Pastor Michael Shinaberry and his wife Cara will assume responsibilities at Volinia Baptist Church Sunday, Jan. 31.

Pastor Shinaberry will minister as associate pastor/family pastor of Volinia Baptist.

Pastor Shinaberry will be focusing his ministry on the spiritual needs of families of the area as well as actively ministering to the children and youth of the church.

Both Pastor Shinaberry and his wife graduated from Pensacola, Fla., Christian College, where they have lived for the last eight years.

Pastor Shinaberry also completed his Master of Divinity from Pensacola Theological Seminary.

He has been serving the pastor and ministries of Burgess Road Baptist Church of Pensacola.

Pastor Shinaberry grew up in Jackson, Mich.

Cara, a graduate of Pensacola Christian College, has served on its faculty for the last 3 1/2 years.

Cara hails from the South, Alabama and Florida, and looks forward to the four distinct seasons (snow) of Michigan.

The Shinaberrys have been married for 4 1/2 and have one daughter, Brooke, 2. They are expecting an addition to their family in May.

The Shinaberry’s arrival brings to an end a long search by Senior Pastor Thomas Stout for the right man to assist in family ministries for the surrounding communities.

Pastor Stout declared, “The Lord Jesus Christ has truly blessed our church with new church facilities, a gym, classrooms, offices, a new auditorium and now with the Shinaberrys to better meet the needs and serve the community. “