of Olive Baptist Church since 1993 and I have been serving as a minister on staff since 2003. My testimony of faith in Christ Jesus can be found at www.whativaluemost.com.

As head of the Education Team I have two major objectives:

• To supervise the education team. This consists of numerous full-time and part-time staff members, and hundreds of volunteers leading specific age group ministries within the church.
• To implement church-wide educational/discipleship plans for small group Bible studies.

Shea Riles

Director of Preschool

A native of Pensacola, Shea has attended Olive since she was a member of the newborn nursery. Now, along with her husband Ron and their two children (Tyler and Kate), Shea continues to worship and fellowship with God’s family at OBC.

Serving for years as a volunteer with preschoolers and children, Shea joined the Olive staff in 2004 as Coordinator of the Preschool Ministry. Having been saved during her childhood, she is convinced that these early years are fertile ground for planting truths from God’s Word and preparing hearts for salvation. With a team of dedicated leaders, the Preschool Staff is committed to offering a safe, clean, and fun environment where God’s truth abounds and parents can feel comfortable bringing their little ones.

Shannon Brock

Preschool Administrative Assistant

A lifelong resident of Pensacola, Shannon grew up at Olive, and has served in the Preschool Ministry for more than ten years. Mother of two school-aged daughters, Amber and Hayley, Shannon assists Shea with administrative needs and is also responsible for screening and training our volunteers.

Nancy Savage

Weekday Assistant

Married to Tom Savage, Director of Olive’s Orchestra and School of Performing Arts, Nancy has served for more than a year as Shea’s weekday assistant. Nancy coordinates our very popular Mothers’ Day Out program on Tuesdays as well as special event childcare throughout the week. Tom and Nancy have three daughters, Sydney, Alyssa, and Emily.

Tamika Wyrick

Worship Care Assistant

Tamika has been active at Olive and the Preschool Ministry since moving to Pensacola from California several years ago. With a readily apparent love for children, Tamika is certified in education and currently coordinates our Worship Care Ministry on Sunday mornings as well as Sunday and Wednesday evening child care. Tamika and her husband, Anthony, have two sons, Sir and Lord.

Dennis Dean

Minister of Children

John Lowe

High School Minister

John served for ten years as the youth pastor at First Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He joined Olive's team March 25, 2013. His wife and partner in ministry is Bobbi. They have two children: Tyler (ninth grade) and Madi (seventh grade).

Chris Reeser

Director of Middle School

Eric Miracle

Minister to Missions
and Young Single Adults

Eric Miracle was born in Lexington, Kentucky. As an only child, he was raised in a Christian home. Eric received the call to ministry while in middle school, but did not accept it until later on.

He graduated from Lexington Baptist College in May 1999, where he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies and Student Ministry. In May of that same year he married Andrea. They have two beautiful daughters. Eric was ordained in Murray, Kentucky on February 23, 2003. He graduated with a Master of Arts in Christian Education from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2008.

Eric and Andrea joined the Olive staff in October 2006. Prior to work at Olive, he has served as Student Minister with Churches in Georgetown, Lexington, and Murray, Kentucky.

Eric enjoys being involved in missions as well, having led and participated in multiple international endeavors to such places as Brazil, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Trinidad, and several domestic destinations.”

Robert Lloyd

Director of Single Adults

Mike Dimick

Minister to Married Adults & Military

I grew up in Venice Beach, California, where I met and married my wife, Maria. After high school, I entered the United States Air Force, where I proudly trained and served in several roles: Team Leader for an Air Force, Anti-Terrorist, Security Police Team, Crew Member for an Aerospace Medical Evacuation team (Medevac) and retired while serving 13 years with United States Air Force Recruiting Services. It was during my time in recruiting (Oct.1990) that a pastor from a local Baptist church just outside of Mather A.F.B., Sacramento, Cal., shared the Gospel with us, resulting in my whole family accepting Christ as our Savior.

I soon found myself becoming a “Timothy” to the mentoring of a strong, Bible teaching pastor, who focused on the importance of evangelism, spiritual leadership, family devotion time, and family discipleship. As I grew in the Lord, I served as a deacon, mission’s director, visitation director and military outreach coordinator. During this time, God was making it perfectly clear that He wanted me in full time service. With two daughters, (Wendy and Vanessa) already attending Pensacola Christian College, my wife and I and two remaining children (Cynthia and Michael) reconnected the family by moving to Pensacola upon retiring from the Air Force, to pursue my degree in Bible.

As the Minister to Married Adults and Olive’s Military Ministry, I hope to reach and teach our families and friends to develop a deeper, personal relationship with the Lord. My desire is to use the talents, education, and experiences that the Lord has given me, (and you) to make an impact for Christ in our daily walk, our family relationships, and in our professional conduct in the workplace.

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Colossians 3:17

Kim Waters

Director of Mature Adults Activities

Kim was born in Baltimore, Maryland. She comes from a military family and has called Pensacola home since January 1974. She married David, a Pensacola native, in August 1985.

Kim started her Olive career on December 14, 1988. She worked in the recreation ministry for 16 ½ years as the recreation assistant. During that time God told her to go back to school. She graduated magna cum laude from UWF in May 1998. Her Bachelor of Science degree is in Leisure Studies.

God moved Kim into the Mature Adult Ministry in August 2005 where she served as the administrative assistant. In January 2008 God, through Pastor Traylor, enlisted Kim to be the Interim Director of Mature Adult Ministry Activities. Her college degree and long-term experience at Olive give her a unique qualification to lead in this area. The “interim” was removed in July. Kim loves working with and alongside her folks as they touch the mature adult generation with the Good News.