The Brevard Gathering

Richard O. Stimson is the pastor of The Special Gathering, which is a community-based ministry to people who are mentally challenged (intellectually disabled). There are three chapels in Brevard County and one in Vero Beach, FL.

Stimson has a BA from Southeastern College in Elementary Education and Christian Education. He received his special education training from Florida Southern College and his Masters of Arts in Ministry from Moody Graduate School. He taught as a special education teacher for Polk County, Florida school system and served as a chaplain for Developmental Services, Inc. in Orlando, FL. He has directed The Special Gathering for the past 40 years.

Nancy and Richard have directed The Special Gathering for the past 40 years.

They believe that a successful ministry empowers the whole person; they have geared their ministry to the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of people who are developmentally disabled. An important key to their work has been to become an active part of the mentally challenged community. Therefore, their ministry has branched into different aspects of service to persons who are mentally challenged, including advocacy, education, and social activities.

Pamela Gillespie retired in August 2016 as the Director of Community Relations for U.S. Congressman Bill Posey (R-FL8). As Director of Community Relations, she acted as liaison to District 8 constituents, state and local elected officials and business and community leaders.

Prior to working for Congress, Gillespie worked as a social services consultant with several Space Coast non-profit organizations, including Brevard Achievement Center and the Conlin Blind Institute. She also served for several years as the Director of Christian Education for the Special Gathering. In her position, she was responsible to disciple persons with developmental disabilities at three Florida chapels.

Pam is currently the President of the Board of Directors, Gillespie Services, Inc., a non-profit organization that helps developmentally disabled adults live more independently. She served on the Board of Directors with the Special Gathering and is past President of the Women In Defense Space Coast (WIDSC).

Pam and her husband, Dave, have four children and eight grandchildren. While raising her children, Pam volunteered at church and in the community and was awarded a national Young Women of Excellence Award in 1989.

Pam graduated in 1995 Suma Claude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organizational Management and Pastoral Care from Warner Southern College at Lake Wales, Florida and is a Commissioned Pastor.

Jennifer worked in real estate in Northern Virginia, and as Manager of a multi-office real estate company in Brevard. Upon returning from a 3-month mission trip in Mongolia, Jennifer worked for the Salvation Army, and then for 5 years as the Program Director for a Women’s Transitional Housing Program Ministry. She taught for 7 years at Brevard Achievement Center (BAC) an ADT / Adult Training Program in Rockledge, and then with Personal Supports prior to starting employment with Special Gatherings. Jennifer has volunteered in many capacities, including Prison Ministry, Guardian ad Litem for the Court System, Pregnancy Resource Center, and Christian Counseling for women in a Residential Drug and Alcohol Rehab Program.

Rebekah Robbins is the program coordinator for Vero Beach Gathering, as well as the Choir Director for Vero Beach and Melbourne, and praise and worship leader at Vero Beach. She is a Florida native, having grown up in the Melbourne/Palm Bay area, and works full time during the week in the data science field. She has a background in education, having completed her AS in early childhood education as well as multiple certificates geared towards special education.

Rebekah has been part of the disability community by proxy for over a decade through various family members, and has been directly involved in The Special Gathering since 2019. After two and a half years as the Vero Beach Supervisor, she moved on to the Coordinator position mid-2023. Directing the choir is the most rewarding part of her service, however, and she hugely enjoys the opportunity to interact with the diverse people who make up the two choirs.

Carol worked in Pennsylvania with a degree in accounting before she and her family relocated to Vero Beach almost 30 years ago.

She first began working for ARC of Indian River Adult Training Center for ten years before leaving there to work at Goodwill Adult Day Training as a Case Manager. Upon retirement after 10 years, employment came from Special Gathering in Vero Beach and Melbourne.

Due to vision problems, Carol needed to leave Special Gathering only to return to Vero Beach

Gathering as Supervisor. She continues to enjoy the opportunity of interacting with our members

Lynn grew up in in Carol Stream, Illinois, which is west of Chicago. She graduated from Trinity College in Deerfield, Illinois where she met her husband, Jim. In 1989 Jim, a science teacher, got his dream job with the NASA education program and brought the family (including their three children) to Merritt Island. Lynn immediately began working for ARC of Brevard. During her 15-year career there, she worked in three of the group homes: Woodsmere as medical coordinator, Springwood as manager, and Melrose as direct care staff.

In 2007 Lynn began her Master’s Degree Program in Exceptional Education at the University of Central Florida. While working on her degree, she was able to work for Brevard County schools as a teaching assistant in special education classrooms. She was at Sabal Elementary in Melbourne, Merritt Island High School and Jefferson Middle School in Merritt Island. After receiving her teaching certificate master’s degree, she taught in Orange County schools for seven years. In 2021, she retired from teaching and loves having more time to spend with her three granddaughters.

Her introduction to Special Gathering began about 20 years ago when she first met Richard and Nancy while working at Springwood group home with Richard’s brother. Not long after that she began volunteering at Camp Agape.

Lynn has been the Island Gathering Director since March of 2023. She is delighted to be working with so many of her former residents from the group home and is getting to know all the members, their families and volunteers.

Nancy J. Stimson leads our music program, which includes music, choir, and Christmas Plays. This is a shared position with Rebekah Robbins who takes the lead in Melbourne and Vero.

Nancy has a BA from the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Special Education. She also received her certification in Early Intervention from UCF.

She taught as a special education teacher for Brevard County, Florida. She also taught elementary education for Brevard County School System and Rockledge Christian School.

Nancy and Richard have directed The Special Gathering for the past 40 years.

They believe that a successful ministry empowers the whole person; they have geared their ministry to the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of people who are developmentally disabled. An important key to their work has been to become an active part of the mentally challenged community. Therefore, their ministry has branched into different aspects of service to persons who are mentally challenged, including advocacy, education, and social activities.

Mary was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota. She has been a Merritt Island resident since 2016 when her husband, John, began working at Blue Origin.

Mary joined the staff at The Special Gatherings in 2022 after her youngest child graduated from high school. As the Office Manager, her responsibilities include bookkeeping, website updating and administration.

As the Connecting Point Newsletter Publisher, she has multiple responsibilities. She oversees a group of volunteers who collate, fold, sort and mail monthly newsletters. She writes poignant articles, a prayer page and a Bible Study. Producing calendars that cover the four Special Gatherings chapels is challenging. Printing the newsletters is also done in a timely manner.

Mary has volunteered at her children’s schools, at church and in the community. She has been on many boards and currently serves on her neighborhood’s homeowners association board.