Contact Us
Church Location:
7159 McIntyre Street, Fairhope, AL 36532
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 662, Montrose, AL 36559
Office Email:
office@apostleseasternshore.org
Please feel free to reach out to us at office@apostleseasternshore.org for any questions, concerns, or requests you may have. We will be happy to follow up with by phone or email.
ROBERT H. SEAWELL / RECTOR & FOUNDING PASTOR
Robert, his wife Ruth and four children moved to the Eastern Shore in the summer of 1999 – called to begin the work of planting a new church in the Mobile Bay area. They began hosting church gatherings in their home, and on Easter of 2000 Apostles moved to its first storefront on Main Street in Daphne. Regular Sunday services began and the church body grew. Two other storefronts would follow before the current site was purchased in the winter of 2007.
B.S. - Southern Oregon University | MDIV - Virginia Theological Seminary
MARK J. DICRISTINA / ASSOCIATE & TEACHING PASTOR
Mark grew up in the Boston area, and has served churches in Birmingham and along the coast from Gulf Breeze to Fairhope since 1986. Compassion for people and a passion for the transforming power of God’s Word is what motivate him as a pastor and teacher. He and his wife Brooke have three sons and five grandchildren. He likes running, reading, Boston sports, good coffee and good beer.
B.A. - Gordon College, Wenham, MA | MDIV - Gordon-Conwell / Virginia Theological Seminary
Taylor Ishii / Associate Priest, Director of Student Ministry
Taylor grew up in Orange County, California and has served in churches in California, Texas, and now Alabama. He is passionate about equipping teenagers to learn Scripture, understand God’s call on their life, and serve both the church and the community in which they live, all while having fun and celebrating the lives God has graciously given us. Taylor was ordained a priest in 2016.
He loves to watch and play soccer, read theology, and play board games. He lives in Daphne with his wonderful wife Hillary and their beautiful daughter AJ.
B.A. - Wheaton College, IL; MDIV - Fuller Theological Seminary, CA
Ruth Seawell / Director of Children’s Ministry
Ruth leads one of the strongest foundations of Apostles – our family liturgical celebrations and children’s ministry. Building on her own spiritual journey as a mother and seeker, Ruth brings to Apostles the cornerstone of our Sunday morning offerings: Godly Play. The program helps children explore their faith through story, wonder and play combined with special family gatherings centered on the rich Anglican tradition and church calendar.
Ruth and Robert grew up in Montgomery as childhood friends and married in 1985. She’s a registered forester and Vice President with Larson & McGowin, a forestry consultant firm in Mobile. The Seawell’s have four children and seven grandchildren.
B.S. - University of the South, Sewanee, TN; M.S. - University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Gabe Holloway / Associate Priest, Music Arts Director
Gabe grew up in Opelika and has ministry experience in various settings, including music leadership, hospice care, and third place ministry. He has a hand in many areas of the life of Apostles, including music arts, communications, preaching, and pastoral care. Gabe was ordained a Priest February 2023.
Gabe and his wife Lynne were married in 2006 and have three children. He enjoys all things coffee and loves to sit with old and new friends over a good cup.
B.A. - Auburn University; MDIV - Asbury Theological Seminary
Walt Howard / Deacon
Walt provides wide experience across the country in service, hospice and pastoral care. He was ordained a Vocational Deacon in 2000. Walt’s wife Martha works with Ecumenical Ministries of Baldwin County as Emergency Aid Director, and works closely with Apostles in meeting the needs of low-income and struggling families in our community.
B.S. - San Jose State University; M.S. - University of Southern California
Dan Thompson / Deacon
Dan and Terri moved to the Eastern Shore in 2018 and joined Apostles in 2019. Dan was a minister in another denomination for 30 years, pastoring a church in Minneapolis for nearly 20 years before moving to Daphne. Dan transferred his ordination into the Gulf Atlantic Diocese and became an ordained vocational deacon in 2020.
Dan and Terri have three grown sons and two grandchildren.
B.A. - North Central University; M.A. - Luther Seminary
Susan Fontaine Godwin / Deacon
Susan was ordained as an Anglican Vocational Deacon in 2021, serving the pastoral needs of Church of the Apostles and the surrounding Eastern Shore community. She was the founder/CEO of Christian Copyright Solutions (CCS) until 2019 when she sold CCS and entered diaconal studies at Trinity School of Ministry. Along with Deacon Dan Thompson, she is a Stephen Ministry leader for Apostles. She is a Fairhope Unite board member and is working on the creation and development of Fairhope Community Farms.
Susan’s stepson, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter live in Mobile, AL. She loves music, art, gardening, writing, reading, her dog, Honey Belle, and hearing and learning about others’ stories.
B.A. - San Jose State University; M.S. - University of South Alabama; CDS - Trinity School of Ministry
Lynne Holloway / Nursery coordinator
Lynne grew up in Mobile, AL and attended Auburn University where she met her husband Gabe. She studied Christian Education at Asbury Theological Seminary and has worked in several areas of ministry for over twenty years. She delights in caring for Apostles' youngest children and their families.
Lynne's other roles include Director of the Eastern Shore Children's Business Fair and mom to four beautiful children- three earthside and one with Jesus. She loves music, the water, sunsets, coffee, and the Atlanta Braves.
B.A. - Auburn University
Elisabeth Hanes / Communications coordinator
Elisabeth grew up in Cullman, AL. She attended Southern Methodist University where she majored in Communication with an emphasis in Non-Profit Communication. She’s loved channeling that experience into her work at COTA.
Elisabeth and her husband William have three boys. When she’s not at COTA, Elisabeth is wearing her other hat of working at Provision - the café and market she and William own in downtown Fairhope.
B.A. - Southern Methodist University
Pam Durst / Church Sexton
Pam maintains the church facilities and is the quiet force that follows up virtually any gathering from Sunday service to meetings, bible studies, dinners and the enthusiastic morning of Godly Play in the children’s ministry. When a tree, or flowers, or other bits of art appear painted on the walls of our classrooms, these are often Pam’s gifts at work.
Our Vestry
Patty Bolton
Kelly Hughes
Jim Peters
Pete Rosten
Elizabeth Rose
Jim Towle