Father Justin Yawn, formally of Austin, Texas, is coming home to Northeast Florida to take over as the new rector of St. Francis in the Field Episcopal Church in Palm Valley.
Yawn grew up in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, and graduated from UGA with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in risk management and insurance. After college he attended The Candler School of Theology at Emory University.
From 2012 to 2015, Yawn served as the senior associate rector for youth and families at Christ Episcopal Church in Ponte Vedra Beach.
He and his wife Vanessa are excited to be back in this familiar area and to serve the community in a variety of ways. With Yawn’s 12 years of experience as an ordained priest, he has covered a plethora of ministries, including corporate church, pastoral care and youth.
“I love Jesus and sharing the Gospel to the world,” he said. “I look forward to ways we can share in ministry together. Go Dawgs! (But I promise not to be in your face about it.)”
Yawn's first Sunday as rector is Feb. 6.
