Our Pastor-Dr. Nick Manzie
Dr. Nick Manzie, commonly referred to as Brother Nick, has been faithfully serving the Lord in ministry since 2003 when he was called to be a Chaplain with Christian Motorsports International. With CMI, he served at racetracks throughout Florida preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the racers, and fans alike. Soon after, Bro. Nick took on a role as a Youth Pastor, then Assistant Pastor and now a Senior Pastor.
Born in Newark, NJ. His mother, Gladys, was born in Puerto Rico and moved to New Jersey in 1969. That is where she met Nick Sr., Bro. Nick’s father, whose parents both came from Italy many years prior. He stayed in NJ until he graduated High School. After High School, he moved to Miami, Florida and stayed in South Florida until moving to Kentucky in 2015. In 2018, life brought him back to Port St Lucie, Florida.
With the support and prayers of his wife, Jessica, and their loving family, Bro. Nick became Senior Pastor of Central Baptist Church in August of 2019.
His vision for Central Baptist Church, his family, and himself, is to get closer to God through worship, discipleship, ministry, evangelism and fellowship.
Even with his many obligations, he holds his role as husband and father as the highest treasure after God. He and his wife, Jessica, has 5 children; Sabrina (21), Bridgette (19), Selah (18), Adam (15), and Nick (Trey – 14); and his first grandchild is on the way.
Bro. Nick loves his family and loves to do many things with them, including going to the beach and eating at new ethnic restaurants. One of the family favorites is eating Japanese food. Together, they love to go on family hikes and exploring the many trails that Florida has to offer.
He also loves sports and officiates Football, Basketball and Baseball for the local High Schools. He was even able to officiate at the college level before his call to pastor a church. He considers this a ministry, as many know he is a local pastor. But with many accomplishments in his past, one thing that is a little-known fact, is that Bro. Nick used to be a professional X-Games style skater (Rollerblades). He retired from this when his first daughter, Sabrina was born, so he can make family his priority.
In Memory of Pastor Ray
Pastor Ray’s illustrious career started back in 1955. At that time, while he was still working on his education, he pastored two “half time country churches,” Salem Baptist Church in Tifton, GA and Cogdell (GA) Baptist Church. Salem Baptist church ordained Pastor Ray to preach on October 16, 1950 at the age of 19.
Pastor Ray and Patricia Waters met at a veteran’s trade school. They were eventually married on Dec 27, 1955. Patricia Waters was a vocal soloist with the Atlanta Symphony. After the wedding she used her gift and musical talents in the churches her husband served. She currently leads the music ministry at Central Baptist Church.
Pastor Ray graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1972. Along with the many churches he has shepherded, he served as headmaster at the Christian School at First Baptist Church in Belle Glade, FL, and was called to pastor at Canal Point Baptist Church. Pastor Ray was called to and accepted his current position at Central Baptist Church on May 30, 1987. Pastor Ray went home to visit the Lord in 2019.