Meet Pastor Roland

   
     Born in Houston, Texas the Rev. Roland Banks grew up in Florida, his early years in Miami and later schooling in Tallahassee. As a child Roland was raised in his mother’s faith, Christian Science; but during frequent visits to his grandparents he attended the Presbyterian Church in Mount Dora, Florida. At the age of sixteen Roland’s grandmother, Carrie Susan Banks confessed her desire that Roland would grow up to become a Presbyterian minister. Floored by this suggestion and not spiritually prepared for this at all, Roland eventually decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a geologist. After completing his undergraduate degree at Florida State University and masters degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Roland returned to Florida to work in the oil and gas field.
     After working many years as a geologist and suffering through many of life’s trials, Roland finally became a Presbyterian in his mid-thirties when invited by good friends. Roland became very active in Cypress Lake Presbyterian in Fort Myers, Florida where he served as a deacon, Christian Education director and choir member. Approximately twenty-five years after his grandmother’s confession Roland again heard the call to ministry while leading a monthly worship service at an independent living facility. Now in his early forties Roland obtained approval by Peace River Presbytery to become an inquirer, attend seminary and work towards ordination. Immediately, Roland and his wife Jan went off to Austin, Texas to the Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Three years later Roland received his Masters of Divinity degree in 1996. Upon graduation Roland and Jan served their first church, the First Presbyterian Church in Norwood, North Carolina for 5 years, then at the start of the new millennium they were called to Windermere in 2001.
     After twelve years of service to the church as a minister of word and sacrament Roland has grown steadily in his faith and has come to treasure the wisdom that is in Word of God. Therefore, Roland’s mission is to preach the Word of God as the very Word of Truth, our way to salvation. Only through the sincere study of God’s Word can we come to know him in all His Glory, to realize His love for us, to grow in our relationship with Him and to realize our calling in this life. Those who immerse themselves in the Bible are the only ones who will come to know the Living Word that is Christ Jesus. And it is Christ Jesus who will lift us out of the pit of this word onto that solid rock that is our refuge and our peace.