PASTOR

Pastor Daniel Locke has served at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church since 2017. Originally from Conover, North Carolina, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from NC State University before following his call to ministry. He completed his Master of Divinity at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, supported by a Fund for Leaders scholarship from the ELCA, and was ordained in November 2017.

Before seminary, Pastor Daniel spent five summers working at Lutheridge Camp in Arden, North Carolina, and later served as an assisting pastor at Bangsar Lutheran Church in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. His wife, Pastor Sarah Locke, serves as the campus pastor for Jacksonville Campus Ministry and as an assisting priest at Redeemer Episcopal Church.

Together they are raising two children and two dogs. Pastor Daniel enjoys college sports, playing pickleball, and volunteering at the local community theatre. He believes our life of faith is a grateful response to God’s grace and love, lived out through compassion and mercy toward our neighbors.

CANTOR

Cantor Tony Cruz has served at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church since 2006, where he leads congregational song, directs the choirs, and supports the worship life of the congregation through music and liturgy. Tony earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Jacksonville University and a Master of Arts in Church Music from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio.

In addition to his ministry at St. Mark’s, Tony is active in the wider church music community. He is active in the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians and has served as dean of the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. In his free time he performs with RareSong, a Northeast Florida ensemble specializing in early music.

Tony views music as an expression of faith and community—a way for God’s people to pray, proclaim, and participate in the gospel together.

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Alison is excited to join the team at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, bringing over a decade's worth of administrative, organization, and creative skills to the table. She is especially stoked to be part of a team who thinks her affinity for color coding calendar management is cool. She has brought a keen eye for detail, exceptional customer service skills, and meticulous project management to her professional career, and is thankful for the opportunity to apply those abilities to a cause she is passionate about.

Alison was born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in New Jersey, halfway between the beach and NYC. She holds a bachelor's degree in Christian Ministry, and has spent many hours over the years volunteering and consulting for music worship teams in churches. In her free time, she enjoys painting, winning against her husband at video games, and excitedly pointing out any time she sees a cute dog pass by.