First Presbyterian Church Lake Wales

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Staff & Leadership

Our Ministers and Staff

Rev. Mackay Smith

SENIOR Minister

863.676.0711 ext 105

Senior Minister, Rev. Mackay Smith

Rev. Smith currently serves as the Senior Minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Wales.  He is responsible for weekly preaching and teaching, shepherding God’s people as an elder, and administrative oversight of the church.  Mackay came to First Presbyterian in 2017 as the Associate Pastor for Discipleship, focusing on our adult small group ministry and our Wednesday night program. In 2021 he served as the Interim Senior Minister and then in 2022 he accepted the call from the congregation and Session to become the Senior Minister.

Mackay was born into a Christian home, and thus enjoyed all of God’s covenant promises throughout his childhood.  Growing up in North Carolina, he never knew a time at which he was not surrounded by testimonies of Jesus’ love, and knows that God saved him at an early age.  He graduated Erskine College (Philosophy) in 2006, and Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte in 2011.  He had the privilege to serve as Associate Pastor for Families at the White Oak ARP Church in Coweta County, GA from 2013-2017.  He likes singing baritone, playing a few instruments, reading, seeking out good barbecue in Florida (let him know your recommendations), and serving as the token male in his children’s make believe.

Mackay loves Rachel, his wife.  Rachel is the daughter of a citrus grower and was a serious softball player growing up in Polk County.  The Smiths were married at First Pres in 2013.  God has blessed them with four lively young daughters and a not-so-lively dog.  The family enjoys exercise (especially taking walks around Lake Wailes), eating good food, working in the yard, singing, swimming and scuba diving, traveling, and laughing.

Rev. Myers McKinney

Associate Minister of Family Discipleship​

863.676.0711 ext 111

Associate Minister of Family Discipleship, Rev. Myers McKinney

Myers was born in Myrtle Beach, SC in 1996 but grew up in Spartanburg, SC under two Christian parents and is the oldest of three sons. Myers was born again at around the age 7 but was not baptized in his childhood SBC church until the age of 14. During high school, God gave Myers a heart-wound, convicting him not just of his individual sins but also of a pharisaical and legalistic attitude festering in his heart. This heart wound gave Myers a greater appreciation of the grace of God in salvation and it spurred him to grow in his personal walk with Christ. After graduating from Spartanburg High School in 2015, Myers pursued a History degree at Wake Forest University, where he also represented the Demon Deacons on the Varsity Cross Country and Track and Field teams. During his college years, Myers continued to experience conviction for his sin and to grow in his walk with Christ. But in addition to this, Myers also started to experience both an inward and outward call to ordained Gospel ministry. Through various campus ministry opportunities, Myers felt God’s pleasure as he preached Christ from scripture and desired further theological education and training so that he could build up Christ’s people in love and with excellence. Upon graduating from Wake Forest in 2019, Myers then pursued a Masters of Divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, PA. Myers received a call to be the Associate Minister of Family Discipleship for FPCLW on Wednesday May 24th, 2023 and graduated with his MDiv on the very next day, Thursday May 25th. Myers’ heart towards FPCLW is overflowing with 1)gratitude for the opportunity to do Gospel-ministry for FPCLW 2)eagerness to grow in faithfulness and excellence and 3) affection and love, flowing from Christ’s dying love for FPCLW.

Walker Kirkpatrick

Director of Student Ministry

863.676.0711 ext 113

Dr. Teresa Irwin

Director of Music Ministries

863.676.0711 ext 108

Dr. Teresa Irwin

Dr. Irwin received her DMA from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, MM from Southwestern Baptist Theol. Seminary, and BM & BME from the University of Central Florida and has served many years in the church and in academia.  She was an Assoc. Instructor of Voice at Indiana University, and an Assoc. Prof. of Voice at Clearwater Christian College where in addition to maintaining a vocal studio, she held Vocal Master Classes, taught Vocal Pedagogy, Opera Workshop and Vocal Literature.  Dr. Irwin studied vocal pedagogy under Roy Samuelson, protégé of Ralph Applemann, and under Dr. James C. McKinney, the author of “The Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults.” She has conducted vocal and choral clinics, and served as an adjudicator for vocal, choral, and piano competitions.  Dr. Irwin loves this beautiful world that our Lord created, and in her free moments enjoys communing with Him as she Adamic-ally tends her garden, and as she drives through the open air in her old Jeep Wrangler.

Mark Markham

Director of Administration

863.676.0711 ext 104

Vince Treadway

Organist/Accompanist

863.676.0711 ext 109

Our Leadership

Session

 

2026

Stewart Hurst
Ed Lamb
Jimmy Seay


2027

Chuck Loveless
Willard Pearce

Fox Rawlings

 

2028

Frank Hunt

Scott Crews

 

2029

Daniel Hunt

Diaconate

 

2026

Aaron Nelson
Pat Frankenburger


2027

Bob Hulen
John Dubois
Karen Steverson
 

Other Officers

Moderator: Rev. Mackay Smith
 
Vice Moderator:
 
Clerk of Session: Ed Lamb
 
Chairman of Deacons: Aaron Nelson
 
Deacon Secretary: Karen Steverson
 
Chm. of the Congregation: David Nelson
 
Treasurer: Daniel Hunt
 
Asst. Treasurer: Michelle Hurst