Mike Carter is a native Floridian born in Sanford and raised in Eustis. Grew up in the construction industry. Received a Bachelor of Building Construction in March, 1978, from the University of Florida in Gainesville. Is a state certified general contractor, state licensed home inspector, and EPA certified in lead safety for renovation, repair, and painting. Was in the family construction business with his father until he became the sole proprietor from 1990-1999. He is currently part owner of Granger Construction & Development, Inc., in Eustis.

Married Andrea Miller on November 15, 1986. They have two children - Stephen, February 24, 1989, and Sarah Kaye, January 7, 1991.

Mike was baptized Friday night, April 15, 1977, in Gainesville, FL. This was through the campus outreach on the University of Florida campus by the Crossroads Church of Christ. After returning to Eustis in 1980, attended the University Blvd Church of Christ in Orlando, FL. There is where he eventually met and married Andrea. Was a small group Bible study leader for the University Blvd Church of Christ and then for the Orlando Church of Christ. In June 1991 started worshipping with the Orange Avenue church of Christ in Eustis. In June 1996 became the director of education, later appointed as deacon, and was a ministry leader for youth education, all for a total of ten years. Placed membership with the Mount Dora Church of Christ in March 2008. Works with Eddie Stillwell in the education program and was appointed elder on May 15, 2011.

I grew up on a farm, attended a one room school for eight grades and graduated from Gassaway High School in West Virginia where I was active in sports. I attended and graduated from Glenville State College where I met my wife Barbara. I graduated from West Virginia University with my MA in Elementary Education, a Principal's Certificate and a Superintendent's Certificate.

Education experience included teaching in a one room school, teaching principal in a two room school, principal in a junior high school, and principal of two elementary schools that were seven miles apart. I was President of the WV Elementary and Middle School Principal's Association and selected as the first National Distinguished Principal of WV. President Ronald Reagan spoke to us when we were invited to Washington for the ceremonies honoring the other National Distinguished Principals from other states. I retired from schools in West Virginia after 30 years of service and moved to Mt. Dora at the request of Cletus Stutzman to be sole Principal at Mt. Dora Bible School.

I served in the military and was stationed at Fort Jackson, Camp Gordon, and Army War College in Carlisle, PA and at the Armed Forces Central Europe Post at Fontainebleau, France.

Barbara and I became acquainted with the Church of Christ while I was stationed at Carlisle and were baptized fifty-five years ago by Kenneth Franklin while attending a gospel meeting by Ken Adams (who later served as an Elder here at Mt. Dora Church of Christ). I served as Educational Director, Deacon and Elder at North End Church of Christ in Parkersburg, WV. Presently I am an Elder at Mt. Dora in charge of Missions. Also, I am responsible for preparation of Sunday morning fellowship of doughnuts and coffee and participates in various worship functions and delivering of communion to shut-ins.

We have been blessed with three daughters: Jean Madden, wife of Mike Madden the preacher at Spring Hill, FL. Anne (teacher at Mt. Dora Bible) married to Jason Elenz lives in Leesburg. Lynn Davis passed away in 2008. We have two granddaughters, Rachel Swearingen, Amarillo, TX and Molly Elenz, Leesburg, FL.

I was born in 1944 in a small western Illinois town. My first 16 years were spent on a small farm on which my father was a hired hand. I graduated high school in 1962. I attended college for two years at Bradley University in Peoria, IL. In 1964, I married Carol who had been a student in the same school from the first grade. In 1966, I enlisted in the US Air Force where I spent four years working on airborne electronics. I was stationed at the McCoy AFB which is now Orlando International Airport.

After my enlistment was over, I worked a few months as an Electrician's Helper until a job opened up at a local company which supplied electronics for military satellites. While I was working at this company, I finished my college degree requirements and graduated with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Mathematics from Florida Southern College. I stayed with this company through many different owners until it was eventually owned by Siemens which closed the plant after 33 years of employment when I retired.

My Christian life began when I was 16 when I was baptized along with my father and mother. I stayed close to Christ until I went to college. I fell away for several years until Carol and I were invited to church by someone who had met my sister. She told them that she had a brother who lived in the same city as they did and she asked them to seek me out. They did and after several unheeded invitations, we agreed and we have been faithful ever since. I have served as a deacon and am now serving as an elder.

My work has always been in electronics which range from radio, TV, radar, satellite telemetry, and finally telephone systems. Now that I am retired, I work at the Central Florida Bible Camp where I try to keep the equipment working and the facilities functioning.

Gene Newton... born Sidney Eugene Newton September 6, 1937 in Richmond Indiana. Lived just outside of Richmond for 18 years and then joined then joined the Navy. After training and school, Aviation Metalsmith, was stationed in Sanford for 2 and a half years. I was on the Saratoga for three months in the North Atlantic and ten months in the Mediterranean.

I met Ann in Sanford and we were married in 1959 and served the last years of my enlistment in California. We moved back to Florida where our first son was born. I then joined the Air Force and went to school in Biloxi Mississippi for a year. That is where our second son was born. From there we went to Aiken South Carolina where I worked on Radar equipment. We stayed there for three years and our third son was born. From there we went to Dallas Texas for a year. While there I worked for Aerodyne Engineering at Love Field. After that we moved to Fort Wayne Indiana where our fourth son was born (that's all). While in Fort Wayne I tried my hand at owning a service station. When gas went crazy I went to work managing a fleet of 75 cars and trucks. Then worked for J.C. Penney as an Auto Repair Manager.

While in Fort Wayne I served as a deacon for eight years and an elder for a little over two years. From there we moved to Sanford in 1977. We worshipped there for 25 years. For 23 of those years I served as an elder.

I worked as an auto, truck, and heavy equipment mechanic for around 40 years. Twenty seven of those years were for the same company. I retired in March of 2004 and moved to Tavares and have been worshipping at Mt. Dora since that time.