The pastor of the Church at Viera said the church has grown since he took his role as leader. He and his wife came to Viera 30 years ago. 

Community's Growth

In a report with Viera Voice, Mark Ragsdale and his wife, Kelli, from Texas shared how they increased their members in the church. 

The pastor told the news outlet that the community only had 500 people back then. 

Most of the areas in Viera were undeveloped land at the time. The pastor said that he and his wife saw how the community grew, and they grew along with it. 

He said that his father-in-law was a church consultant. They met with a small group of church members from Suntree Baptist Chapel. 

The group said that they were having a hard time growing their membership since their pastor died. The church members confided that they needed a leader to take his place. 

Ragsdale said he met with the core group. They discussed their vision for the church moving forward. 

After six months, the group called themselves The Church at Viera. 

Reviving Church

The pastor said the team asked him to become their church planter. He accepted the invitation to revive the church. 

At the time, he and his wife came from Texas with their two young boys. Their daughter was born three years later. The family lived in West Viera in a subdivision near the old church building. 

The church building in Murrell Road was sold in 2007. The current church building stands at 9005 N. Wickham in Melbourne, Florida. 

The pastor said that his children have all grown and now have families of their own. He added that he currently has three grandchildren but is expecting more in the coming months. 

Church Is Focal Point 

Ragsdale told the news outlet that the church has always been a focal point for him and his wife. 

Kelli said that music was her number one passion. She serves as the vocalist on the worship team. 

She also said she helped lead the women's ministry and was very "passionate" about it. 

One of their sons, Jonmark, now serves as the church's worship pastor. 

Church's Values

According to the Church at Viera website, the church values identity, truth, community, influence, grace, generosity, and discipleship. 

The church's vision is to enable thousands to become "influencers for Christ." 

As mentioned, the Church at Viera wants to impact the lives of people in Central Brevard and beyond in the years to come. 

Mission Trips

The pastor said that he and his family make mission trips to Haiti, Costa Rica, Peru, and New Mexico. He explained that they wanted to help out as much as possible with whatever was needed in the community. 

Ragsdale added that he was thankful for the gift of family. He was also glad that he and his wife shared a close bond with their children. 

When he was not busy with church, he spent time with his wife eating out and snorkeling. The pastor said that Viera was Florida's best-kept secret. 

He added that the controlled growth in the community was not too overwhelming. It was much like a small town. 

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