OUR LEADERS
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5:1-3
At Aletheia we believe in the biblical view of male leadership (elders) as outlined in places such as 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. In addition, we believe in the huge role of both men and women in “staff” positions (deacons) whether paid or unpaid in order to minister to the church and aid in God’s work in this world.
Aletheia Leaders And Their Families
Aaron and Ashlee Proffitt
Aaron is the co-founder of the Aletheia collegiate church planting movement. Over the past 9 years, he has assisted in the development of three college-focused churches in Virginia and most recently the next Aletheia at the University of South Florida. Originally from San Diego County, Aaron brings that Southern California influence to Aletheia which helps to give the church that fun, relevant, and laid-back environment. He holds degrees from California Baptist University, James Madison University, and Liberty Seminary. Aaron’s primary roles at Aletheia range from being the Senior pastor, to occasionally leading worship, to heading up the discipleship and small group ministries, to evangelism, and to personal leadership development and mentoring.
Ashlee is a do-it-all person at Aletheia. She leads the creative charge as the Aletheia Tampa alpha graphic designer along with heading up women’s ministry stuff, leading a small group, discipling and mentoring the young women of Aletheia, and tackling the many daily administrative responsibilities that come her way. And if there is anything else going on at Aletheia (which there always is), she will most likely have her hand in that as well. Ashlee has a degree in Graphic design from James Madison university which she obtained in 2006.
Aaron and Ashlee have been married since May of 2005. They have two sons: Drew (3) and their new baby Asher.
Contact Aaron aaronproffitt@aletheiatampa.com and Ashlee ashleeproffitt@aletheiatampa.com
Graham and Shay Cochrane
Graham and Shay were married in October 2005 and are both alum of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA where they met. Graham is an audio engineer, producer, and songwriter. In addition to leading worship for Aletheia Tampa he also co-leads an Aletheia men’s city group and is our financial administrator.
Shay is a wedding and portrait photographer in the Tampa Bay area. She shares her husband’s love for music, people and seeing followers of God being challenged to grow in authenticity and intimacy in their spiritual walk! Shay also co-leads a woman’s city group at Aletheia Tampa.
Graham and Shay welcomed their first little one, Chloe Isla Cochrane, last summer!
Contact Graham grahamcochrane@aletheiatampa.com and Shay shaycochrane@aletheiatampa.com
Aaron and April Cosner
Aaron (Ace) and April Cosner were married in May of 2006. Both are natives of Harrisonburg Virginia, and moved to the New Tampa area in July ’09. Ace graduated from Bridgewater College in 2008 with a B.A. in Philosophy and Religion, and from Liberty in 2009 with an M.A. in Theological Studies. He serves as lead guitarist in Aletheia Tampa’s band, and teaches a mens’ City Group.
April also graduated from Bridgewater with a B.S. in Elementary Education, and teaches at Twin Lakes Elementary in the Early Exceptional Learning Program. She serves as Director of Aletheia Jr, and teaches a ladies’ City Group.
Contact Ace aaroncosner@aletheiatampa.com and April aprilcosner@aletheiatampa.com
Dave and Shirley Proffitt
Dave is the experience behind Aletheia. He has spent the last 35 years planting, revitalizing, and leading churches, nationally and internationally. His ministry journey has led him to places such as San Diego county and Riverside County, California…as well as Spain, Mexico, India, Harrisonburg and Richmond, Virginia, and now Tampa. Pastor Dave is a former combat action marine and served our country in the Vietnam War. He holds multiple degrees from schools all over Southern California. His passions (as well as his roles at Aletheia) are teaching, evangelism, global missions, and equipping men to make a radical impact for Christ. He and Pastor Aaron make a great ministry team as they have been serving God together for 32 years.
Shirley is the residential Aletheia mom. Her role in ministry over the years has included being involved with worship and women’s ministry, as well as any other responsibility associated with being a church planter and pastor’s wife. She also is a hospitality pro and has fed many a hungry college student over the years. She loves being a grandma and considers that her full-time job and ministry!
Dave and Shirley have been married since December, 21, 1974. They have two children, Amy and Aaron. They also have four grand children Micah, Camden, Andrew, and Asher.
Contact Dave daveproffitt@gmail.com
Aletheia Interns
Our interns at Aletheia are vital to our weekly ministries of evangilism, city groups, and campus related events. They are in every way the biblical definition of a servant and help fuel God’s mission at the University of South Florida.
Megan Miller
Megan is a college graduate from the University of South Florida where she obtained her undergrad in Marketing and Management Information Systems. After 7 arduous years and loads of student loan debt, Megan has chosen to do absolutely nothing in either of her fields, but rather let God rock her world by serving at Aletheia Tampa as their fumbling-along administrator and at e3 Partners as a church plant coordinator [in the making] in the middle east region. Megan has an odd obsession with coffee and chocolate, and secretly loves writing, but refuses to ever let that be known…
Contact Megan meganmiller@aletheiatampa.com
Sammy Rabbat
Sammy is a recent graduate from the University of South Florida with two really smart degrees, neither of which have seen any practical use thus far. Between looking for a job and his future Egyptian bride, you can find Sammy being a stellar servant at Aletheia wherever needed. Sammy’s three favorite things in life include: playing basketball, buying movies, and attempting to play match maker.
Contact Sammy sammyrabbat@gmail.com
Seth Adams
Seth is a brand new graduate from James Madison University with a degree in Sport Management, which he has no clue what that will do for him. Seth is the guy who doesn’t really have a label within the ministry but loves to support and help with whatever needs to get done. Being a recent Christian of a couple years, God completely rocked his world during his junior year and drug him away from the party life [pun intended]. Seth can only experience true joy in the One we call Jesus!
Contact Seth therealsethadams@gmail.com
