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 Proffitt
Aaron is the co-founder of the Aletheia collegiate church planting movement. Over the past nine 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, Aaron’s wife, 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 (4) and their new baby Asher.
Contact Aaron aaronproffitt@aletheiatampa.com and Ashlee ashleeproffitt@aletheiatampa.com
Graham Cochrane
Graham and his wife, 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 web 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 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 University in 2009 with an M.A. in Theological Studies. He teaches English at Freedom High School. He serves as lead guitarist in Aletheia Tampa’s band, teaches a mens’ City Group and heads the creative team.
April also graduated from Bridgewater with a B.S. in Elementary Education. After teaching four years, her new ministry is staying at home with her son and teaching him about Jesus. She serves as Director of Aletheia Jr and teaches a ladies’ City Group.
Ace and April welcomed their son, Austin Blaise, into the world this past July.
Contact Ace aaroncosner@aletheiatampa.com and April aprilcosner@aletheiatampa.com
Dave 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, Dave’s wife, 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
Jon Halterman
Jon has been a part of Aletheia Church since its inception in 2001. As a sophmore in college, Jon transferred from Villanova to James Madison University where he met Aaron Proffitt on his first day of class and eventually graduated with a bachelor’s in business. Not long after attending Aletheia, Jon realized that God had placed a calling on his life to be a church planter and he desired to pursue that calling. At Aletheia, Jon focuses on church finances, small group training and helping to meet the spiritual and physical needs of the flock. Currently, Jon is a regional sales manager for Bridgewell Resources and just recently opened a branch here in Tampa, FL. In his spare time, Jon likes spending time with his family, traveling, and has a heart for global missions.
Jon’s wife, Amy, was born and raised in Southern California. She received a bachelor’s of science degree in psychology with an emphasis in biblical counseling from San Diego Christian College. In November 2001 she moved to Harrisonburg, Virginia to assist with the first Aletheia church plant where she met her husband Jon. Along with being a wife and mom, Amy enjoys discipling and counseling women within the church body.
Jon and Amy were married in September of 2004 and have two boys. Micah was born in March of 2007 and Camden was born in September of 2008. In the future, the Halterman family hopes to be a part of many more church plants.
Matthew Balogh
Matthew is our Financial Administrator. He is a native of Florida having grown up in Brooksville. Matthew earned his A.A. from ITT Tech in Information Technology and his B.S. from Hodges University in Business Management. He is the Network Administrator for the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and uses his technical skills with the Tech team at Aletheia Tampa. He enjoys serving wherever there is a need and co-leads a men’s City Group.
Lindsey, Matthew’s wife, leads our Greeting Ministry. She also co-leads a ladies’ City Group and can be found any day of the week discipling women and sharing her love of cooking. Lindsey is a native of Virginia and earned her B.S. in Psychology from James Madison University. She earned her M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of South Florida. Lindsey is jokingly “responsible” for praying Aletheia down to Tampa.
Matthew and Lindsey have been married since May of 2010. They share a passion for seeing people grow in their faith and their love of the Lord.
Aletheia Staff and Interns
Our staff and 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 and the city of Tampa.
Megan Miller
A graduate from the University of South Florida in 2009, Megan was once Aletheia’s do-it-all girl until she became our church’s first official global missionary and left to go into full-time missions with e3 Partners. Almost one year and a few continents later, Megan has turned in her running shoes to return to Tampa and has reprised her role as our do-it-all girl by taking on the task of being Aletheia Tampa’s chief administrator and official administrative assistant to Pastor Aaron.
Miraculously enough, Megan has no plans and no agenda for her future. Simply to be here, loving Jesus, elevating the Gospel and serving God through Aletheia.
Contact Megan meganmiller@aletheiatampa.com
Aletheia Interns
Our wonderful interns consist of a mix of students and recent graduates who are all dedicated to serving the Lord and doing what it takes to help our local body. They are always ready to serve God and His people, so if you need anything at all, feel free to talk to any one of them.
Interns from top left to bottom right: Chad Cowan, Sammy Rabbat, David Alonzo, Brian Keogh, Michelle Moudy, Allie Mondell, Lauren Pirie
