LEADERSHIP
Praise Family Church has been around since 1915 and we’re stronger than ever today. Our hearts burn for the lost and we refuse to slow down. Our gifted leadership team and staff members are a diverse group, fully committed to seeing your family grow stronger in faith.
PASTORAL TEAM
Praise Family Church is a Pastor-led body of believers. We are blessed to have seasoned, knowledgeable and relevant leaders.
Pastor Tom Turner
Tom Turner has been the Lead Pastor at Praise since 1995, beginning with an initial attendance of just 12 people. Bringing forty years of experience and a vision for reaching families, PT has seen Praise grow into one of the most exciting churches on the Gulf Coast. He has four sons: Brandon, Bradley, Bailey and Brady.
In 2014 Pastor Tom’s wife, Lori, was diagnosed with cancer and passed away a few short weeks later. Despite this enormous loss, Pastor Tom still sensed the call to stay at Praise Family Church and lead his family through this tragedy. Miraculously, Pastor Tom remarried with Pamela Dew and gained two more sons, Kris and Kyle. Pastor Tom and Pam now lead Praise with a vision to reach around the world. They also serve together on the boards of many world missions and national ministries.
Pastor Tom is a graduate of South Eastern University and Life Christian University.
Pastor Brandon Turner
Brandon Turner is Pastor Tom’s oldest son. In 2010 he joined the staff to work in the facilities department. Growing up at Praise, he had seen how easy it was for young people to fall away from the Lord. When an opportunity arose for him to lead PFC Young Adults, he jumped at the chance and led it to new heights.
His heart to help young people know Jesus expanded, and with it so did his responsibilities. Currently he serves as the Executive Pastor of Generations, overseeing all of our efforts for people under thirty. This includes children, youth, college and young adult ministries. Pastor Brandon also leads our facility teams. He and his wife, Lori, have two children, Micah and Lily.
Pastor Brandon is a graduate of the University of Mobile.
BOARD MEMBERS
Praise Family Church is blessed with wise and experienced lay members of our Corporate Board. This team provides counsel to the Pastor and financial accountability for the Body. They serve with the Pastors as the Corporate Officers of the Church.
Chan Keller
Chan Keller and his wife, Jeanette, have been active, serving members of Praise for over 50 years. The depth of experience they bring to our leadership is unparalleled. Chan is the retired Athletic Director for the City of Mobile and Jeanette the retired CEO of Blue Flame Credit Union. Together they have raised a wonderful family and continue to serve their church and community with model faithfulness.
Bradley Ward
Brad Ward had been a member of a nominal church all of his life when a traveling minister told him for the first time that he could be born again. His conversion was so radical that many who knew him found Christ by his example alone. Now he has been a part of Praise Family Church for almost three decades. Together with his wife, Margaret, he adds unique business insights and a love for missions to the Praise Leadership Team. Brad is the retired owner of Auto World and an entrepreneur. Margret is the retired human resources and administration manager for Airbus Mobile.
William “Bill” Sessions
Bill Sessions is a professional commercial shrimper and owner of multiple corporations, but you don’t have to be around him very long to realize Jesus is his real passion. He and his wife and business partner, Debra, share a love of missions, church and family. They have been active members of Praise Family Church for over twenty years. His vast business experience and life of prayer is evident in his servant leadership to the church.
STAFF
The Staff of Praise Family Church are the amazing team that handles the day in and day out operations that allow ministry to happen. Together with hundreds of volunteers our church is able to reach around the World. You can use the information below each staff member’s name to contact them.
Worship Leader and Technical Director - Logan Stephenson
lstephenson@praisefamily.org
Assistant to Lead Pastor - Josie Porter
jporter@praisefamily.org
Generations Curriculum Coordinator - Lori Turner
lturner@praisefamily.org
Praise Kids Director - Samantha Alexander
salexander@praisefamily.org
Assistant to Executive Pastor - Jennifer Ward
jward@praisefamily.org
Ladies Ministry - Pam Turner
Purchasing - Michelle Jones
mjones@praisefamily.org
Accounting - Christy Tapper
ctapper@praisefamily.org
Guest Services Director - David Blackburn
dblackburn@praisefamily.org
Member Services Director - Melinda Strickland
mstrickland@praisefamily.org
Social Media Manager - Miranda Hautau
mhautau@praisefamily.org
Prison Campus - David Baker
prisonministry@praisefamily.org
The Core General Manager - Jessica Blackburn
jblackburn@praisefamily.org
Generations Ast. - Isabelle Tapper
itapper@praisefamily.org
Sound Tech./Landscape - Stuart Mason
smason@praisefamily.org
Facilities Coordinator - Delana Ibsen
Maintenance - Tommy Patrick
tpatrick@praisefamily.org
Housekeeping
Hanna Reynolds
Katy Lane