SUMMER 2026
ONE YES AT A TIME: Marcus Zillman’s road to First UMC by Forrest White
Whenever John Kraus’ children ran across the
Rev. Marcus Zillman, they always made a point to greet him. That is not uncommon for children and their beloved senior pastor.
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But Kraus was referencing encounters at the local elementary school, not inside the church. Zillman sets aside Thursday of each week to serve in the community.
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Quite often, you’d find him wiping down tables and clearing trash at Heights Elementary School in Fort Myers.
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“Marcus is a person that can connect with anyone,” Kraus said. “I jokingly tell my wife that he is everyone's Dad. He has a dad’s sense of humor, a dad’s level of care, and a dad’s style of fashion.”
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The story of how he became a dad speaks to the faith of Zillman – who begins his role as senior pastor at First UMC on July 1 – and his wife Rebecca.
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It is a story of trust in the plans God has for you, of the impossible becoming possible when you’re asked to step out in faith and say yes.
Marcus and Rebecca with daughters, Marissa and Marilyn
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Zillman began serving as senior pastor at Hobe Sound UMC north of West Palm Beach in 2009. They arrived with plans to start a family.
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“Rebecca and I were not able to have children,” he said. “We tried a lot of things over the years, and it’s just not possible.”
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