Chapel Leadership

Our Pastor - Rev. Brock Patterson

Longboat Island Chapel Senior Minister (Pastor Brock)

Pastor Brock finds his greatest joy in seeing others discover God’s unconditional love for them! A passionate teacher, Brock brings fresh meaning and timeless truth to those familiar with church while communicating with relevance to those who are brand new. He enjoys caring for people outside of the church walls, whether they’ve quit attending church, have never attended church, or don’t “fit the mold” in other church environments.

Pastor Brock grew up in a loving Christian home of the Baptist faith while attending Catholic High School in Little Rock. He completed his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Baylor University and continued in the field for many years as an executive in Corporate Finance, specializing in Commercial Lending. Brock began serving as pastor in the United Methodist Church in 2001, completing his Master of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary (Cumberland Presbyterian) with an emphasis in Church History and Theology. He has served as a Chaplain at Methodist University Hospital (Memphis) and is a recognized leader in Church Planting. He has served as Senior and Founding Pastor in United Methodist and Non-Denominational churches and is blessed with a wealth of knowledge for congregational growth and discernment.

Pastor Brock has two adult daughters, Meagan (Spenser) and Rachel, one grandson, Wolfe, and one granddaughter, Eloise. He is a gifted writer, publishing annual Advent and Lenten series, blogs and historical fiction. Brock is the fourth child of five (two brothers and two sisters), an avid fisherman, and loves to hunt, garden, and cook. He loves a good cigar and enjoys all types of music and sports entertainment.

Click here to Email Rev. Brock Patterson

Reverend "Charlie" Shook

Pastor Emeritus

Charlie is a Maryland native. He studied and then taught at Boston University, was a Chaplin in a mental hospital, and Pastor with a United Methodist Church in Ohio. He came to southwest Florida in 1991 and served at the Trinity Methodist Church in Bradenton prior to “finding” the Chapel in 1993. The Chapel is his twelfth church home. Charlie became Pastor Emeritus in 2010.

Chapel Staff

Rev. Jeffrey Nunes

Associate Pastor, Pastoral Care Coordinator

Jeff moved to Sarasota in 1980 with his parents. His husband of 4 years, Michael, moved to join him on Longboat Key in 2015. They currently live on the mainland in Bradenton but look forward to returning to live on Longboat again in the near future. Both are avid bridge players with Jeff maintaining a student directory and teaching online. He has recently become one of the Chapel’s tech support team members. Both enjoy arts and crafts and swimming. They both love to sing and hope to join the choir in the near future. They say that it was the friendly and accepting nature of the congregation that drew them to the Chapel.

Click here to Email Rev. Jeffrey Nunes

Becky Lietzau

Office Manager

Becky joined us in 2023! A transplant from Wayzata, MN, Becky has lived in Florida since 2018, starting off in Cape Coral and later moving to Bradenton in 2020. She has two grown children and one grandchild still living in the cold tundra. She went back to college at age 53 to complete a BA degree in professional writing.

Her motto’s are:

You are NEVER too old to learn something new or to follow your dreams!
BELIEVE in God’s spiritual energy and lift yourself to it.

Click here to Email Becky

Maurice Overholt

Music Director

Maurice longs for people to experience the life-changing and restorative power of God’s presence in what Charles Dickins famously called “…the best of times…” and “…the worst of times”. God’s gift of music and the arts then provides the language for us to share the hope and healing we have received from God with those around us.

He treasures time with his wife, Beth, and their boys, Isaac and Timothy who are in college and high school, respectively. They love laughing, playing games and engaging in general silliness. Maurice loves writing poetry, composing music of all styles, cooking, books and a good movie.

Maurice grew up singing 4- and 8-part a cappella music in church and studying piano. He received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a Choral Emphasis from the University of Florida, with additional studies in piano performance and composition. He continued his studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York where he received a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting. Since 2001, he has served in music and worship leadership at several churches, conducting, composing, arranging, and leading both classical and contemporary music.

Click here to Email Maurice

Susan Schaefer

Business Manager

Susan Schaefer re-located to Florida from Michigan in 2009. She retired after 22 years from the Admissions Office of Central Michigan University. The skills utilized in her position of Office Manager are utilized daily at the Longboat Island Chapel. She and her husband Bruce became members of the Chapel in 2009, and Susan was hired in 2011.

Click here to Email Susan

Jerry Schaller

Chapel Custodian

Jerry is originally from Augusta, Georgia and has an associate degree in Parks Management from Lake City Community College. Prior to coming to the Chapel he worked for a company that installs and repairs windows. His custodial duties include setting up rooms for group meetings, multiple interior and exterior building maintenance as well as various projects on the grounds of the Chapel.

Diane Lehman

Wedding Coordinator

Diane joins us once again as our wedding coordinator, as she once served in this capacity for the chapel. Her desire to return was rooted in the love of the Longboat Island Chapel’s mission and people. Diane grew up in Bradenton and graduated from the University of South Florida with a Communications degree. Diane and her husband John have been married for 27 years and are the proud parents of three grown children. Their son Chris is in finance in NYC, daughter Emily is a lawyer in Tampa and the youngest Caroline is a distance runner at the University of Notre Dame.

Diane has worked in event planning, wedding coordination, public relations, and healthcare sales throughout her career. Her expertise will be at the forefront of ensuring that brides and grooms experience a seamless and joyous wedding day. In her spare time, Diane enjoys running, walking the beach, reading, and enjoying time with family. Diane’s favorite motto to live by is, “Carpe Diem”.