Church Staff
Jaco Bester
Head Pastor
Pastor Bester graduated from the University of South Africa, was ordained in the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA) in 2010 and pursued continuing education at the University of Pretoria and Princeton Theological Seminary. He has served churches in a wide variety of cultural settings from small rural farming settings to large urban and sub-urban settings.
In describing the kind of ministry setting to which he felt called he said, “… to a congregation that places an emphasis on the need for a life-giving relationship with God, and one that holds to this relationship as the bedrock of her service to others. In other words, a congregation that takes discipleship seriously – both in her life of worship, her care for members and her outreach to others.”
While the majority of his in ministry have been in South Africa, Pastor Bester and family spent 3 years serving a church in Michigan. Additionally, he has been fully engaged in denominational activities with the UPCSA and was invited by the Synod of the Covenant, Presbyterian Church USA, to teach on the Belhar Confession.
Pastor Jaco describes his wife Jacqui as the most incredibly supportive and loving wife. And his is father to five beautiful and vivacious children: Miguel, Ryan, Emily, Sarah and Luke. In his personal time his hobbies include everything sport related, cooking and trying new foods as well as going on crazy-long road trips with the family.
Lou Zuck
Parish Associate
A native of LaPorte City, Iowa he spent all but 4 years of his ministry in the United Methodist Church. He received his bachelor’s degree from Indiana Wesleyan University, his Master’s of Ministry from Anderson School of Theology and his Master’s of Divinity from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary.
He served 8 years as a chaplain (1st Lt.) in the Illinois Army National Guard. His community and mission activities reflect his caring heart and kind ways. He and Lynn have been married for over 40 years and upon retirement in 2013 moved to Punta Gorda where we have seen him singing in our choir, serving as visitation Pastor, working in the Memorial Garden, providing pulpit supply, and participating on Habitat for Humanity workdays.
Ron Neal
Music Director/Organist
Ron was born in Charleston, WV, and has a Master’s of Music in Church Music Degree (organ and conducting) from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ. He did additional course work at the Royal School of Church Music in England, and with the education department of the Lutheran Church of Sweden. He also studied on historically significant organs in Germany, Holland, France and Sweden. He has served as an Organist/Choirmaster in several PCUSA congregations in New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia and West Virginia. Ron formerly served as organist at BSPC in 2018-2019.
Eric Jordan
Praise Team Director
Eric has been leading music and singing in our contemporary service since 2011. With no formal musical training, Eric uses the experience of over twenty years of praise and worship team participation and a leaning on the Spirit to find the blend of music each week that helps bring the congregation into the presence of God. He strives to bring fresh contemporary music into worship each week, while retaining the songs that have meant so much to so many for so long.
Originally from Johnson City, NY, Eric and his wife Vicki moved to Florida in 1993 and to Punta Gorda in 1994. They have two grown sons, Rick and Jon, both of whom are musicians in the Orlando area. Eric enjoys writing music, cruising, and watching NASCAR. He is also an avid supporter of his sports teams; the Yankees, the Rangers, and the Dallas Cowboys.
Eric’s favorite Bible verse is a good one: Philippians 4:13, “I know I can do ALL things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me!”. About the service the music for which he leads, Eric says, “we play for an audience of One! You are all invited to come along for the ride!”
Tammy Oronati
Administrative Assistant
Tammy has several years of administrative experience behind her and has been at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church since 2022.
Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, Tammy and her husband Bob moved to Florida in 2018. They have 4 adult children and 2 grandchildren who still reside up north.
Tammy enjoys the outdoors and spends much of her time in her garden and the beach.
Catherine Murphy
Financial Administrator
Catherine Murphy joined our staff in 2025 and is someone who believes clarity and calm go a long way – especially when it comes to numbers. As the Financial Administrator at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church, she takes pride in turning financial complexity into clear, actionable insight.
She has handled everything from everyday bookkeeping to more complex audits and planning. “I have spent my time making sense of the numbers, so others don’t have to. With a solid background in financial reporting, budgeting, and keeping things compliant and organized, I’ve helped businesses like St. Vincent de Paul CARES, Family Church PC, and Okmulgee County Clerk’s Office stay on track and make smarter decisions without the guesswork.”
When she is not wrangling budgets or closing out month-end reports, you might find her painting a picture, reorganizing a bookshelf for fun, or pretending not to enjoy Excel. At the heart of it all, Catherine Murphy brings a thoughtful, people-first approach to her work – balancing precision with purpose…and maybe a little spreadsheet wizardry along the way.
Brian LeBrun
Media Technician
Brian has been running sound for bands and events for over 30 years. He oversees all technical aspects of our Church and its events, including live streaming all our services and technical help for many of the events.
In addition to being the media tech for BSPC, he has 2 other jobs: as a professional musician with The Mixed Up Duo and the Sunsets, and also works for Charlotte County as part of the event staff at the Charlotte Sports Park, working with the Tampa Bay Rays and their affiliates.
Originally born in Aiken, South Carolina, Brian spent 32 of my first 36 years in the Boston area. He moved to Tucson, AZ in 1994 and then to Punta Gorda in 2015 with fiancé Kristine Bienema. I have 3 children and 3 granddaughters.
Kolson Kaminski
Media Tech Assistant
A native of Fort Myers, Florida, Kolson Kaminski is a dedicated and community-focused individual whose life reflects a strong commitment to faith and service. Rooted in family values and a passion for helping others, Kolson brings energy and a servant’s heart to every role he undertakes.
He currently serves as the Creative and A/V Intern for the Florida Everblades, managing audio-visual systems and creative services for games and events. At church, Kolson serves as the Media Tech Assistant, ensuring smooth and engaging live streams and technical support during services.
Kolson has been involved with Young Life for over 10 years and spent three years as a Young Life leader, mentoring middle school students. This experience has deeply influenced his faith and leadership, fostering meaningful relationships and a heart for ministry.
Whether behind the camera or supporting technical needs, Kolson is known for his kindness, dedication, and willingness to serve. He continues to grow in faith and leadership, committed to making a positive impact in the church.
