Staff & Ministry Leaders
Lead Pastor – Jonathan Williams
Jonathan grew up here in Sanford. Except for his time away at college, this has always been his home, so he cares a lot about the people of Sanford and the surrounding communities. That’s why he’s committed his life to serving God here. In 2 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul encourages Timothy to be strong in God’s grace and to share God’s truth with others who will do the same. That’s Pastor Jonathan’s mission: to encourage people to grow in grace and to help them learn and live out God’s truth. And, we invite you to join us on the journey.
As you get to know him better, you’ll meet Jonathan’s wife, Laura. They met in college. And, you’ll meet their two children: Jeremiah and Jenna. They all volunteer somewhere in our church ministry. Hopefully, someday, you’ll join them.
Jonathan graduated from Liberty University in 2001 with a degree in Biblical Studies. He subsequently earned three masters degrees (MAR, MDiv, STM) specializing in Church Ministries, Church History & Apologetics, and in addition to serving as Lead Pastor of Palmetto Avenue Baptist Church and Administrator of Liberty Christian School, he is also an Adjunct Instructor with Liberty University Online.
Pastor Emeritus – Ron Williams
Pastor Ron Williams became our Pastor Emeritus in 2021 after having served as our Lead Pastor for 27 years. Though he no longer preaches every Sunday, he’s still an active part of our church community. His heart for missions really shines through. His desire is to see our church lead the effort to build 150 church buildings for indigenous congregations all around the world in places like Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mexico, Peru, Belize, and the Philippines. We’re about 1/3 of the way toward our goal, and we would love to have you join us in this effort.
Ron Williams graduated from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO in 1980. He married his high school sweetheart Kathy, and they have raised three children.
Youth/Singles Pastor – Blake Haley
Pastor Blake joined our staff in the spring of 2022. He attended Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO and later earned a master’s degree in Sports Chaplaincy from Liberty University. Beyond ou student ministry, you will find Pastor Blake teaching classes at Liberty Christian School or coaching one of its teams.
Youth/Children’s Pastor – Jeremiah Hagen
Jeremiah Hagen joined the team at Palmetto Avenue Baptist Church in 2025 after spending two years as Youth Director in Winter Springs. He feels the call to pastoral ministry and wants to learn as much as he can about ministry in preparation for the future.
Education Ministry – Jason Williams
Jason Williams is the Principal of Liberty Christian School. He joined our staff in 2009 after completing the coursework for his bachelor’s degree from Baptist Bible College. Since that time, he has taught in the classroom, coached our student athletes to championships, and led our faculty team.
Jason and his wife, Jane, have been married since 2017, and their family is growing with the birth of their daughter Jessa.
Senior Adults Ministry – Carlos Duncan
Carlos Duncan teaches our Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting, leads a Sunday School Class, and hosts our monthly senior adult fellowship called Hearts on Fire, an event where folks over 50 are invited to enjoy a great meal and a great musical performance. In his younger years, Bro. Duncan served as a lead pastor, and he brings of lifetime of ministry service and experience to everything he does here at Palmetto. He and his wife Wanda have been married for nearly 30 years. And, they both look forward to meeting you soon.
AWANA Ministry – Shannan & William Negron
Our AWANA Ministry is our Bible learning program for kids. Each Wednesday night during the school year, kids have a chance to hear Bible stories, learn Bible verses, and have lots of fun. The program is led by Shannan & William Negron who grew up here in Sanford. In fact, Shannan grew up attending our church as a teenager. So, she’s excited to be able to invest in the lives of the next generation of faithful followers of Jesus.
Church & School Secretary – Wendy Goolsby
Mrs. Goolsby has been our secretary for over two decades. When you call our office, you’ll probably hear her voice. She can help to answer many of your questions and to direct you to the answers that you’re looking for. She looks forward to your call.
