The Reverend Dr. Tim Ehrlich

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1 John 4:16 ( NLT) We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in him. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them

My wife Anna and I celebrated our 35th anniversary in September (16).  Anna recently retired from the Bank of Tampa. We have four children and a grandchild.  My sons are Ian (Father of my grandchild), Shaun & Timmy, and my daughter is Hansie.  In addition to the adventures of parenthood and being married to an Irish girl, my life has been filled with interesting experiences and opportunities that have included travels to 40 countries, a tour of duty as a rifleman and scout sniper in the U.S. Marines, a number of boxing matches as an amateur, and a job as a Private Investigator in Hong Kong.  To pay for my college degree and answer my calling into ministry, I held a variety of different jobs to pay for tuition including: bartender, waiter, factory worker, security guard, credit agency administration, night club doorman, carpenter’s assistant, and book store manager.  I see all these different employments and wonderful experiences as preparation for the many sided nature of pastoral ministry.

In addition to my love of theology, my interests include, writing, personal fitness, volleyball, scuba diving, wind surfing and current events. I graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore Kentucky with my Doctorate in Christian Leadership in May 2016.  I graduated from Duke University Divinity School, Durham NC, in May 1987 with a Master of Divinity, and from State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1984, where I received the Bachelor of Arts degree Cum Laude.  I also have an Associate of Arts with Honors from Suffolk County Community College, Seldon, NY, awarded January 1981.

Before coming to Oakhurst, I served as Associate Pastor of St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church in Brandon from June 1998-June 2005; and before that, as Pastor of the Gouldsboro and Thornhurst United Methodist Churches in the Scranton District of the Wyoming Annual Conference (in Eastern Pennsylvania) July 1, 1993-June 15 1998; as Pastor of the Sherburne and Smyrna United Methodist Churches in the Oneonta District of the Wyoming Annual Conference July 1989 to June 1993; and as Pastor of the Olivebridge and Samsonville United Methodist Churches (in Upstate New York, July 1, 1987- June 1989).  I also served as Student Associate Pastor of Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church, Durham NC, from August 1994 to July 1996, while attending Duke University Divinity School.

I believe that because a Minister holds and wields a portion of the authority and responsibility of the Lord Jesus Christ, a minister is charged with a sacred responsibility to surrender every aspect of his or her life: both public and private, both in actions and in thoughts, to God, so that he or she may worthily reflect the Lord Jesus Christ in all things.  I am dedicated to achieving this surrender in every part of my life, with all humility, so that I may be of the greatest service to the Lord.  I see myself as a traveler and leader on Jesus’ path, trying to walk more and more in the light and perfection of God.

I am trained in Spiritual directing and consulting and am available for counseling upon request.