Daniel Wilkerson was born Sept. 11, 1947, in Melrose, Ma. He spent his childhood in Charleston, W.Va., and moved to Brevard County in 1983. He met and married his wife, Nancy, in 1967 and the couple welcomed a son, Daniel Lee, two years later. The couple now resides in Palm Bay and are the proud grandparents of 11-year-old Haley.

Pastor Dan earned a master’s degree in religion and history from Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Ky., in 1975 and a master’s of divinity from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Ky., in 1978. He began his pastoral career at Wolf Creek Baptist Church in Kentucky in 1972. After serving Baptist churches in Kentucky and West Virginia, he was called to First Baptist Church of Malabar in March of 1983.

His spiritual gifts include preaching, teaching, grace and mercy. He is a volunteer chaplain with Health First Hospital Systems, and when time allows he enjoys reading, walking and family activities.

Erma Hartwell was born Aug. 3, 1947 in Philadelphia, Pa. She spent her childhood in Philadelphia as well as Valley Forge, Pa. She married her husband, George, in September 1967 and the couple welcomed their first of eight children two years later. The family now resides in Melbourne. Mrs. Erma is a mother of eight and grandmother of 11. As a former Navy wife, she is very proud that six of her children have enlisted in the military.

Mrs. Erma began attending First Baptist Church of Malabar in 1999 and became the church’s ministry assistant in 2004. She is also the Vacation Bible School coordinator. Her spiritual gifts include helping others and showing mercy.

When time allows, Mrs. Erma enjoys going to the beach and doing crafts such as scrapbooking, needlework and quilling.