Brent Drake, Pastor

Brent grew up in a Christian Home in Jackson, Michigan and moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in 1969. After completing High School and being very involved in a local church youth group, he attended Miami Christian College where he graduated in 1982 with a double major in Church Ministries and Bible. During college Brent was active in leading his home church youth group and was active with a local Youth for Christ club. Brent and Lynn met during those years and were married on April 23, 1983.

Brent attended and completed a Master of Divinity Degree at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago, Illinois ('86) while Lynn finished a Bachelors of Science in Nursing ('86). Following seminary, Brent accepted a call as Pastor of Student Ministries at Kendall Presbyterian Church in Miami, Florida. At this time he was theologically examined and ordained by the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Seven years later God called Rev. Drake to Pastor Community Presbyterian Church, a 250 member congregation in Live Oak, Florida.

During his four-year tenure at this church, God was tugging at Brent and Lynn's heart to step out on faith and begin a new church plant. After a long season of prayer, confirmation by friends and fellow pastors, and a deep inward call on Brent's heart, they accepted an opportunity to come to Brevard County to begin New Life Church (August 1997). During these years, God has brought families and individuals together to help launch this new work. Brent believes that when God calls a church into existence to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that He not only calls a pastor, but will call many more to come and be a part of New Life Church. Brent and Lynn are enjoying raising their family right here in Central Brevard and growing with their church family and community. The Drakes have been blessed with three children: Daniel, Melanie, and Christopher.

Joe Schafer, Director of Music & Outreach

Joe Schafer was born March 12, 1969 in the farm town of Tiffin, Ohio. He began playing the piano at age four, and began lessons when he was six, taking college level piano at age fourteen.

After playing in a local Christian and Missionary Alliance church for a few years, Joe left to play in Maine on a small cruise ferry. There he met and later married his wife, Dina, a photographer from Narragansett, Rhode Island. During their courtship, Joe joined the U.S. Air Force as a pianist and has had the privilege of performing for Bob Hope and performing with Crystal Gayle, among others.

In 1999, God guided Joe to focus on full-time ministry and the Lord brought him to New Life Church where he will, in God's will, lead us for many years to come.

In addition to piano, Joe also plays percussion and low brass, and he also leads our worship. He is an accomplished arranger and sequencer and many of his tracks are used throughout the year. Joe also is self-employed as a piano repair technician. Joe and Dina have two sons, Noah (born in 2001) and Micah who arrived in October 2009.

April Bryans, Administrative Assistant

April was born and raised in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Melbourne in 1976. She met her husband Chris while he was stationed at Patrick AFB, and they were married in 1982. Between then and the year 2000, they were stationed in various places in the states and overseas, including California, Okinawa and Germany. Chris retired from the Air Force in 2000, and they moved back to Florida. Through the years, April has worked as a church secretary, office administrator and medical transcriptionist, and done volunteer work at a military TV/radio station and a German library.