Meet Our Family
(Taken in Dublin, Ireland 2015)
Rebecca and I first met in college, and fell in love while she was singing one of the leads in the Opera and I was in the Opera Orchestra. We actually got together after the opening night's cast party – I was planning on telling her about my recent experience coming back to the Lord after walking away in college for a short time. As it turns out, she wanted to witness to me about her recent return to her relationship with Jesus! We laughed and talked until 3:00 AM that night, and the rest, as they say, is history! We were engaged five weeks later and married within seven months. Apart from my decision to follow Christ, this has been the greatest blessing of my life. We started out poor as dirt with me teaching school and volunteering at the church until they could afford to hire me. We ended up staying there 17 more years. We were blessed to serve in an amazing church that is a true family. We learned so much from the wonderful leadership that God placed into our lives. In 2001 we felt the Lord leading us to Birmingham, AL to serve at a large Willow Creek style church, where pretty much the prime priority was seeing people saved. It was a wonderful eight years and we loved our time there. During our time there we walked through fostering our daughter for almost 5 years until her adoption became final. In 2008, while we were very appreciative of the strong evangelistic pull of that church, we were longing for a place where our Pentecostal background would be free to move in the power of the Holy Spirit. And so we felt the call to come to Saint Charles, MO to a vibrant, Spirit filled body of believers. We 've been privileged to serve this awesome church as Worship Pastor, then Interim Pastor, and now Executive Pastor. It has been an incredible journey and we are thankful for every opportunity that God provides. We are fully committed to pouring our lives out for His glory. Our hearts are for Him and for His Church!
Joseph enjoys music, and can find something he likes in almost every genre. An avid story teller and teacher at heart, he is a classic extrovert who draws energy and strength from being around people. He loves to laugh, and seldom goes longer than 5 minutes at a time without doing so. He also enjoys audio books, travel (yes, he leaned way out over that castle wall and actually kissed the Blarney Stone!), a great cup of coffee and being behind the wheel of Carlotta – his 1970 Cadillac DeVille Convertible (which he purchased on eBay -scariest thing he's ever done in his life).
Rebecca enjoys a good book and a fire. An excellent teacher and born encourager, she is comfortable in large group or one-on-one settings. Raised as a pastor’s kid, Rebecca is a real people person, with her mother’s gift for listening and taking a situation to heart herself. She loves singing, traveling (no, she did NOT lean way out over that castle wall!), watching a good movie, and spending time with the family.
Amber took the long way around to become a Britain. When she was first added to the family at age 9 as a foster child, The social worker had one question for Rebecca: Do you think you could make sure she gets to church? She just loves going to church. Rebecca replied with a chuckle, I think she’ll get enough church with US! Amber is 21, a student at the University of Southern Mississippi (her dad and mom’s alma mater), and deeply involved in the marching band as a member of the flag corps. Currently she is enrolled in classes online, so she can work as a lifeguard at Disney World in Orlando at the same time!
Carlotta is and will be the only “other woman” in Joseph’s life.
A 1970 Cadillac DeVille Convertible that became part of the Britain family in 2004, she is Joseph’s dream car. He can well remember seeing this particular model as a young child and thinking, “One day... one day...!” Purchased for roughly a quarter of her appraised value from eBay, Carlotta was named by Joseph’s mother. Mom’s reasoning was that the car came from Charlotte, NC and at 19 feet long she is a LOTTA CAR! Carlotta never makes an appearance in snow or ice times and is only truly happy when her convertible top is down.